4‑H Salute to Excellence Awards

For more than 25 years, Becky Daily has been involved in the Hendricks County 4‑H Program in Indiana. Becky understands the importance of having a club that is inclusive and welcoming to all. Due to this, the Discovery Club was established. Becky saw an opportunity to welcome those that didn’t attend “traditional” schooling. A teacher by trade, Becky started connecting with families that homeschooled their children. The Discovery Club was now not only a “county-wide” club, but was also a way for “traditional” and “non-traditional” schooled children to meet.

Not only does Becky understand the importance of youth-adult partnerships, she makes it fun for the kids to learn. As a teacher, Becky utilizes activities as catalysts for life skill development, just as we do with projects in 4‑H!

Her character is the very definition of the 4‑H Motto – To Make the Best Better. She is constantly looking for ways to improve and reach new audiences with the 4‑H Program. Becky’s actions as a volunteer are reflective of her morals – caring, encouraging, and understanding.

For the past 14 years, Barbara Confer-Franck has been a leader in Union County, Pennsylvania and currently is the organizational leader of the county’s largest club. Barbara is a certified 4‑H Archery instructor and leads the Archery project during camp week. She is also the leader of the Good Time 4‑H Club, where she not only teaches members how to succeed at each officer position but pushes those in the positions to be even better. Her contributions to the county program have been immense; from fundraising to event planning and everything in between.

Barbara is the embodiment of an outstanding youth leader. She mentors’ members in multiple organizations and counties. She is always willing to help in whatever way and lends her expertise even when she can’t physically be there. Youth and adults look up to her, and her impact upon them is known throughout the area. She is a team player and always manages to foster positive discussion, she has been quoted as saying “4‑H is a journey with our youth to find out what makes them special and help them reach their potential.”

For 24 years, Vivian Johnson has served as a 4‑H Middle Manager volunteer in Sumter County, South Carolina. She serves as an organizational leader for the Sumter County 4‑H Cooking School, 4‑H Sewing School, the Creative Crafts workshop and the 4‑H Sumter County Junior Master Gardener Club.
Vivian spent her career as a teacher with children in an alternative school setting. Her teaching and leadership style reflect the skills she developed in that challenging position. She maintains a calm demeanor in all situations and her mastery of the varied subject being taught encourages students to stay engaged and focused.

Before any of the summer 4‑H programs offered in Sumter, Vivian meets with the Sumter 4‑H agent, and other volunteers repeatedly to design the course and then to work through the steps involved in completing the chosen project. She has a warm and engaging personality that makes her instruction style non-threatening and inclusive. Vivian’s experiences and expertise are priceless to the success of the youth and 4‑H programs in Sumter County.

For the past 9 years, Cisco has dedicated his time and leadership to Georgia’s youth. He serves as a leader at almost every Gwinnett County 4‑H events. Collectively serving 1,520 hours over 19 weeks of camp, he has chaperoned Cloverleaf, Senior, and Junior Camps for the past 9 years with Gwinnett and several other counties. He is held in high regard and often called on by other leaders to attend state camps or activities as a chaperone.

What stands out the most about Cisco is when he talks about his 4‑H experience and how much 4‑H means to him. It was a tool for him to learn, grow, and blossom into a responsible adult. The definition of “4‑H Grown,” Cisco is an amazing advocate in the community and state and mentor for Georgia’s youth. He has taken all that 4‑H gave to him and gives back to youth not just in his local county but across the state. He helps them to become better leaders, citizens, and helps to build them into future change makers.

Amy West has been involved in 4‑H for her entire life. Growing up as a Sussex County 4‑H member, she was very active at the local, county and state levels. She participated in a variety of projects and activities which helped her to become a very well-rounded person.

Through the years, Amy has taken many roles at the county level. She is an active member of the Sussex Leader Association where she helps at many events. She is also the President of the Sussex County 4‑H Order of Links. Amy has done a great job in this role always promoting Links sponsored events and encouraging others to give back and help with the program.

Amy is always willing to help wherever needed. Her love and dedication to 4‑H shine through in all that she does! She works well with both youth and adults, always encouraging them to learn new things and get involved.

Joining the 4‑H at the age of 7, Shannon grew up recited the 4‑H pledge believing in her strengths and impact she could make in the world. She truly embodies the 4‑H values and lives her like in a way that positively impacts others. She is respectful, kind, considerate, and hard-working. She sees the value in today’s youth and encourages them to set and reach their goals.

She is the current club leader of Silver Lake 4‑H club in Kansas. She excels in the livestock projects. She plans meetings to encourage the development of the bucket calf showman and help them grow in their projects by learning how to take care of their calves. As a veterinarian she has the unique opportunity to engage with livestock members on both an animal health level and showmanship level.

She continually encourages the youth and members to be get involved in some capacity. She has encouraged the youth to not only run the meetings but help organize the monthly project talks and brainstorm volunteer opportunities.