Hawkins receives state 4-H alumni award

LUBBOCK – A Clarendon native was recognized during the statewide Texas 4-H Roundup held recently on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock.

At the event, the Texas 4-H Alumni Award was presented to Amy Jarmon, formerly a 4-H member in Travis County, and Dr. Dean Hawkins, formerly a 4-H member in Donley County.

“The Texas 4-H Alumni Award recognizes adults who have made significant achievements in their communities as a 4-H member and have shown evidence of the influence of 4-H into their adult lives,” Boleman said. “This award is administered by the Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association.”

As a professor and head of the agriculture department at West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Hawkins gives leadership to the future of agriculture in the Texas Panhandle and beyond, said Brandon Dukes, AgriLife Extension specialist for 4-H and youth development, Potter County.

“As department head, he shapes the agriculture education curriculum and hires faculty to lead and inspire future generations of students,” Dukes said.

“As a parent, he works with the county AgriLife Extension agent to train parents and select swine projects for youth throughout the county.”

“This was a unique program for many reasons, not the least of those being that it was held on the Texas Tech campus instead of the Texas A&M University campus, where it had previously been for several decades,” said Dr. Chris Boleman, Texas 4-H program director, College Station.

Boleman said the 2012 Texas 4-H and Youth Development Program’s Salute to Excellence Banquet during 4-H Roundup provided a worthy venue for award presentations.