The 2023 Annual Meeting of the New York State 4-H Educators Association Conference took place in November in Cortland, New York. At the conference, 4-H Youth Development Educator Jessica Reid was presented with a Special Service Award by her peers.
The New York State 4-H Special Service Award recognizes members of the professional association who have developed a new technique in programming, worked successfully with new audiences, and /or have been innovative in utilizing resources, people and situations.
Jessica was nominated for the award by Monroe County 4-H Team Leader, Susan Coyle. Her application was supported by letters of recommendation from Monroe County teacher Sheila Egan, CCE-Monroe Nutrition Educator Ally Miller, Cornell Vegetable Team Extension Aide Lori Koenick, and Agape Haven of Abundance Director Julia Oakley.
Jessica’s technology skills were vital in transitioning programs to virtual formats during the pandemic. Additionally, she has great interest in Japanese and Korean culture, leading her to offer camp days for youth to learn with her. Jessica started a teen group that included many youth from refugee families, that works to improve their community through development of projects such as an anti-violence video, planting community gardens, and making scarves for winter coat giveaways.
Sheila Eagan, local teacher, shared, “The staff and students that she works with are always excited to see her and curious what fun experiments, new books and interesting facts they are going to learn. Jessica inspires curiosity and a love of learning about agriculture, where our food comes from and how things are made.”
Learn more about 4-H at https://monroe.cce.
cornell.edu/4-h-youth-development.
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