Volunteers

Each year, the Tennessee 4‑H program awards two outstanding individual volunteers through the 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.

Matthew Hibdon has been named the 2021 Tennessee 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year.  A Warren County 4-H alumnus, Matthew serves 4-H youth on the local, state, and national level.  From judging county and regional public speaking contests to reviewing statewide project portfolios to helping clean up a room after a judging contest, Matthew approaches each volunteer role with the same enthusiasm.

Consumer Decision Making is a special project for him since his county team won the national contest at Western National Roundup when they were in high school. When he was a Collegiate 4-H’er, Matthew started volunteering with the contest in Denver and was asked to join the FCS Classic Committee when he completed graduate school. Since 2015, he has served as Chair of the FCS Classic Committee and has served as an event staff coordinator who liaises with other contest superintendents before, during, and after Roundup.

Harold David McDaniel has been named the 2021 recipient of the Tennessee 4-H Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. David signed up to volunteer for Knox County 4-H in 1970 after he returned home from the Vietnam War. He specifically signed up to assist with the 4-H Horse and Pony Club. He coached horse judging teams, conducted 4-H horse shows, and raised funds for the club. As time passed, he began to volunteer in other 4-H program areas, such as the 4-H poultry club.

David mentors new volunteers to help them find their niche in the program. He is always actively recruiting new volunteers and encourages them to get involved for the “experience of a lifetime.” David is loved and respected by hundreds of 4-H members and their families. He is known for his willingness to serve in any capacity. His children are 4-H alumni and still actively volunteer with Knox County 4-H as does his wife, Jeanette. He is the longest active 4-H volunteer in Knox County serving for 50 years.