An artist from day one, Melody Jarrell, a proud West Virginia University Extension 4-H member, is Morgantown-bound to begin her journey of becoming a graphic designer.
Jarrell, who grew up with a love for art and creating, found that the art and sewing skills she learned in 4-H led her to pursue a BFA in art and design with an area of emphasis in graphic design at WVU’s College of Creative Arts and Media. Her portfolio includes a wide range of projects, including 3-D sculptures, paintings, quilts and more.
“It was really in 4-H where I started to blossom with my art and sewing skills,” Jarrell said.
Recently, Jarrell and fellow 4-H members paid a visit to Washington, D.C. to see a collaborative quilt they helped create displayed at the Smithsonian. Seeing her own work displayed in such a historic museum only made Jarrell more passionate about the future of her education.
“It was really cool seeing how many different ages and styles came together in one project,” Jarrell said. “Seeing my work displayed in D.C. made me even more excited about pursuing art in college.”
The first 4-H project that Jarrell completed was a quilt square of the 4-H clover, which sparked her passion to continue honing her art and sewing skills. She eventually took on her first full quilt in 2024, and with some guidance from her aunt, Jarrell measured, cut, and assembled her project all on her own. The quilt is now on display at the West Virginia Culture Center at the Capitol in Charleston as part of the annual Juried Quilt Exhibition through September. Through quilting, Jarrell realized design was the right path for her.
“It was my first really big project where I did everything,” Jarrell said. “It helped me learn what works together and what stands out, just figuring out what’s pleasing to the eye.”
Jarrell’s artistic growth has not gone unnoticed. She earned Best of Show three times at the West Virginia State Fair for her 4-H projects, including a laminated leaf tree in 2019, a state of West Virginia design made with nuts in 2021, and her quilt in 2024. Each project not only shows her creativity but also shows her growth in the skills she developed along the way.
Beyond sewing, 4-H provided Jarrell with opportunities to explore a wide range of artistic outlets, including wood burning, painting, clay and other hands-on projects at camp. At Braxton County 4-H camp, she designed the camp’s spirit stick four years in a row, while also engaging younger campers in the design process.
Through all these experiences, Jarrell’s love for art and creating has continued to grow, and now she's ready to continue that journey at WVU. With the help and encouragement from her teachers, she was able to carry over the skills she learned from sewing, like color balance and composition, to her digital design projects.
Now, as she prepares to move to Morgantown in the fall of 2026, Jarrell is bringing those 4-H experiences with her as she continues to grow as an artist.
“4-H helped me turn something I enjoyed into something I actually want to do for my career,” Jarrell said. “It showed me I could take my art further, especially with the support and inspiration from my mom, dad, and aunt.”
If you want to learn more about WVU Extension, visit extension.wvu.edu or follow @WVUExtension on Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Instagram.
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an/06/17/2026
MEDIA CONTACT: Aden Nickerson
Communications Specialist
WVU Division for Land-Grant Engagement
aden.nickerson@mail.wvu.edu