4-H Award Nominations

The Arizona 4-H Hall of Fame celebrates the impact of 4-H in transforming lives and communities. Inductees are recognized for their significant contributions in Mastery (project work) or Citizenship/Leadership (community impact). Honorees may be selected based on their professional achievements, personal successes, or dedication to creating opportunities for youth through Arizona 4-H.

4-H employee excellence is based on the impact to the overall program by employees who go above and beyond their roles to ensure youth achieve thriving outcomes through high-quality programming and positive relationships. These employees should model the thriving outcomes with examples such as demonstrated personal and professional growth and challenge, high personal standards and responsibility, and/or high performance in teams.

Each year, three Staff Excellence Awards are given to Arizona 4-H staff across all roles within the organization.

The 4-H Volunteer Excellence Award recognizes volunteers who go above and beyond to ensure youth achieve thriving outcomes through high-quality programming and positive relationships. Honorees demonstrate personal and professional growth, high standards, responsibility, and teamwork.

Volunteers can be nominated in one of four categories:

• Rookie: This award honors volunteers with less than 3 years of service who have already made a significant impact on the 4-H program. Candidates may have introduced new and valuable skills to the program, taken on challenging roles that support program growth and improvement, or demonstrated exceptional commitment to positive youth development and the 4-H mission.
• Mid-career: This award recognizes volunteers with more than 3 years and less than 20 years of service who have made a significant impact on the 4-H program. Candidates may have introduced new and valuable skills, taken on challenging roles to support program growth, contributed at the county, state, or national level, or provided meaningful mentorship to other volunteers.
• Innovator: This award recognizes volunteers who, in the past year, have developed, implemented, or helped create new programming at the club, county, or state level. Nominees may have introduced valuable skills from any of the Great Eight Pathways to Participation. Nominations should highlight the need for the innovation and its impact on positive youth development outcomes.
• Lifetime achievement: Created in memory of Bonnye Stuhr, who received the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2020, this honor recognizes volunteers with over 20 years of service who embody Bonnye’s commitment to social change and 4-H leadership. Candidates should demonstrate ongoing growth in their volunteer contributions, a lasting impact on the program, and excellence in teamwork, particularly through mentoring other volunteers.

The Family of the Year Award honors families who have made significant contributions of time, dedication, and service to the 4-H program at the club, county, state, or national levels. This award recognizes their leadership and involvement over several years.