Clark County woman honored with Missouri 4-H volunteer leadership award

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Celebrating National Volunteer Week, the Missouri 4-H Foundation recently presented LaTisha Scott-Snead with the Naomi Crouch 4-H Volunteer Leadership Award. Scott-Snead is recognized for more than eight years of service and support to 4-H in Clark County.

Recipients of the Naomi Crouch Award may select a 4-H club or county program to receive $250 in their honor. Scott-Snead chose the Antioch 4-H Club in Clark County.

Q: How did you first become involved with 4-H?

A: I moved to Kahoka in 2013 with my husband, a third grader and a 6-month-old. I hated small-town life and told my husband that. He told me to get involved. 4-H was the first program I enrolled my daughter in, and I was hooked. I haven’t turned back since.

Q: Why do you think 4-H is important for young people?

A: 4-H has core values and offers the youth a wide variety of life skills they can learn.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of being a 4-H volunteer?

A: Seeing members grow in their skills. I love watching members come out of their shells, become more confident in speaking, more confident as a person and trying new project areas.

Q: What advice would you give to someone who wants to give back to 4-H?

A: Please consider getting involved as a volunteer. Even if you don’t have a youth member enrolled, many counties lack volunteers for project areas. Remember, you might not know anything about a project area, but you can help facilitate a project meeting by finding a candidate that can host a meeting. For example, as an enrolled volunteer, you find a local photographer who can host a small workshop. By being present as an enrolled volunteer, you can facilitate without needing the specific knowledge area.

The Naomi Crouch Award is presented annually to volunteers and organizations for devoting their time and talents to the University of Missouri Extension’s 4-H youth development program. The award is named in honor of Crouch, a Plattsburg native who was a 4-H volunteer and Missouri 4-H Foundation trustee for more than 20 years.