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.

Mary Gauerke has been named the 2022 Tennessee 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year.  Mary Gauerke, from Sumner County, is the epitome of an exceptional 4-H volunteer.  Mary is currently the 4-H leader of the Sumner County 4-H Companion Animal Project Group, and the Home Horticulture Group.

Mary is a strong voice and a creative force for community.  She is always striving to “make the best better” by providing ample citizenship opportunities for 4-H youth in Sumner County.  Through her tireless 4-H volunteerism at the county, regional, state, and national level, Mary has built many strong relationships with other 4-H volunteers and professionals. She uses these connections to help improve the Sumner County 4-H program, and the 4-H program everywhere.

Terry Hallum has been named the 2022 Tennessee 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer. Mr. Hallum was the Dyer County 4-H Shooting Sports team volunteer coach for 15 years.  In those 15 years, he has had many youth earn college shooting sports scholarships, and earn State and National recognition.  Terry has taught youth to not only improve their shot and respect the discipline of shooting, but to be great young people as well.  He volunteered thousands of hours to help the Dyer County 4-H Shooting Sports to succeed in competitions all over Tennessee, and other states. Those hours enhanced the life skills of many, many Dyer County 4-H Youth. His service to the Dyer County 4-H youth made a difference in the lives of the community, and surrounding areas of West Tennessee.

Terry was a supporter of the Tennessee 4-H Shooting Sports program during a time of great expansion.  Terry’s leadership helped to build the state program, from the West to the East.  His passion for 4-H was evident as the state program continued to grow; and he continued to build the Dyer County program right along with it.  He was a leader at state events, and a wise counsel to all involved with the program, all the way to the state level.  He sent several shooters to the National 4-H Championships, and was pivotal in Tennessee’s growth at this National event.