COLUMBIA, Mo. – Celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Missouri 4-H Foundation is proud to recognize Missouri 4-H volunteer Deedee Martin with the 2021 Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award. Martin, who lives in Pike County, is being recognized for more than 30 of service and support to Missouri 4-H.

“We are honored to recognize Deedee Martin for her outstanding efforts on behalf of Pike County 4-H,” said Kyle Kerns, chair of the Missouri 4-H Foundation board of trustees.

Martin was 8 years old when she first joined 4-H, and it was a natural transition for her to serve as a 4-H volunteer and project leader as an adult. Martin volunteered for the Lincoln County 4-H program for 19 years. She and her family have been active in 4-H in Pike County for the past 12 years.

“I have always felt it is such a good program,” she said. “Watching the kids when they have done something on their own and that sense of pride.”

Throughout her volunteer career, Martin has served as a project leader for entomology, wildlife, cake decorating, foods, sheep, poultry and more. She has been a member of both the Pike County 4-H Council, serving as secretary, and the Pike County Youth Fair board. Martin currently chairs the rabbit and poultry shows and assists with judging.

Martin has also served as a coach for the Wildlife Habitat Education Program state 4-H team and wrote a successful Farm Credit Service beautification grant through Calumet 4-H for the Clopton School.

Recipients of the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award may select a 4-H club or county program to receive a $250 award in their honor. Martin chose the Calumet 4-H Club in Pike County.

Martin says that says she’s happy the program has been able to change and maneuver to stay relevant. “Robotics has gotten big, and technology,” she said. She is excited to see “just how it continues on and knowing it will be there for my grandchildren as well.”

The Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award is presented 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 native of Plattsburg, Mo., who was a 4-H volunteer and Missouri 4-H Foundation trustee for more than 20 years.

About Missouri 4-H

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 – 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 more than 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.