Volunteers

Each year, the Tennessee 4‑H program awards two outstanding individual volunteers through National 4-H Council’s 4‑H Salute to Excellence Award Program. These two award winners are simultaneously nominated for regional (U.S. Southern) and national consideration. The Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is given to an individual who has spent 10 or more years as a 4‑H volunteer while the Volunteer of the Year Award is given to an individual who has volunteered for 4‑H less than 10 years.

Lisa Harville has been named the 2025 Tennessee 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year. Lisa is a dedicated 4-H volunteer in Smith County.  Lisa embodies what it means to pledge her hands to larger service through the volunteer work that she does at the local, regional, and state level for Tennessee 4-H. Lisa is a cheerleader and an advocate for 4-H in the local community, encouraging youth and parents alike to become more engaged and involved. Her passion, poise, sincerity, and willingness to lend a hand is evident in everything that she does, and there is no doubt that Smith County and Tennessee 4-H is better thanks to her involvement and influence.

Wayne Rich, of Jefferson County, has been named the 2025 Tennessee 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer. Wayne has dedicated the last 20 years to the Jefferson County 4-H Patriot Shootings Sports team. He excels at teaching youth, fund raising, and advocating for the 4-H program with leaders in Jefferson County.  Wayne has demonstrated time and time again the ability to work with young people. He can teach any youth of any age the skills they need to be able to achieve their goals in shooting sports.  Wayne is also a great resource for the adults involved with 4-H. Wayne was a 4-H member in Pickett County, and attended 4-H Camp at Clyde M. York 4-H Center in Crossville each summer; and worked there on camp staff for 6 years.