2008 Awards
Mary Neal Alexander Outstanding 4-H Youth Development Agent Award
As pictured from left to right:
Alice Ann Moore, former director, 4-H Youth Development;
Gary T. Rodgers, Extension Agent, Hardeman County;
Dean Tim Cross, UT Extension
Award Description
This new award has been established by Miss Mary Neal Alexander, retired associate supervisor for Home Economics programming from the old District IV (Upper Cumberland area of Tennessee). Her career began as a county agent, where she learned the value of county 4-H work. She also had a mentor within Extension who encouraged her to save some money, even as a beginning county Extension agent. She listened and has made some good investments over the years. Now she gives back by encouraging our young agents to get started saving, and by providing funds through which Tennessee 4-H can acknowledge outstanding youth development programming.
Citation
Gary Rodgers manages 80 4-H clubs in Hardeman County, reaching nearly 2,000 children. He is noted for his work in financial education. Two-thirds of his 4-H’ers reported they had a spending plan after going through Gary’s program. Gary has also provided guidance to 4-H judging teams and teen leadership programs where the emphasis is on decision-making. Gary is also known for his hard work at the Milan 4-H Center, where he is committed to giving kids the best camp experience possible. Another noteworthy program came about this past holiday when Gary’s 4-H’ers were a part of Operation Christmas Child. Here 4-H’ers collected games and toys for needy children in other countries. Gary’s 4-H’ers have also collected items for the Carl Perkins Child Abuse Center in Bolivar. You can see the lessons he teaches 4-H’ers—that no matter how young you might be, few things are more important than helping others.