Florida 4-H News Room: 4-H News from Around the State

NATIONAL 4-H HALL OF FAME LAUREATES ANNOUNCED 4-H has announced the names of the sixteen individuals who will be inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame during a special ceremony to be held on Friday, October 7 at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland. The National 4-H Hall of Fame Class of 2016 Laureates who will be honored for excellence in citizenship, leadership, character and career accomplishments include:  Estella (Stella) Almeida, New Jersey; Janet C. Burns Athanas, Alaska; Shirley R. Bond, Florida; Dr. James L. (Jim) Byford, Tennessee; L. Ann Domsch, Kansas; Lila Jeanne Eichelberger, Illinois; Dr. Stanley J. Lamendola, Louisiana; Dr. Eddie L. Locklear, National 4-H Council; John L. Loyd, West Virginia; Dr. Steve Mullen, NIFA/4-H National Headquarters; Linda Gould Nierman, PhD, Indiana; Marvin Olinsky, Ohio; Nancy Hottle Scheerbaum, Pennsylvania; Dr. Wendy J. Stivers, Kentucky; William Viar, NAE4-HA; and Dr. Kathleen (Kathi) E. Vos, Wis

4-H  Alum,  Morgan Boykin is the  current  Miss Tampa ​ 2016. Congratulations  Morgan on this  accomplishment. See more at: http://wfla.com/2016/03/10/miss-tampa-2016/

A Florida 4-H Alumna who's helped thousands of young people aspire to be their best will be inducted into the National Hall of Fame. Florida 4-H congratulates Shirley Bond! 

Introducing new experiences to children with special needs is very important for their growth and that's why Pepin Academy 4-H program is what's right with Tampa Bay: See the video:   http://www.fox13news.com/news/what-s-right-with-tampa-bay/139605035-story  

Bernard Lewis, 91 passed away Sunday, March 13, 2016.  Mr. Lewis was born in Woodville and spent remaining years in Quincy as a cattleman. Retired from U.S. Postal Service, retired Treasurer of Talquin Electric Cooperation Board, and was an  Army Veteran of WW II and a member and former Deacon of Thomas Memorial Baptist Church where h e was one of the first to give so the church could begin a full time childcare program. Mr. Lewis  served as 4-H Livestock Club leader for over four decades and transported countless kids and horses to 4-H Camp Timpoochee’s Horsemanship Schools.  Mr. Lewis routinely held fish fries for youth attending area 4-H Horsemanship Schools and donated horses to be auctioned off in support of youth and their fundraising efforts. In 2011 Mr. Lewis was inducted into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame. Contributions may be made to; Clark-Lewis-Moore Youth Livestock Scholarship Fund, c/o Gadsden Co. Extension Office, 2140 W. Jefferson St., Quincy, FL 32351. Independ

Emeritus Professor Dr. Bobby Damron, a poultry science faculty member in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida from 1968-2003, and a 2015 Florida 4-H Hall of Fame Inductee, died Tuesday, March 2nd, 2016.   As a teen, Dr. Damron participated in the State 4-H Poultry Judging Contests, attended National 4-H Club Congress in Chicago, and completed projects in dairy, gardening, tractors, poultry, leadership, agriculture, swine, and field crops. The unique 4-H experiences did not end for Dr. Damron when he graduated from high school. Participating in UF Collegiate 4-H Weekends at 4-H Camp Cherry Lake and working at 4-H Camp Cloverleaf helped Dr. Damron stay involved with 4-H. He also met his wife, Vera, while working at 4-H Camp.   After college, Dr. Damron volunteered to help 4-H and FFA teams learn poultry science and prepare for judging contests. On March 6 th , there will be a viewing at Kanapaha Presbyterian Church in Gainesvi

PLANT CITY — The new Florida Strawberry Festival queen isn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Haley Riley has been raising and showing livestock since she joined 4-H as a 5-year-old. And she’s not going to let the crown keep her from showing her steer, Wyatt Earp, at the festival’s livestock shows. “This will be my last year to compete so yes, I’ll be there,” she said. The 16-year-old Durant High School junior gets her love for agriculture naturally; several family members are farmers. Read full article:  http://www.tbo.com/plant-city/new-florida-strawberry-festival-queen-says-crowning-a-dream-come-true-20160123/