Extension Agents Honored for Youth Influence

TUCKER, Ga -- Cindy Meadows of Seminole County was recently awarded the William H. Booth Award for the Southwest 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 Susan Yearwood of Stephens County for the Northeast District, Brittany Teets of Rockdale County for the Northwest District, and Jakyn Tyson of Emanuel County for the Southeast District.

The Booth Awards, sponsored by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., were presented during the recent 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 Cindy, Susan, Brittany and Jakyn,” 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 Seminole County 4-H Agent for 23 years, Ms. Meadows’ achievements turning a program she found in a poverty-stricken county with no volunteers into a thriving activity. Under her direction, the county has produced 65 awards, including 10 State Project winners, 24 state and district officers and first place winners in such diverse competitions as Shotgun, Livestock, Watermelon Growing and Leadership in Action.

“My desire to see the youth of today succeed by using the 'learned by doing' 4-H model is the driving force behind my 4-H philosophy,” she said. “Realizing that many of today’s youth are not being taught the same lessons and work ethic as I learned, has certainly made me more determined to teach and lead 4-H youth based upon those life lessons.”

In her time in Donaldsonville as the 4-H agent, she has sent 44 youth to State Congress and 1,000 members participating in 4-H judging teams. And her peers have selected her a Booth Award winner for the Southwest District five times.

Her expertise in marketing shines through in her efforts to produce newsletters, exhibits at fairs and festivals, career events and even painting clovers on the roadside by the extension office.

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.