Extension Agents Honored with Distinguished Statewide Award for Youth Influence

The state and district winners of the 2022 William H. Booth Award for outstanding influence on youth are pictured with officials from Georgia EMC and the University of Georgia Extension Service. From left to right, they are Dennis Chastain, president of Georgia EMC; Wanda McLocklin of Barrow County for the Northeast District; Dr. Crystal R. Perry of Sumter County for the Southwest District; Shelia Marchant of Jeff Davis County, state and Southeast District winner; Brittani Lee of Cobb County for the Northwest District; Lindsay Bridges, Georgia EMC vice president for communications and member services; Jeanna Saxon, Georgia EMC government relations representative and Arch Smith, right, retired Georgia 4-H state leader. (Photo courtesy of Georgia 4-H)

TUCKER, Ga., — Sheila Marchant of Jeff Davis County was recently awarded the William H. Booth Award for the Southeast District as well as being selected the Statewide winner, which recognizes the outstanding work of Georgia extension agents involved in the 4-H program.

The other district winners included Brittani Lee of Cobb County for the Northwest District, Dr. Crystal R. Perry of Sumter County for the Southwest District, and Wanda McLocklin of Barrow County for the Northeast District.

The Booth Awards, sponsored by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., were presented during the 79th annual Georgia 4-H State Congress.

The award was established in 1979 in honor of Booth, a rural electric pioneer who founded the Jackson EMC in Jefferson, Ga. Booth encouraged Georgia’s 41 EMCs to consistently and collectively support statewide 4-H programs.

“Georgia 4-H provides a powerful positive influence on young people’s lives through 4-H Extension Agents like Sheila, Brittani, Crystal and Wanda,” said Georgia EMC’s Media Relations Manager Walter Jones. “By making a commitment to youth as they contribute their time, creativity and caring dedication, they make a difference across their communities and our state. Georgia’s EMCs share that commitment of improving the communities where we serve and are proud to sponsor an award that highlights these exceptional agents.”

As the Jeff Davis 4-H Agent, Ms. Marchant’s achievements include District Project Achievement Awards for Highest Percentage of Winners, Most First Place Winners, Largest Number of Participants, Greatest Improvement, and Highest Percent Participation.

“All children can learn, achieve, prosper, and be given the opportunity to reach goals and milestones in a safe, caring environment. It is my passion to see them achieve where their own passion lies,” Marchant said. “It has been a calling to serve as a youth-development professional, and I have committed my career to the youth of Jeff Davis County. Success for me is seeing that I have made a difference in the life of a child.”

In her time as the Jeff Davis 4-H agent, she has sent 58 youth to State Congress. She has successfully coached the Cotton Boll team to two first-place state wins and the Poultry judging team to three.

Her expertise in marketing shines through in her collaborative efforts with the Georgia Farm Bureau for the Annual Agriculture Awareness Day that targets more than 700 students, with 4-H members serving as leaders and instructors.

The William H. Booth Award is an honor acknowledging both peer recognition and career achievement. Extension agents from all four districts were elected from their district for more than seven years in 4-H professional achievement, 4-H educational development, professional and university service, and philosophy. Nominees must complete a rigorous application and interview process.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 electric cooperatives, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp. Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned co-ops provide electricity and related services to 4.4 million people, nearly half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area. To learn more, visit www.georgiaemc.com and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.