Abby Smith, 4-H agent for Effingham County, has been elected to serve as Georgia Association of Extension 4-H agents state secretary for 2012-2013. Her term will begin in August.

 “I am proud to be a part of an organization such as the Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents that works to serve the needs of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension professionals and 4-H program,” she said. “Our goal in Effingham is to promote and increase positive youth development within the kids of Effingham County using 4-H as our platform.”

Growing up a member of the Effingham County 4-H program, Smith has a deep-rooted appreciation for the expansive life skills the 4-H program has to offer a young person.

“I remember running for secretary of my fifth-grade 4-H club meeting many years ago,” Smith said. “In a lunchroom of about 100 fifth grade 4-H’ers, I was a nervous wreck giving my campaign speech and hoping that my peers would vote me in as their secretary. It was a learning moment that has stuck with me for years and serving as that 1992 fifth-grade secretary was just the beginning of my dedication and leadership in the 4-H program.”

Smith started her current Extension career in November 2011.

The Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents held their annual professional development meeting at Lake Blackshear in April.