From 4-H to the U.S. Navy to political advocacy, Emily Oneschuk is living her life by taking the “road less traveled,” to quote Robert Frost. As a former military youth who participated in Massachusetts 4-H, Oneschuk has achieved an impressive career in the U.S. Navy and in political advocacy. Throughout it all, she continues to stay true to herself and to use her voice to amplify causes she cares about — and that started in Massachusetts 4-H.

Oneschuk, now 30, grew up in Wakefield, where her father was in the U.S. Navy. She participated in Massachusetts 4-H where she founded the Austin Prep 4-H’ers., traveled to National 4-H Conference and National 4-H Congress, delivered Visual Presentations, and created sewing projects that she showed at fairs. “The Middlesex County Fair holds a special place in my heart,” Oneschuk  reminisced.

She also joined the Speak Out for Military Kids (SOMK) Program and created videos recommending how communities could support military youth. Va Shon Wallace-Hiltpold, the 4-H Coordinator for SOMK at the time, and current 4-H Educator and Foundation Vice President, met Oneschuk and was quickly impressed. “Emily started out as a 4-H teen in my county, already showing confidence and leadership,” said Wallace-Hiltpold. “It was amazing to see how the skills she learned through 4-H helped her shine in everything she did.”

Emily Joins the Military

Oneschuk attended Miami University in Ohio, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Russian Studies, and a minor in Naval Studies. She was awarded a four-year scholarship from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) and immediately commissioned into the Navy upon graduation, following in the path of her father and cousin.

Between 2017 and 2022, Oneschuk served in the Navy. In Florida, Emily endured rigorous training to become an Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving Officer as well as a Platoon Commander. “The training is really tough. First is a year of dive school,” said Oneschuk. “After that, it’s hands-on with the explosives, then jump school and tactical training. There’s not much margin for error. It showed me what I was capable of.”

After completing her training in 2020, Oneschuk moved to Rota, Spain, where she oversaw the dismantling of underwater explosives and led an all-male Navy platoon.  “From a leadership perspective, this was a period of growth for me,” remembered Oneschuk. “I was the only woman in Spain in that role.”

Shortly before her time in the Navy, Emily lost her younger brother to gun violence. Over time, Oneschuk’s views of the military changed. “I reached a point where I didn’t feel right carrying a gun,” she said.

In 2021, Oneschuk began what turned into a 14-month process of resigning her position in the Navy through recognition as a conscientious objector, with the assistance from the Center on Conscience & War, a nonprofit. “It’s a lengthy legal process,” explained Oneschuk. “I had to convince the U.S. military that I was sincere in my beliefs.”

Until her objector status was approved, Oneschuk was reassigned to a refugee camp in Spain, where she worked for three months as the camp’s Operations Director, assuming responsibility for the welfare of 2,300 refugees from Afghanistan. In this role, Oneschuk facilitated interagency operations while advocating for Afghan families who had fled from the Taliban. .

A Pause, then Advocacy

Following her discharge from the military and return home, Oneschuk’s stressful experiences caught up with her in the form of mental health challenges. “I knew I wasn’t well,” she stated simply. She pursued cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) through the Veterans’ Administration (VA) but felt she needed more tools.

Oneschuk learned of The Hope Project, an organization that employs psychedelics to combat PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) in female veterans and military spouses. She traveled to Jamaica and Brazil to use psychedelics therapeutically. She also continued to go to therapy and engage in other self-care practices.

Over time, Oneschuk felt more like herself. “Mental health is a topic we’re talking more about but is still largely misunderstood. There are people who are struggling. It’s not just me, and it’s not just veterans,” she reflected. “The existing tools we have aren’t making the change we need to see.”

After connecting with the Boston Psychedelic Research Group, Emily was approached to advocate for a 2024 ballot question, which would have legalized the use of some psychedelic mushrooms. “At the time, I was hesitant and kind of fearful,” remembered Emily.

Drawing on her Visual Presentation experience from 4-H, especially extemporaneous speaking, Emily found herself doing interviews and debating esteemed doctors on live television and radio. She believed the goal was as much about reducing stigma and education as it was about passing the ballot question, which ultimately failed.

