KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI -- University of Illinois Extension 4-H educator, Kelly Lafferty, was recognized recently for her outstanding work in the area of youth development by the Illinois Extension Professionals for Youth Education (IEPYE) and the National Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals (NAE4-HYDP). Lafferty received the Meritorious Service Award, honoring fifteen years in Extension Youth Development Programs while providing innovative youth programming and leadership to Illinois 4-H.
A few highlights from Lafferty’s career include providing a northern Illinois 4-H camp and camp counselor training to provide enriching educational experiences to campers while developing teen camp counselors into leaders. Using her Meditation and Mindfulness Certification, she creates social and emotional learning programming and adapts school enrichment programs, including Mindful Me and Your Feelings Matter. Lafferty provides organizational leadership to the Keepers of the Land event held annually for Stephenson County third graders. Lafferty also incorporates the Wee Nats Environmental Education Program, which she developed, and the First Impressions career readiness program into her lineup of offerings.
Lafferty is a 4-H educator for the University of Illinois Extension serving Jo Daviess, Stephenson, and Winnebago counties. Previously, she served for ten years as a 4-H agent for LSU AgCenter. Her passions include presenting social and emotional learning, environmental education, and college and career readiness programs to youth.
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 500 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 five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.