Zona Medley, left, Colquitt County’s 4-H extension agent, receives the state William H. Booth Award, sponsored by Georgia Electric Membership Corp., during the annual 4-H State Congress in Atlanta. Presenting the award, right, is Gale Cutler, the utility’s Georgia public relations coordinator and Georgia 4-H Advisory Committee chair.

Zona Medley of Colquitt County was recently awarded the Southwest District William H. Booth Award, which recognizes extension agents for outstanding work with youth in the 4-H program.

In addition to receiving praise at the district level, Medley was also selected to receive the statewide Booth Award, an additional honor. The awards were presented and sponsored by Georgia Electric Membership Corp. during the annual 4-H State Congress in Atlanta.

“EMCs recognize the importance of developing future leaders from every corner of the state,” said Gale Cutler, the utility’s Georgia public relations coordinator and Georgia 4-H Advisory Committee chair. “Agents such as Zona have the opportunity to make a powerful impact on young people’s lives. Through her time, efforts, commitment and dedication, she is making a positive difference across Georgia.”

Medley’s personal experience and involvement in 4-H organizations at the state and national levels made her a strong contender for the district and state awards. She is a member of the Georgia and National Associations of Extension 4-H Agents and the 4-H service organization Epsilon Sigma Phi, serving on many committees and holding a number of leadership positions.

She supervises 4-H part-time program assistants and VISTA volunteers, and recruits and trains volunteer leaders to work with the BB, skeet and Rim Fire teams. In addition she is the agent advisor to the Southwest District Junior Board, served as camp coordinator for Junior Camp at Burton 4-H Center and host for District Cloverleaf Project Achievements.

“I began my career in Georgia 4-H 20 years ago. As I have now led multiple generations through the 4-H program, I have observed one very important thing: children never change,” Medley said.

“Their circumstances in life may change, and the world they grow up in may change, but all children need a positive, caring adult to lead and guide them as they mature into adulthood. As a 4-H youth professional, I have the opportunity to be that individual to my 4-Hers, and every day I am thankful for that privilege.”

Medley has adapted 4-H lessons for fourth and fifth grade severe and profoundly disabled special needs students. In addition to modifying the delivery method, she has developed and taught other life skills such as “Manners” and “Meet and Greet” and is now collaborating on a series of 4-H lessons for all agents and teachers to use statewide.

Extension agents are nominated by their peers for the Booth Award and undergo an extensive application and interview process. Booth Award nominees were reviewed in five areas: Youth Development Programming, Marketing and Promotion of 4-H and Youth Programs, Volunteer Development, Leadership, and Philosophy. After an extensive review process, awards are presented to one agent in each of Georgia’s four 4-H districts: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast and Southwest.

The Booth Award is named for Bill Booth, a charter member of Jackson EMC and general manager for 15 years, and a rural electric pioneer who helped form the National Rural Electric Cooperative Assoc. and Oglethorpe Power Corp.

Georgia EMC is the statewide trade association representing the state’s 41 EMCs, Oglethorpe Power Corp., Georgia Transmission Corp. and Georgia System Operations Corp.  Collectively, Georgia’s customer-owned EMCs provide electricity and related services to more than four million people, half of Georgia’s population, across 73 percent of the state’s land area.