Helen McMahon named 2026 Friend of Virginia 4‑H

Virginia 4-H named Arlington’s Helen Claire McMahon as its 2026 Friend of 4-H on Thursday at the annual Evening with 4-H awards held Jan. 23 in Richmond. This award is given each year to honor individuals, families, and organizations who make a lasting impact on Virginia 4-H.

McMahon’s introduction to 4-H began after the passing of her sister, Mikell Josephine McMahon, in July 2021.  

“She was my only sister, and we were the only ones remaining in our small family,” McMahon said. “She owned a wonderful farm in Berryville, Virginia, and it was always her dream to leave it for animal care, children, or the environment.”

One of the first people McMahon met in Berryville when she set out to settle her sister’s estate was Bryan Casey ‘88, Mikell’s insurance agent and a Virginia Tech alumnus. Over their many conversations, she learned about the Casey family’s involvement in 4-H and how much it meant to his three sons.   

“Bryan is a close friend now,” she said. “His and his family’s dedication to what 4-H is and stands for was really inspiring.”

Mikell's farm was sold to a farmer who would continue to utilize it for farming, and to honor her sister’s memory and the life she built, McMahon established the Mikell Josephine McMahon Endowment to support 4-H youth programming in Clarke County.  

After everything she learned through talking to Casey and others involved in Virginia 4-H, McMahon said she knows that supporting local youth programs in the county will fulfill her sister’s dream and wishes. Income from the endowment will support the program in perpetuity and has already helped fund 4-H camp scholarships, livestock shows, leadership training, and more.  

“We have been able to pay for our members to attend lamb and goat camp, send youth to the state 4-H horse show, and we funded several other livestock educational programs for our Clarke 4-H youth,” said Clark County 4-H Extension Agent Claudia Lefeve, who worked extensively with McMahon. “Helen's contribution to our youth in Clarke County is immeasurable. Her sister's legacy, through Helen's generosity, will impact our future leaders through continuous education in our animal science program.” 

McMahon’s involvement hasn’t stopped there. Having spent her career in the aerospace industry in roles at NASA and the National Air and Space Museum, she was keenly aware of the importance of science education. After learning about 4-H programming where she lives in Arlington County, she introduced its programs to her Arlington garden club. The garden club has since supported the Arlington program by sending a number of middle schoolers to Northern Virginia’s 4-H camp in Front Royal each year.

Though McMahon is thrilled at being named 2026’s Friend of 4-H, finding a way to so impactfully honor her sister is what made the award so meaningful. 

“I’m just so happy for her,” she said. “This has developed into something I really cherish because it will go on after I'm gone.”