COLUMBIA, Mo. — The Missouri 4-H Foundation honored three volunteers with the 2019 Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award on Sept. 27 in Columbia. These volunteers are recognized for their commitment to the University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development program.
“It is our great pleasure to recognize these outstanding volunteers for their important contributions of time, talent and financial resources to Missouri 4-H,” said Kyle Kerns, chair of the Missouri 4-H Foundation board of trustees.
The 2019 Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Award recipients:
- John Vic Grice, Cass County.
- Cara Riekhof, Lafayette County.
- Tri-County Electrical Contractors, Ralls County.
John Vic Grice is one of the volunteers who helped establish a 4-H shooting sports program in Cass County. For more than 28 years, he has mentored and encouraged both 4-H members and fellow volunteers in the shooting sports program.
Cara Riekhof, left, receives the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award from Louella and Chuck Pryor, center, and 4-H State Council President Heather Snow, right. (Photo by Casey Buckman)Cara Riekhof has supported the Lafayette County 4-H program for more than 16 years, serving as a 4-H project leader, as an elected member of the Lafayette County Extension Council and on the board of the Lafayette County 4-H/FFA Fair.
Tri-County Electrical Contractors has been a significant sponsor of the Ralls County 4-H program for more than five years. John and Pam Barnes of Tri-County Electrical Contractors have done extensive work upgrading and rewiring several Ralls County 4-H buildings, stalls and show barns at the county fairgrounds and have provided significant financial and in-kind support for local fundraising efforts.
Pam and John Barnes of Tri-County Electrical Contractors, second and third from left, receive the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award from Louella Pryor, left, Chuck Pryor, second from right, and 4-H State Council President Heather Snow, right. (Photo by Casey Buckman)The Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award is given annually to volunteers and organizations for devoting their time and talents to MU Extension’s 4-H youth development program. The award is named in honor of Naomi Crouch, a Plattsburg, Mo., native who was an active 4-H volunteer and Missouri 4-H Foundation trustee for more than 20 years.
Representing the Crouch family at the awards ceremony were Louella and Chuck Pryor, who presented the awards with 4-H State Council President Heather Snow.
About 4-H
More than 55,000 members strong, Missouri 4-H is an active, dynamic organization of young people who are learning, growing and preparing to be the leaders of today and tomorrow while making a real difference in their community, country and world. 4-H is the youth development program of the University of Missouri and the nation’s Cooperative Extension System. For more information on Missouri 4-H, visit 4h.missouri.edu.
About the Missouri 4-H Foundation
The Missouri 4-H Foundation is the private resource partner of the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Center for Youth Development. For 70 years, the foundation has secured and managed funds for Missouri 4-H, providing higher education scholarships, recognizing 4-H volunteers and supporting the work of MU Extension 4-H. Learn more at 4h.missouri.edu/foundation.
— University of Missouri Extension
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