Contributed
Stacie Kinlaw, 4-H Youth Development Agent with NC Cooperative Extension, was recognized for an achievement during the 2018 North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Agents Annual Conference held in Charlotte, NC.
Kinlaw was awarded the prestigious TC Blalock Young Agent Award, 4-7 years, for her excellence in 4-H youth development. She received her award during the evening Awards Banquet held in Charlotte, NC – the Queen City.
Kinlaw’s application included highlights of her efforts in providing 4-H county programs in 2017. During the 2017 year, Stacie Kinlaw succeeded in many areas of her job, some highlights of her participation in 4-H include:
*Serving as a key team member for a Regional Chicken Project with over 100 4-H members and FFA members registered. In this project, youth learn to raise and show broilers and laying hens; Broilers are processed by volunteers and staff and donated to local food bank.
*Recruiting seven 4-H State Congress attendees ages 13-18 for 2017 where they learned valuable leadership skills
*Coaching four state/district award winners – 3 in project books and 1 in presentations
*Coordinating and facilitating the 2nd annual Robotics day camp in Carvers Creek community at the Tabernacle Believers Holiness Church with 30 youth and over 15 adult volunteers. She was able to secure necessary partners including NC A&T State University, Bladen County Schools, Down East 4-H Club and Tabernacle Believers Holiness Church
*Coordinating/Implementing annual job shadow day for around 90 8th grade students with Bladen County Schools CTE staff.
*Chartering 2 new clubs in low income communities
*Helping coordinate and participate in annual Ag ‘Em Up Field Days event for 3rd graders in Bladen County over 350 students served
*Coordinating/Implementing Embryology for all 2nd graders in Bladen County – over #350 students served
*Securing financial support from United Way of Bladen County, Smithfield Hog Production, and Cape Fear Farm Credit; This was the 1st year in more than 6 years that 4-H has received United Way allotted funds
*Maintaining communication and connection with over 150 actively enrolled 4-H members and families using email, mail, and social media sources
Becky Spearman, Bladen County Extension Director, said that Ms. Kinlaw is hard working, dependable, and dedicated. She is always looking for new ways to improve youth development by offering new and innovate programming especially in the area of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). Ms. Kinlaw has a passion for children and their families, working tirelessly to help improve the quality of their lives. Stacie expressed enthusiasm for the opportunity to be recognized in front of her peers at the state level convention. “4-H agents have one of the hardest, yet most rewarding careers. The beauty of this job is that everyday is different, but every day is about changing the lives for the children right here in Bladen County. I have a passion for giving our students opportunities that go beyond the limits of our county and our normal resources. 4-H allows me to leverage local, state, and national support to create endless possibilities for our 4-H members.”
If you would like more information about the 4-H program in Bladen County, please contact Ms. Kinlaw at (910) 962-4591 or Stacie_kinlaw@ncsu.edu. You can also search Bladen County 4-H on facebook if you would like to see what is going on with the youth in our county’s local 4-H program.
The purpose of the North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Agents is to promote the profession of Extension 4-H and youth work in North Carolina. The 4-H program is the youth education program of North Carolina Cooperative Extension, based at North Carolina State and North Carolina A&T State universities. More than 235,000 young people ages 5 through 18 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 20,400 adult and youth volunteers. You can find more information on 4-H at http://www.nc4h.org.
About Author
