Burlington—Four University of Vermont (UVM) Extension 4-H staff members recently were recognized for their contributions to 4-H youth development. The awards were announced at the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals’ (NAE4-HYDP) annual conference in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 9-12.

Martha Seifert, Addison County 4-H educator for the past 15 years, received the Meritorious Service Award, which recognizes the ongoing achievements of NAE4-HYDP members who have served the 4-H program for more than 15 but less than 25 years. Recipients are all previous recipients of the NAE4-HYDP Distinguished Service Award, which Seifert was awarded in 2019.

Seifert manages the highest club youth enrollment in the state, overseeing 21 4-H clubs. She coordinates several educational clinics in livestock project areas from horse and dairy to beef. She also organizes an annual Addison County 4-H Foods Day, a popular event with youths in her county, where they learn about nutrition, food preparation and exercise.  

In addition, she supports 4-H’s presence at the Addison County Fair and Field Days every August. Seifert is a past president of the Vermont Association of Extension 4-H Agents and former 4-H'er in Connecticut.

Liz Kenton, the UVM Extension Youth Agriculture Project coordinator, was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award, which is presented to a member who has served more than seven years but less than 15. A former Peace Corps agroforestry volunteer in Mauritania, she provides hands-on programs that help young people build life and job skills through educational events and professional development focusing on agriculture, science and career exploration.  

Kenton oversees the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) robotics program that provides an opportunity for youths to learn how to design, build and program robots using STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) while honing their problem-solving, teamwork, communications and other life skills.

Molly McFaun, recipient of the NAE4-HYDP Achievement in Service Award, joined UVM Extension 4-H in 2018. She grew up in 4-H, joining the Trailblazers 4-H Club of Plainfield as a five-year-old Cloverbud and continuing in 4-H until her college graduation as a member of UVM Collegiate 4-H. In 2017, she became the leader of the Trailblazers and also has volunteered with the Topsham Pony Pals of Bradford.  

In her current role as 4-H educator for Orange and Washington Counties, McFaun supports club programming in the horse and dairy projects and leads a career exploration program called “How Did You Get There?” She also served as the Washington County 4-H Foundation president for several years. Through a competitive application process, she was selected as one of two Thrive Champions for the Northeast region to promote the use of the 4-H Thriving Model for positive youth development in 4-H. 

The Achievement in Service Award recognizes individuals who have been involved in 4-H professional development for more than three years but less than seven. 

Allison Smith, former Vermont 4-H assistant director, and Jennifer Lobley, a University of Maine Extension educator in volunteer development, won a national Communicator Award from NAE4-HYDP. They developed a social media package campaign, creating graphics related to volunteerism and volunteer recruitment. This award recognizes individuals for their significant accomplishments in presenting 4-H to the general public, civic and 4-H groups and others through public information methods.

Smith, a former New York 4-H’er, was hired in 2015 as the 4-H educator for Orange and Washington Counties, where she provided support to local clubs as well as organized livestock events and developed new programs, including sewing and crafts clinics. She later became the 4-H Learning Experiences coordinator, then 4-H assistant director, before her very recent departure to take a job working with rural communities in Vermont. 

To learn more about the Vermont 4-H program, contact the 4-H State Office at (802) 656-7630 or (800) 571-0668 (toll-free in Vermont).