• By April W Bowman
• Posted Tuesday, February 23, 2021

Forsyth 4-H Volunteers Win State Awards

Three Forsyth County 4-H Volunteers were recognized at the 2021 North Carolina 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Conference with awards.

Angie and Gwenda first started as parents with older siblings in 4-H. Shortly, as the older siblings grew up and the younger siblings became involved the more the two became inseparable from the group. Angie and Gwenda stepped up to be leaders of the Trailblazers 4-H Club in Forsyth County. They are a dynamic leadership team that provide guidance, leadership, and support to the younger embers to the Trailblazer Teens which consist of the older siblings to the Trailblazers.

Achievement Hall in 4-H Leadership
Melinda Barrick, Forsyth County
Melinda stands out as one of the few individuals totally dedicated to the 4-H tenants while modeling leadership, citizenship, and community service and teaching the 4-H members those same skills. She is revered by adults AND kids for her positive attitude, her work ethic, and her overwhelming desire to grow children and teens into the leaders of tomorrow through 4-H. She co-leads not one, but two 4-H clubs, serves as the Adult Treasurer of the Forsyth County 4-H Program Fund, and chair of the annual 4-H Plant Sale. Melinda develops critical life skills through her use of teen leaders and committees as a part of her club structure. She has served as a Forsyth County 4-H Volunteer since 2004 and has mentored countless young people and adults through her service. Melinda's photograph will hang in the Jane S. McKimmon Center for a year. The Center is named after the late Dr. Jane S. McKimmon, who served for 35 years (1911-1946) as a leader in home demonstration work, and received many honors for her outstanding direction of youth and adult extension education in North Carolina; the Center carries on her tradition to public service. Afterwards, her photograph will join the other award winners at the Betsy-Jeff Penn 4-H Center. The award is sponsored by the North Carolina 4-H Honor Club.

We are proud to have these outstanding 4-H volunteers represent Forsyth County. For more information about 4-H, or how you can volunteer, email, Dee An, Volunteer Coordinator, at dcan@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2848, April Bowman, Extension Agent, Livestock, Forages, and 4-H Youth Development at awbowman@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2855 or Dr. Monique Pearce-Brady, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development at dmpearc3@ncsu.edu or call 336-703-2856.