EFFINGHAM, Ill. – A local staff member is stepping into a leadership role to serve the youth of Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties. Megan Pierson, newly named 4-H youth development educator, is empowering young people with the skills to go beyond the expected. To be Beyond Ready.
County Director Kasey Kemme shares that Pierson’s connection to the local 4-H communities and her background with youth engagement positions her for success in the new role.
“We are very excited to have Megan step into the 4-H youth development educator role,” said Kemme. “She has been a vital part of our local 4-H team for almost three years, and we can't wait to see what she has in store for the youth and volunteers of Clay, Effingham, Fayette, and Jasper counties.”
Pierson has been with Extension for five years, serving as a 4-H Extension program coordinator for Clay County over the last three years. Before that, she held the same title in Wabash County. As an educator, Pierson will advocate for 4-H and deliver needs-based programming. She will support 4-H colleagues as she continues to work to ensure that local youth are Beyond Ready for whatever life throws their way.
Pierson holds a bachelor's degree in animal industry management from Illinois State University and a master's degree in agriculture leadership, education, and communication from the University of Illinois.
4-H is America’s largest youth development organization. There are more than 1,600 clubs all across Illinois, impacting the lives of youth within local communities. Learn more about local 4-H events and programming at extension.illinois.edu/cefj.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.