4-H youth development educators honored

Melissa Culp of Pulaski County received the Innovator Award for her work in organizing the Winamac Tree Planting. Culp organized 4-H junior leaders to collaborate with the tree planting campaign. The group planted 51 trees in Winamac, raising the funds needed to implement the program themselves.

The Bob Amick Award was presented to Angela Blevins of Lawrence County for her work in increasing local 4-H involvement. Collaborative volunteer efforts organized by Blevins, which included promoting 4-H year-round and conducting a project enrollment fair, helped increase county enrollment by 22 percent over two years.

Rae Ann O'Neill of Blackford County was given the Senior Award for her work in teaching positive self-image and a drug-free lifestyle. Project GROW uses 30 half-hour sessions to inform students about healthy living, encourage positive behavior and promote responsible choices with regard to tobacco, alcohol and drugs. O'Neill brought the project to eight classrooms and engaged students with games, videos, booklets and other learning activities.

The Career Award recipient was Jeff Holland from Monroe County. With his 23 years of service to Perry and Monroe counties, Holland is known nationally and statewide for his expansion of the Monroe County 4-H program through non-traditional ways. His work with gang awareness and prevention programs, the Monroe County Farm Festival and 4-H camp helped Monroe County double its 4-H enrollment over his tenure. Holland has also held various leadership roles in the Indiana Extension Educator Association, including past president, state 4-H band and chorus dean and state fair leadership school dean.

Writer: Becki Francis, (765) 496-1050, rfrancis@purdue.edu

Source: David Petritz, (765) 494-8489, dpetritz@purdue.edu

Ag Communications: (765) 494-2722;
Beth Forbes, forbes@purdue.edu
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