James K. Weefar, a dedicated 4-H club advisor at Timas Foundation Schools, has embraced the teachings of 4-H Liberia and turned them into real-world success. A passionate advocate for agricultural education, James didn’t stop at simply advising his students—he became an active participant, starting his own Home Entrepreneurship Project (HEP).

James learned valuable skills through 4-H, including building cassava mounds, creating ridges, and cultivating vegetables. But his journey didn’t stop there. Inspired by these new techniques, he ventured into rice production, planting a thriving rice field. “The rice is all coming up, and I’m still planting,” he says with pride. This venture, rooted in the knowledge gained from 4-H, has become a symbol of his commitment to continuous learning and community empowerment.

One of the most impactful lessons James learned from 4-H was about the solar dryer. Previously, he struggled with the challenge of preserving his pepper harvest, often losing much of it to rot. With the introduction of the solar dryer, James is now able to dry his peppers efficiently, adding value and ensuring that he can sell them at a better price. “My pepper will never get rotten again,” he says, confident that this new technology will bring more income.

James’s influence extends beyond his own farm. He’s teaching his son and other community members the techniques he’s mastered, particularly the benefits of planting cassava on mounds and ridges. Through his leadership, James is not only cultivating crops but also nurturing a spirit of self-reliance and innovation within his community. His dream of building fish ponds next to his rice field is the next step in his journey, and he’s already laying the groundwork with the help of a local technician.