4-H didn’t just shape Maria P. Brekke’s childhood. It prepared her for the courtroom.
Brekke earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota in 2014 and went on to graduate with magna cum laude honors from the J.D. program at the University of Minnesota Law School in 2018. She is now a litigator at Nilan Johnson Lewis specializing in farming and agriculture cases.
Brekke credits her years in 4-H with giving her the confidence, skills and industry knowledge that make her a stronger advocate for her clients. Public speaking is a crucial skill for any lawyer, and 4-H’ers start gaining those skills early.
“My mom had a rule: we had to do a public speaking project every year. From kindergarten on, I had to give speeches or demonstrations. Public speaking never felt natural to me, but 4-H helped me become comfortable with trying and failing. That’s something I use every day as a lawyer,” Brekke explains.
Beyond building her public speaking skills, 4-H helped Brekke build knowledge of Minnesota agriculture she uses in her day-to-day work.
“My background in agriculture helps me assist clients in a more meaningful way,” Brekke explains. “I’ve worked on cases ranging from partnership disputes on family farms to pesticide drift to feed contamination. My 4-H experience is the biggest way I’m tied to agriculture since I didn’t personally grow up on a farm. It taught me so much about farming communities in Minnesota.”
Pursuing passion projects
Brekke’s 4-H journey spans four generations, and she hopes her daughters will be the fifth to carry on the tradition.
Her first experiences with 4-H began as a toddler, tagging along with her mother, who was a University of Minnesota Extension educator, long before she was old enough to officially participate. From kindergarten through college, she immersed herself in everything 4-H had to offer, pursuing a variety of projects that sparked her curiosity.
One of Brekke’s most cherished 4-H experiences was the swine project, a deep-rooted family tradition.
“My grandpa, all his siblings, my mom, her siblings and cousins, and then my generation all participated in the swine project. We have different connections to farming, but the swine project ties us together,” she says. “We’d raise a pig from spring through summer to prepare to show it at the fair.”
Beyond livestock, Brekke participated extensively in fashion revue, learning to sew from her great-aunt Marilyn. “My very first year, I made a green sundress with little white flowers. I made a different outfit every year – even my prom dress!”
Leading by doing
Brekke also took on leadership and citizenship projects, diving into topics like government and voter education. “I even put together a project on how to vote,” she adds.
A defining experience for Brekke was serving as a 4-H State Ambassador. “Those two years were incredible in terms of personal development, growth and friendships. It made me feel like I could make a difference.”
As an ambassador, she helped plan and lead retreats, welcomed visitors to the 4-H Building, assisted with livestock shows and even engaged with local and state legislators.
“4-H pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me realize I could take on leadership roles.”
She continued building her skills as an intern fundraising for 4-H and working as a 4-H exhibit staff member at the state fair.
Brekke still finds ways to, as the 4-H pledge states, commit her “hands to larger service.” Her internship at the International Institute of Minnesota inspired her to commit to assisting asylum seekers and refugees.
“That experience led me to law school," she says. "I still do pro bono immigration work through the Advocates for Human Rights. It’s something I care deeply about.”
A legacy of love
4-H fostered important relationships in Brekke's life, including a love connection. She met her husband, Nick, while working at the 4-H Building during the state fair, and their love story was profiled in an MPR article about state fair love stories. “We just got each other from the beginning. We accepted each other completely.”
Today, Brekke remains connected to 4-H, judging at county fairs and planning to enroll her young children in 4-H Cloverbuds.
Her advice to young 4-H’ers interested in law? “Be curious. 4-H fosters curiosity by allowing kids to try new things in a safe space. That skill is invaluable for lawyers, and for so many other careers.”
Maria’s top tips for polished public speaking
Substance, then style
“Learn the substance first, then work on presentation. If you are confident that you know your subject matter, that can alleviate a lot of nerves.”
Involve the audience
“Inviting audience participation is a great way to make speeches engaging and conversational.”
Speak, speak, repeat
“Practice out loud, more times than you think you need to.”
Be familiar, not memorized
“Don't be afraid to use notes if they help you feel more comfortable, but try not to write out full sentences. It's too tempting to just read word for word what is on the page, which is one of the fastest ways to disengage an audience.”
Get trusted feedback
“Give your speech to a test audience, such as a family member or friend who can give you thoughtful critiques, as well as words of encouragement!”
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