Looking toward the Future

Currently, Oneschuk is writing a memoir of her experiences and revisiting sewing projects she enjoyed so much in Massachusetts 4-H. She dreams of designing clothing and continuing to advocate for causes she is passionate about. “I would like to continue to grow as a writer and continue finding my voice.”

Throughout her life, Oneschuk relied on her early 4-H experiences of leadership and public speaking to meet challenges. “4-H formed me into a well-rounded person. I had a lot of confidence in my leadership and speaking abilities,” said Oneschuk. “4-H does a great job of empowering kids, giving them the confidence to take initiative in their lives.”

Several Foundation Trustees have enjoyed a busy spring filled with accomplishments. Here are a few of them:

A Foundation Trustee since 2023 and the Chief of Police in Natick, Jim Hicks was named Police Chief of the Year by the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association in April. Jim has held the role of Chief of Police in Natick for 13 years and is a past president of the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association.

Lindsey Larson is an Environment and Green Finance Specialist at the World Bank, where she has worked for more than five years. This year, Lindsey was named a Zhi-Xing China Eisenhower Fellow. To receive this honor, Lindsey needed to complete an application and research proposal. The program enabled her to spend three weeks in China in culturally immersive experiences and meetings, with the opportunity to apply what she learned after returning home. Lindsey has been a Foundation trustee since 2022 and is a 4-H alumna.

Ashley Randle served as the graduate commencement speaker for Western New England University in May. Ashley is currently the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). She previously served as the Deputy Commissioner for more than four years. Ashley has been a Foundation Trustee since 2019 and is a 4-H alumna.

 

How often does attending a national conference lead to true change? With 4-H, it does! In 2023, the Massachusetts 4-H’ers who attended the 4-H Ignite Conference initiated a “Lead to Change” project to make a positive impact on their communities. The 4-H attendees recruited other members and organized a “Day of Ag-cess” on October 14, 2023 to combat food insecurity throughout the state.

The “Lead to Change” project enabled the youth conference delegates to incorporate what they learned at the conference into their projects. The Massachusetts 4-H delegates, including Faith Motta, 19, of Adams, Miru Kunst, 17, of West Boylston, and Harrison Sachs, 17, of Bedford, learned that food insecurity impacts 7% of the population. “One of the goals of our project was to educate adults and children about food insecurity,” explained Faith.

This concept expanded beyond the delegates to other 4-H’ers . The group decided that each county would lead a project related to food insecurity with leaders or “captains.” In Berkshire County, Faith and her sister Hope led the youth in a food drive.

Harrison led Middlesex County along with co-captain Sam Jackson, 17, of Chelmsford. He contacted Boston Area Gleaners, a nonprofit that works with farms to donate their excess food to those in need. Middlesex County 4-H’ers picked 2,200 apples – more than two tons- at Baker’s Farmstand in North Attleboro and donated what they collected to a food insecure population.

Miru headed up the Norfolk County group for the Day of Ag-Cess and managed the event’s social media. “We ran a two-week food drive at the school (Norfolk County Agricultural High School),” Miru said. “I led our school in different shifts working in the (school’s) garden to harvest food. We really wanted to focus on fresh food, since that’s not something people can always get,” she explained. The youth also packed nonperishable goods, giving their donations to food pantries in Dedham, Norwood, and Walpole.

In Worcester County, Brooke Macjewski of Grafton captained an event at Waters Farm in Sutton. The youth ran a table to spread awareness of food insecurity and programs that help such as SNAP benefits. Participants were also able to plant seeds and learn the history of the farm.

Meg Riley, an Ag Extension Educator for Plymouth County, worked with youth on the Day of Ag-Cess.  They opened the farm at the Plymouth County Center for Agriculture so seniors could pick up food. 4-H’ers performed similar outreach during a summer agricultural session, when they brought food to the senior center. “The seniors were super excited to hang out with the kids again. It was an opportunity to extend the relationship we already made,” said Meg. “The seniors were excited to see the farm that their vegetables were grown on.”

