2005 Illinois Friend of 4-H Award: Mike Adams
Mike Adams, host of AgriTalk Radio of St. Louis, was named the 2005 “Friend of Illinois 4-H.”
Adams was honored during the Saluting 4-H Champions recognition program held in conjunction with Salute to Agriculture Day festivities at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on Friday , October 27. The award recognizes Adams for his numerous contributions and sustained leadership and support of Illinois 4-H and University of Illinois Extension.
Prior to hosting AgriTalk, where he facilitates a daily conversation about issues and ideas important to American agriculture and rural America, Adams served as disc jockey, sports announcer and farm director covering west-central Illinois on WLDS radio in Jacksonville for 27 years.
Adams has covered state and national agricultural events in 10 countries and has met Pope John Paul II and four U.S. presidents. He is also a highly regarded public speaker and master of ceremonies.
Adams served as president of the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) in 1999 and is a member of the National Agricultural Marketing Association (NAMA). He has received numerous awards and commendations from farm commodity groups and civic organizations for his straightforward approach to the issues. His peers have also honored him as a past recipient of the Prestigious Farm Broadcaster of the Year award.
As a youth, Adams belonged to 4-H in Greene County. He has actively covered and supported 4-H events and activities throughout his radio career. He has served as Master of Ceremonies for the Rally at 4-H Legislative Connection and was a long-time 4-H and Extension Advocate in Morgan County.
Also honored during the event were four Illinois 4-H Alumni Award winners including: Illinois State Representative Monique Davis, Chicago; Brenda Krause Eheart, executive director for Generations of Hope, Rantoul; David C. Erickson, president of LANDcorp Inc., Altona; and Brigadier General Wilma L. Vaught, U.S. Air Force, Retired, Falls Church, Va. The 4-H Partner Award presented to the Paul A. Funk Foundation of Bloomington. Hugh Wetzel, retired State 4‑H Office specialist, was recognized for being named a 2005 National 4-H Hall of Fame Laureate.
4-H is the largest out-of-school educational program for youth in the United States. 4-H seeks to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, forming attitudes, and developing life skills that will enable them to become caring, competent , and contributing members of society. In Illinois 286,000 youth participate in 4-H and other youth programs of University of Illinois Extension. More than 26,000 adult volunteers assist in the programming. For more information about 4-H in Illinois, visit: http://www.4-H.uiuc.edu.
L-R: Mike Adams, AgriTalk Radio show host, and Pennie Crinion, Interim Assistant Dean and Director, Illinois 4-H.
Press release (MS Word)
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