Page 13 - Sports Illustrated for Kids Magazine (December 2019)

15-time World Champion Swimmer
KATIE LEDECKY’S

FAVORITE

THINGS

BRANDON DILL/AP IMAGES FOR NATIONAL 4-H COUNCIL (WILLIAMSON IN TRACTOR AND WITH HELSEL); JOE ROBBINS/GETTY IMAGES (WILLIAMSON ACTION); MIKE COPPOLA/GETTY IMAGES (LEDECKY); WALIK/GETTY IMAGES (HOCKEY STICK) MORGAN LIEBERMAN/
FIELD WORK
WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES (GRANT); ROBERT BECK (PHELPS); BRIAN ACH/GETTY IMAGES FOR BOB WOODRUFF FOUNDATION (SPRINGSTEEN); URBANO DELVALLE/THE LIFE IMAGES COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES (BOOK); ISTOCKPHOTO/GETTY IMAGES (ANIMAL)
Back home in Tennessee,
Williamson operates SPORT OTHER
a tractor and tends to THAN SWIMMING
the cabbage, which he Hockey
shared with 4-H youth
Joyona Helsel.
ACTOR
Hugh Grant

FRESH TAKE

ATHLETE
GROWING UP
Michael Phelps

his great-grandfather became an
EMOJI
washing dishes ever since he was a kid independent farmer after acquiring
growing up in rural Milan, Tennessee. land just down the road from where
As a result, he and his sister Erika Williamson’s parents live today.
made a deal: She handled the inside “That was pretty rare back in

chores he didn’t enjoy, while he looked those days, for a black farmer to be
after the family’s cattle with their independent,” Williamson says. MUSICIAN
Bruce Springsteen
father. Williamson welcomed the “It was a big deal.”
farming responsibilities, and that When an ambassador from 4-H,
hasn’t changed since the 27-year-old which has historically focused on SERIES
became a defensive standout in the youth mentorship and development in Harry Potter
NFL. Each year during the offseason, agriculture, spoke to Williamson’s
he returns home to tend to his family’s fifth-grade class, the organization
farm by growing vegetables in the seemed like a natural fit. He remained SUBJECT
IN SCHOOL
garden, baling hay, and operating active in 4-H throughout high school
Psychology
the tractor. and now hopes his presence in the
“[Farming] taught me to do my network will teach kids that anyone
work before it’s time to play,” he can get involved in working with ANIMAL
says. “It teaches me now that I crops and animals. Porpoise
have to do my film study, Says Williamson, “It’s cool
work out—I’ve got to do to show kids that an NFL
that before I go out and athlete was part of this
enjoy myself.” organization, that you
Williamson’s family began can do multiple things, not just
Interview by Ethan Thomas
working in agriculture when play sports.”

SIKIDS.COM / 13