A Celebration of the Life-Changing Impact of 4-H Brings Together Prominent Alumni and Leaders at National 4-H Council Legacy Awards in Washington, D.C.

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National 4-H Council

Mar 21, 2018, 10:44 ET

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards nearly 450 business leaders, philanthropists, celebrities, prominent alumni, special guests and dignitaries joined National 4-H Council at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, D.C., to recognize the accomplishments of our nation's youth and those individuals that make it possible for millions of young people to learn important life and leadership skills through 4-H youth development programs.

Honorable Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, presents Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, with the Distinguished 4-H Alumni Medallion during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Honorable Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, presents Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, with the Distinguished 4-H Alumni Medallion during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, six-time Olympic medalist, philanthropist and youth advocate, announces a partnership with National 4-H Council to bring agriculture program learning opportunities to urban communities at the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, six-time Olympic medalist, philanthropist and youth advocate, announces a partnership with National 4-H Council to bring agriculture program learning opportunities to urban communities at the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Actress and producer, Aubrey Plaza, shares her personal story and passion for 4-H during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Actress and producer, Aubrey Plaza, shares her personal story and passion for 4-H during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
The 2018 Class of 4-H Luminaries were recognized at the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
The 2018 Class of 4-H Luminaries were recognized at the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Cassandra Ivie, 17, of West Jordan, Utah, (center) is named 2018 National 4-H Youth in Action Award winner, during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards and joined on stage with, from left, Nikki Clifton, Vice President of Global Public Affairs, UPS; actress and producer Aubrey Plaza; president and CEO, National 4-H Council, Jennifer Sirangelo; Landel Hobbs, Founder and CEO, LCH Enterprises LLC; Amelia Day, 2017 National Youth In Action Winner; and Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Cassandra Ivie, 17, of West Jordan, Utah, (center) is named 2018 National 4-H Youth in Action Award winner, during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards and joined on stage with, from left, Nikki Clifton, Vice President of Global Public Affairs, UPS; actress and producer Aubrey Plaza; president and CEO, National 4-H Council, Jennifer Sirangelo; Landel Hobbs, Founder and CEO, LCH Enterprises LLC; Amelia Day, 2017 National Youth In Action Winner; and Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)
Honorable Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, presents Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, with the Distinguished 4-H Alumni Medallion during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council) Jackie Joyner-Kersee, six-time Olympic medalist, philanthropist and youth advocate, announces a partnership with National 4-H Council to bring agriculture program learning opportunities to urban communities at the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council) Actress and producer, Aubrey Plaza, shares her personal story and passion for 4-H during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council) The 2018 Class of 4-H Luminaries were recognized at the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, in Washington. (AP Images for National 4-H Council) Cassandra Ivie, 17, of West Jordan, Utah, (center) is named 2018 National 4-H Youth in Action Award winner, during the 9th annual National 4-H Council Legacy Awards and joined on stage with, from left, Nikki Clifton, Vice President of Global Public Affairs, UPS; actress and producer Aubrey Plaza; president and CEO, National 4-H Council, Jennifer Sirangelo; Landel Hobbs, Founder and CEO, LCH Enterprises LLC; Amelia Day, 2017 National Youth In Action Winner; and Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. (AP Images for National 4-H Council)

Of the notable attendees, Honorable Sonny Perdue, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, received the Abraham Lincoln Vision Award and Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, received the Distinguished 4-H Alumni Medallion. During the event, taking place on National Ag Day, both shared personal reflections on how young 4‑H'ers provide hope and faith for the future of American agriculture.

Duvall joins a prestigious group of 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion recipients, including such 4-H alumni as Facebook "News Feed" inventor Andrew Bosworth, actress and producer Aubrey Plaza, songwriter and musician Jennifer Nettles, and professor and best-selling author Temple Grandin, Ph.D.

In addition, the evening served as an opportunity to formally announce a partnership between National 4-H Council and six-time Olympic medalist, philanthropist and youth advocate, Jackie Joyner-Kersee. The partnership will include the establishment of a 4-H Club at the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Center in East St. Louis, IL., as well as agriculture program learning opportunities for urban communities.

Cassandra Ivie, 17, of West Jordan, Utah, was also selected as the national winner of the 2018 National 'Youth In Action' Award and will receive a $10,000 scholarship, sponsored by HughesNet®.

Finally, the induction of the 2018 Class of 4-H Luminaries took place with the addition of seven accomplished and influential 4-H alumni that will help raise awareness of the life-changing 4-H impact and generate support for bringing 4-H to more youth in need.

Dr. Juliette Bell, AL alumni
President
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
National 4-H Council Trustee

Ray Kerins, NY alumni
Senior Vice President and Head of Communications, Government Relations and Policy
Bayer Corporation

Ethel Branch, AZ alumni
Attorney General
Navajo Nation

Jill Soltau, WI alumni
President & CEO
JOANN Stores

Curtis Ullerich, IA alumni
Software Engineer
Google

Jeff Zeleny, NE alumni
Senior White House Correspondent
CNN

Maggie Sans, MI alumni 
Vice President for Community Relations
Walmart
National 4-H Council Trustee

Thanks in part to the support of Legacy Premier Partners Microsoft and New York Life, the event serves as National 4-H Council's premier fundraising event inspiring supporters to help grow true leaders and reach 10 million young people through 4-H by 2025. To view more photos from the 2018 National 4-H Council Legacy Awards, visit www.4-H.org/gala.

SOURCE National 4-H Council

Related Links

http://www.4-h.org

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