Burnett wins Governor’s Award, highest honor in Arkansas 4-H
By Mary Hightower
U of a System Division of Agriculture
July 25, 2019
Fast facts:
- Sagely Burnett named Governor’s Award winner
- Burnett, of Winslow, studies ag business
(540 words)
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LITTLE ROCK – Sagely Burnett was honored Wednesday as the Arkansas 4-H Governor’s Award winner, the youth development program’s highest honor.
The honor was bestowed during a ceremony during Arkansas 4-H State O-Rama. Burnett was one of four finalists for this award following a very demanding application and interview process. Following their interviews, the finalists were hosted for lunch by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and his wife, Susan.
This spring, she was selected as the 2019 inductee to the Arkansas 4-H Hall of Fame. She is majoring in agriculture business, with an emphasis on pre-law at the University of Arkansas. Among her many achievements, Burnett represented Arkansas in national competitions seven times; was a state 4-H ambassador, and an Arkansas 4-H State Officer at Large. She has been self-employed since 2010, raising and selling dairy goats, dairy cattle and commercial swine. In 2018, Burnett took part in “Adopt A US Soldier,” sending weekly letters and monthly packages to a service member and has encouraged others in her club to do the same. “Supporting those who sacrifice so much for us not extra, it should be necessary.”
“We want to thank our judges, donors, and Gov. and Mrs. Hutchinson, for their efforts in support of this award,” Freel said. “Every year the judges tell me how difficult it is to select an overall winner for this award,” said Angie Freel, interim director for the Arkansas 4-H program. “All of our finalists are 4-H’ers of the highest caliber.”
This year’s finalists were Lane Fritch of Hiwasse, Katie Gardner of Fayetteville and Caleb Swears of Carlisle.
To learn about 4-H and other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @Arkansas4H.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen
agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption
of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative
Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work
within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media Contact: Mary Hightower
Dir. of Communication Services
U of A Systen Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
mhightower@uada.edu