April 7, 2006
Nettie Ruth Brown Receives 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today announced that Nettie Ruth Brown has received the 2006 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms. Brown, a retired 4-H Extension Agent, was presented the award by Bronson and James Harold Thompson, former Speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, at the ninth Annual 4-H Reception and Auction in Tallahassee.
“Ms. Brown represents the highest standard of community leadership through her years of dedicated service to the Florida youth,” Bronson said.
Brown is also a charter inductee into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame which was established in 4-H’s centennial year of 2002. She has established and endowed through the Florida 4-H Foundation the Nettie Ruth Brown Scholarship Award presented each year at 4-H State Congress.
Brown began her 4-H career in Tennessee as a Home Demonstration Agent but returned to St. Johns County in 1960 to assume responsibilities for the Home Economics and girls 4-H program. She has demonstrated her dedication to Florida youth by developing new programs and elevating the 4-H program to prominence and respect within the county. She has helped organize and charter the State of Florida 4-H Agents Association, and has chaired seminars and exhibits for the National 4-H Association meetings. She also served as chairwoman of the Blood Bank Center of St. Johns County, president of St. Augustine Sister Cities Association, president of the Executive Council for the Friends of St. Johns County Library, and is an active Garden Club member. Though she officially retired from 4-H in 1985, she remains an active supporter of Extension programs and the St. Johns County community.
Founded in 1902, 4-H is a community of young people who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. The organization is comprised of more than 280,000 of Florida’s rural, suburban and urban youth ages 5-18. 4-H is active in all 67 counties. Programs are open to all persons regardless of race, color, age, sex, handicap or national origin. For information about Florida 4-H, visit www.florida4h.org.
For more information:
Laura Lok, Florida 4-H
Public Relations/Communications
(352) 846-0996 ext. 237
