CHEVY CHASE, MD  –  Anna B. Lucas of Waynesburg, was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame on Oct. 6 for her lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H.

Honored by the Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program, Lucas was one of 16 people inducted during the ceremony at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

The National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees are nominated by their home states, National 4-H Council; the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA); or 4-H National Headquarters/National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) based upon their exceptional leadership at the local, state, national and international levels.

Honorees were presented with a National 4-H Hall of Fame medallion, plaque and memory book during the ceremony. The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the NAE4-HA in partnership with National 4-H Council and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA. For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit www.nae4ha.com/hof

“We are proud to recognize the 2017 National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees for the passion, dedication, vision and leadership they have shown toward young people during their many years of service to 4-H,” says Jeannette Rea Keywood, National 4-H Hall of Fame Committee Chair.

Raised on a Lincoln County farm, Anna B. Lucas graduated in 1963 with a BS in Home Economics from the University of Kentucky. Planning to teach Home Economics, she was offered a Home Demonstration Agent position prior to graduation. A former 4-H member, unable to secure a teaching position, and faced with student loans, she accepted. So began a career spanning five decades of Extension accomplishments.

As a Home Demonstration agent, Anna was also responsible for 4-H. In 1967, she accepted an agent position in Tennessee and began a master’s degree at UT. Anna accepted an assistantship in Extension Education, focusing her work on 4-H leadership projects. In 1969, she finished her degree and became Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee 4-H, emphasizing citizenship, community service and communications.

Returning to Kentucky in 1976 as State 4-H Specialist, Curriculum Management, she served on numerous curriculum development and planning committees in Kentucky, the Southern Region and nationally. Anna made a lasting impression on thousands of youth, volunteers, and agents. Over her career, she provided volunteer and staff development in character education, citizenship, leadership, community service, family life, record keeping, entrepreneurship, consumer education, and agent orientation. Mentoring agents was a rewarding aspect of her career. She improved agents’ technical expertise and skills, increasing their effectiveness in meeting county needs and improving lives. Anna served as National 4-H Congress Chair, providing leadership to multiple committees to coordinate the event for 1,500 youth annually.

Anna’s dedication to 4-H was demonstrated by her creativity, organizational skills, leadership abilities, and dedication to supporting agents and offering exemplary educational programs. She provided the spark, ideas, inspiration, long hours, extra efforts, and motivation that made significant programmatic improvements and a difference in the lives of Kentuckians. She was an invaluable member of Kentucky Cooperative Extension.  Anna authored an overwhelmingly high number of 4-H project books and leader guides for both University of Kentucky and University of Tennessee including: 4-H Club Leader’s Guide; 4-H Officer’s Manual; Citizenship Leader Guide; 4-H Breads Series; 4-H Food and Nutrition projects books; Consumer Education Project Guide; Project Selection Guide; The Public Speaking Project; and a Quarterly 4-H Club Resource Guide.  Additionally, she served on 12 different writing teams in the southern region and nationally, including the 4-H Community Service Series and Achievement publications.

Lucas coordinated 4-H Food-Nutrition programs and collaborated with specialists to update food and nutrition projects.  She developed dairy foods and breads projects and food safety programs, enrolling over 100,000 participants annually. She chaired the state planning committee for the first nutrition forum for leaders and agents, providing quality educational experiences in KY’s largest project area. Under her leadership, citizenship became a major component of every Kentucky 4-H activity. She integrated a citizenship experience into every project manual, regardless of subject matter. Anna coordinated staff and advised national staff in curriculum development and training. She promoted the US Constitution’s Bicentennial Celebration, chairing KY’s Bicentennial Celebration planning committee in 1992. Noted for leadership and service, she received several awards including: UK HES Centennial Laureate, KY 4-H Distinguished Leadership, NAE4-HA Distinguished Service Award, Epsilon Sigma Phi Meritorious Service Award; and Outstanding UK Specialist.

Upon retirement, Anna returned to her birthplace, serving multiple leadership roles in her church and community. She substitutes at school and volunteers in 4-H and school. Still a vital part of Kentucky 4-H, Anna provides state-wide leadership in character education as Volunteer Coordinator for CHARACTER COUNTS!  She co-authored Kentucky’s 4-H History for the 2009 4-H Centennial Celebration.  Demonstrating her lifelong commitment to youth development, education and 4-H, Anna created two annual University of Kentucky scholarships for the College of Agriculture and the School of Human & Environmental Sciences.