Awards banquet honors Gilliland

Okeechobee County Extension Agent Pat Miller presents Joe Gilliland with the Friend of 4-H Award Saturday at the annual 4-H Awards Banquet at Okeechobee High School. Okeechobee News/Katrina Elsken

Joe Gilliland was honored with the Okeechobee Friend of 4-H Award, at the 2004-2005 4-H Awards Banquet on Saturday, Aug. 27 in the Okeechobee High School Cafeteria.

"Over the last 15 years, the Okeechobee 4-H Foundation has attempted to honor persons of organizations who have rendered exemplary service to the 4-H program," said Debbie Clements of the Okeechobee County Extension Office. "In the past, honorees have been individuals, families and businesses whom have gone above and beyond to provide resources, time and expertise.

"This year's honoree has certainly distinguished himself as an invaluable contributor to the program's success," she said.

"John has been a 4-H leader for 14 years, but John is not just a leader, he is a leader extraordinaire. John was a founding leader of what is now the largest 4-H club with 95 members," she said.

"As an Udder Bunch leader, John has been Mr. Dependable. His organizational and leadership skills have been evident for years as he assisted in the movement of that huge active club and their animals around the state to various shows. John is also a teacher. He has provided the expertise in presentations at clinics, meetings, demonstrations, tours, judging practices and retreats. When John does a presentation, it is not just a lecture either. You had better be ready to dive in and get involved and dirty, if need be. It's going to be hands on, practical experience. John has assisted in coaching, judging teams and management teams. He has the ability to make highly technical subject matter useful and understandable.

"John shares resources and opportunities. He has made judging teams welcome to the run of the farm in their attempt to find challenging practice experience. He has provided a home for many 4-H animals at McArthur's. He has secured many show heifers for members, always seeing the quality and affordability of the animal," Mrs. Clements continued.

"John is a ‘cow doctor' administered to innumerable sick animals and breeding hundreds of heifers as a youngster's call. In short, John's wealth of practical knowledge and his unlimited willingness to share that knowledge has benefited literally hundreds of Okeechobee 4-H members over the years.

"But John hasn't just done 4-H, he has given of his time in other areas needed to further 4-H program. Realizing that the total picture of the 4-H program and how it fits into the community is much larger than the program itself, John has reached out into the overall community. John has been an active member of the Youth Livestock Show for many years, presiding over that effort for four years. He quickly became involved in the South Florida Fair, serving on the Dairy Committee and the Board of Directors. He serves on the Okeechobee Agri-Civic Center Advisory Committee and the Okeechobee County Fair Association. In all of these time consuming efforts, John has always kept the interests of the youth, the community and the 4-H program at the foremost.

"John doesn't just worry about the dairy kids," she said. "He provides opportunities for the entire program through fund raising opportunities and helping with the barbecues, parties, etc. John and Pam have also provided a wonderful legacy that we hope to take advantage of," she said. "Their daughters, Nichole, Dayle and Anna have all been heavily involved in the program. Two have graduated college with Anna on her way - we hope - to UF next year. They are justifiably proud of their accomplishments and we hope they'll someday follow in Dad's footsteps and come home and help with the program too."

Editor's Note: For more coverage of the 4-H awards banquet, see upcoming editions of the "Okeechobee News."

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