Florida 4-H News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                     

Gladys Freeman Elected To Florida 4-H Hall of Fame

By: Laura Lok                                                                                       
Public Relations Coordinator                                                                   
Phone: (352) 846-0996, ext. 237                                                              

Contact: Lane Jimision
Florida 4-H Foundation, Inc.
Phone: (352) 846-0996, ext. 238

GAINESVILLE — Gladys Freeman, an integral part of 4-H for the last 38 years, has been elected to the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame.  Freeman was one of five individuals to be inducted in 2006 at ceremonies held on July 27 at the University of Florida in Gainesville .  

Freeman formed the first chartered 4-H club in Okeechobee County in 1968.  She was instrumental in creating a livestock show and sale so members would have a means to exhibit their projects and be rewarded. She has set up and provided the animals for livestock judging practices. Through her program, she has helped members develop reasoning and speaking skills, as well as selection skills.    

“My interest and involvement in 4-H has influenced me to continue learning and improving in order to be a better mentor to the members, help them with advice about their projects, and encourage them to develop their potentials to the fullest, while becoming good, responsible citizens,” says Freeman.

She served on the Florida State Fair Beef Breeding, Steer Show and Scholarship committees for several years.  She also served as Secretary and Treasurer of the Okeechobee Livestock Show.  Freeman is a co-owner and operator of livestock auction markets in Okeechobee and Sebring.   

Freeman has received numerous awards for her work including: Service and Leadership Awards from the Florida Limousin Breeders Association, the Florida Cattlemen Association Premier Bull Awards (1976-1977, 1979-1980), nominated for Florida Woman of the Year in Agriculture.

The Florida 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 to coincide with the 100^th Anniversary Celebration of the 4-H Program.  It currently contains the names of 117 inductees honored for their service and dedication to the Florida 4-H.  One hundred individuals, living and deceased, became charter members during the 2002 founding. Florida 4-H is the youth development component of the University of Florida’s IFAS Cooperative Extension Service currently serving 241,000 youth statewide and over 60 million alumni nationwide.   

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