The 4-H youth gained different takeaways from their Day of Ag-Cess experiences. Miru learned about the value of managing a large project. “I learned about management and food insecurity. There’s not a one-size-fits-all solution to this problem,” she said. “The best thing I learned is how much a community could get done in one day.” Harrison, meanwhile, saw the value of Boston Area Gleaners’ mission. “It was important to see how these organizations can work with farms to donate the surplus crops that otherwise would not have been harvested,” he said. “It helps people who are impacted by food insecurity.”

The Day of Ag-Cess’s influence extended far beyond October 14^th. The youth also contributed information on food insecurity to the 4-H Educators’ curriculum. Back in Plymouth, Meg Riley and the 4-H’ers plan to spend more time with seniors and grow vegetables for them again next summer.

Imagine having the opportunity to both travel and experiment with a potential career. This is what Havana, 14, of Lowell, and Harrison, 17, of Bedford, had the opportunity to do with AgDiscovery, a free program offered by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) for teens to learn about agricultural careers at one of 21 colleges and universities throughout the country during the summer.

The application process for AgDiscovery is extensive, requiring an essay and three recommendations. While there are several AgDiscovery sites throughout the country, each applicant can only apply to one.

Havana spent two weeks in Tallahassee, FL in June 2023 learning about the veterinary profession. One of only 20 teens from across the country, Havana shadowed a veterinarian, participated in field trips to zoos and the University of Florida, and learned from USDA and APHIS (Animal Plant Health Inspection Service) speakers. “It was an amazing experience,” she said. “I recommend it to anyone.”

Havana believes that her AgDiscovery experience helped solidify her interest in veterinary medicine, and she would like to pursue a career as a mixed animal veterinarian (one who cares for both large and small animals).  “I knew I wanted to do something in agriculture but wasn’t sure which field I wanted to go into. Participating in AgDiscovery definitely helped me decide,” she explained.

Havana has shown beef cattle with the Black Walnut 4-H Club of Billerica, most recently at The Big E last fall. She  has also participated in veterinary science programs through 4-H. “4-H has been amazing,” said Havana. “I love animals so much, and I have been able to work with them in 4-H.”

Harrison has long known that he wanted to pursue a career in the field of agriculture. He was able to go after that dream while studying agriculture at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Croix in July 2023 through the AgDiscovery program.

Harrison learned about agricultural practices along with a group from the Virgin Islands and the United States. The young people learned about tropical agriculture in different ways. They listened to speakers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and toured various farms, learning about St. Croix Hair Sheep and Senepol cattle, both native to the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Harrison also learned about food systems in the Virgin Islands, where plants are grown in environments other than soil. The farms that the group toured operated aquaponic systems, in which plants grow from fish fecal matter, and hydroponic systems, which use a water-based nutrient system to grow plants.

Upon completing the AgDiscovery program, Harrison believed he had learned a lot. “I saw the differences between the Virgin Islands and here, and also the similarities with sustainable agriculture and how that will be important for the future,” he said.

Currently a senior in high school, Harrison has participated in 4-H since the 5^th grade. He has been a member of three clubs: 4-H Famers Club of Bedford (of which he is currently President), Good Shepherd 4-H Club, and Black Walnut 4-H Club. Harrison has represented Massachusetts 4-H at

 

 

For the second year in a row the Massachusetts 4-H Foundation received a Platinum Transparency rating from Candid. To achieve this rating, the highest given by Candid, the Foundation submitted information on its programs, grant making capabilities, financials, board demographics, strategy, and metrics.

The rating is a strong affirmation of the Foundation’s mission and a valuable indicator to its existing and potential donors and funders that the Foundation is operated with the highest level of transparency and integrity.

Candid was formed in 2019 by the merger of GuideStar and the Foundation Center. GuideStar was the leading database used by foundations and individual donors for information on and transparency ratings of over 2.7 million 501(c)(3) organizations, and the Foundation Center was the “go to” source for charitable organizations seeking information on over 155,000 grant makers.

Visit the Foundation’s Candid profile here.