By Laura Allen
N.C. Cooperative Extension

Laura Allen, 4-H youth development agent with N.C. Cooperative Extension Rowan County Center, was recognized for an achievement during the 2024 North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals Annual Conference held in Concord on Aug. 19-21.

She received the Mike A. Davis Family 4-H Award for Innovation & Excellence. This award recognizes a 4-H agent for their exceptional capacities to manage a 4-H program which demonstrates innovation and excellence in 4-H youth development program design, implementation and balance across program delivery modes.

During her six-year tenure as the Rowan County 4-H agent, Allen has redeveloped the 4-H Embryology program, created a county 4-H Dairy Heifer Project and trained award-winning poultry teams and individuals. She has excelled in grant writing, receiving $23,825 in the last three years. She has also excelled at recruiting, retaining and empowering her 4-H volunteers.

The purpose of the North Carolina Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals 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 260,000 young people ages 5 through 18 participate in North Carolina 4-H activities each year with the help of 16,700 adult and youth volunteers.

You can find more information on 4-H at http://www.nc4h.org.