In the pantheon of Delaware 4-H recognitions, awards, and ceremonies for both youth members and volunteer adults, none perhaps is more heralded and treasured than having one's name and biography placed into the Delaware 4-H Hall of Fame. Created in 2012, each laureate, selected from across 4-H’s 110 year history of service, represents a long and impressive litany of devotion and volunteerism to the largest youth program in the nation. While some laureates hail from official extension service, the vast majority of honorees come from local families — often representing three or four generations of family participation. 

The Delaware 4-H Foundation, which supports and organizes the Hall of Fame event, recently recognized the need for a special carve-out for individuals who, while not officially enrolled or employed with 4-H, are nonetheless avid, sustained contributors, cheerleaders, and unwavering supporters of the program.   

To this end, the 2024 Distinguished Service to 4-H Award was created. Its first laureate is Delaware state Senator Dave Wilson, of Lincoln. Wilson serves in the 18th representative district in the Delaware Senate.

“For many years, Dave Wilson has been a strong advocate and supporter of the Delaware 4-H program as well as for all youth in our state,” said Doug Crouse, 4-H program leader with the University of Delaware. 

“His passion to see youth learn, grow, and have the resources they need is so beneficial to our program. His time, energy, and efforts have all been truly appreciated by everyone,” Crouse said.

Crouse’s daughter Jennifer Crouse Hood, who grew up in the 4-H program, echoed her father’s sentiments.“Senator Wilson is the epitome of what service means,” Hood said. 

“His dedication, work and passion on behalf of our youth in Delaware is outstanding,” Hood said. “He always made himself available and seen supporting youth at events, ready to share and educate youth and supporting events in any way he could. The best part was he always did it with a smile.”

Hood continues her participation with 4-H by serving as the president of the 4-H Foundation and as emcee for the induction ceremony.

“The positive impacts made by Senator Wilson on the Delaware 4-H program go far beyond the state funding and support at the state fair,” Hood told the audience from prepared remarks.

Noted were Wilson’s stalwart attendance at almost every Kent and Sussex 4-H Achievement events each September. Wilson lends his auctioneering expertise to both the Junior Livestock Auction and the Kent County Basket Auction, using his talented voice and audience engagement to garner the maximum in fundraising. He is a fixture at the Delaware State Fair, and frequently provides 4-H youth with the inside track on citizenship responsibilities and an up-close look at Delaware’s civic processes when 4-H members attend “4-H Legislative Day” event held each April at Legislative Hall in Dover. 

“This is truly an honor,” Wilson told the audience of 175. “4-H is near and dear to my heart.” Holding his hands flat out by his hips, Wilson shared his awe at recalling youth “this high” grow and develop into successful young adults. “I was never a 4-H member… but looking back at the years I’ve been involved in 4-H, it is more rewarding to me to see what has happened to 4-H in Delaware and how you all have made a difference,” Wilson told the audience. “Time after time, I want you to know that as long as there is a breath in my body, I will be supporting Delaware 4-H to the fulsome of my ability.”

Photos and video of Wilson’s induction can be found by visiting: http://www.udel.edu/0012504

The event, held every other year, took place on Sat. Sept. 21 at the Modern Maturity Center in Dover. Delaware 4-H is part of the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. On average 31,000 youth are impacted each year by the 4-H program.