Sugg receives award for dedication to 4-H
Posted on Thursday, July 24, 2008
SPRINGDALE - Taking cues from Walt Disney, who said "It was all started with a mouse," Arkansas 4-H Vice President Marianne Smith told the crowd at the 62 nd annual Arkansas 4-H Awards of Excellence Banquet that "It was all started with the 4-H clover."
Arkansas 4-H is celebrating 100 years this year, and the centennial was the theme of Wednesday night's banquet at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.
Recognized at the banquet for his dedication to 4-H youth development in Arkansas was B. Alan Sugg, president of the University of Arkansas System. He was presented the State Friend of 4-H Award by Milo J. Shult, the UA System's vice president for agriculture.
Shult talked about the period of growth for the UA System during Sugg's 18 years of leadership. He also talked about asking Sugg if there was a chance to have an Arkansas 4-H Day at a Razorback football game. Sugg agreed, and the first "4-H Day with the Razorbacks"took place last fall, with more than 1, 200 parents, leaders and youth participating.
It will be conducted again this year on Aug. 30, when the Razorbacks play Western Illinois University in Fayetteville.
"I'm so proud of this award," Sugg said. "4-H has been good for Arkansas. It's been good for our nation."
He spoke about the organization's values, such as hard work, compassion and respect for others.
Also recognized at the banquet was the late Stephanie Rainey Bryant. Her son, L. Scott Bryant, accepted the National 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year Award for her. Bryant, who died on Feb. 21, worked as a home economist for the Arkansas Extension Service in Forrest City for more than 18 years. She was a 4-H leader and ran an after-school tutoring program at the Forrest City Community Voices Center, where she was a founding board member and executive director.
Welcoming the students at the banquet was Donna L. Graham, associate dean for academic programs at the UA Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences.
She said 100 years of 4-H is "a lot to celebrate," but she also quoted the song performed by country musician Kenny Chesney entitled "Don't Blink," saying," 100 years goes faster than you think. "She talked about how 4-H got started a century ago with some of the first members forming corn and tomato clubs and learning how to raise food for sustenance. "Life has changed a lot in the last 100 years," she said. She urged 4-Hers not to blink and to take advantage of opportunities to learn leadership and other life skills.
She also told them not to blink and miss the chance to attend college.
Numerous 4-Hers were recognized at the banquet for achieving at the highest level in the 4-H educational programs. These programs are conducted by the UA Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service with support from county, state and federal funds.
Many groups and individuals serve as sponsors and provide recognition and motivation by providing trips to National 4-H Congress, educational scholarships, educational materials and related support.
The banquet was part of the 4-H O-Rama events this week with hundreds of 4-Hers from throughout the state in the area to participate in the events that continue today on the University of Arkansas campus.
The theme of the O-Rama event is "Arkansas 4-H Extravaganza: 100 Years in the Making," signifying the centennial celebration of 4-H in Arkansas.
O-Rama is Arkansas 4-H's largest state competitive event.
4-Hers are vying in various activities, giving them a chance to exhibit the skills they have developed during the year. Seventy-five counties are represented this year.
Bumpers College faculty members are helping with competitive events that include a technology showcase, entomology collection, veterinary science and pet care, performing arts, gun safety, consumer economics, human development, fashion review, food fair, safety, health, citizenship, public speaking, environmental stewardship, agribusiness, public speaking, forestry, ornamental horticulture, crop and seed identification, sport fishing, bait casting and fish identification, animal science, horse and bicycle.
Another banquet is set for 7 p.m. today at Bud Walton Arena, when 4-Hers will be given awards for the 4-H O-Rama events of the week.
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