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WORLAND — A Washakie County 4-H youth development educator recognized for broad efforts in local, state and national programming has received the University of Wyoming Extension’s highest honor.

Washakie County 4-H/Youth Educator Amber Armajo received the Jim DeBree Award during the Extension’s recent annual conference.

In partnership with area adults, Armajo provides educational opportunities in livestock projects, fabric and fashion and the Junior Leaders program. Character Counts education, national 4-H Youth Science Day experiments and National 4-H Week celebrations are among the programs offered. A special focus is providing programs for youth from military families.

In a county where census data indicates 398 households include 6- to 17-year-olds, Armajo leads a 4-H program that includes more than 300 adults and children. She is active with the local camp board and ensures 4-H summer camping programs are widely available. As county coordinator, she acts as a liaison between UW Extension and Washakie County commissioners.

“I’m very honored to receive it. There are several deserving educators out there,” Armajo said.

She was nominated by Tansey Sussex, 4-H/Youth educator in Laramie County. Sussex wrote in her nomination, “Amber embodies all of the required characteristics of this award as seen in the application materials and goes above and beyond in many areas. I will highlight some of the areas that I feel are important for a successful Extension Educator that aren’t reflected in the application process.”

One of the things that makes Amber so successful at her job on both the county and state level is her ability to genuinely care about and work with people. She truly ‘bleeds green’ for the organization and the 4-H program. She has such a kindness about her that she easily works well and created relationships with youth and volunteers alike. She also has the leadership skills necessary to tackle the touch situations that 4-H Educators encounter. She is a team player in all fronts and she is able to foster positive relationships with whomever she is working.

State 4-H Program Coordinator Johnathan Despain wrote in a letter of recommendation, “I have known Amber the entire time she has worked for UW. She has worked hard to do all that she has been asked for the benefit of her clientele in Washakie County. She has roots as a member of 4-H and has carried that desire to maintain her program in Washakie County.

“Amber is a hard worker and dedicated to helping her county be the best. She really wants her youth to succeed in 4-H and her volunteers to succeed in their efforts as well. Amber likes to have fun. She is the first one to try and find a way to relax, include others and to enjoy working together.

Mary Louise Wood, a UW Extension 4-H and youth development educator said she has known Armajo for the past 14 years and watched her grow from a novice educator to an accomplished educator.

She wrote in her recommendation, “Amber is highly organized and a perfectionist, which allows for others to have a positive experience when working on a project with her. Ms. Armajo strives really hard to ensure that all members of a group are included in the planning and decision-making process along with the implementation, evaluation and success of various programs.”

She added that Armajo is creative, works well with all age groups and has strong leadership skills.

Wood wrote, “In visiting with clientele from her county they are always appreciative of how positive Amber is and how she really takes the needs of the communities into consideration.”

Statewide, 4-H touches the lives of more than 10,000 youths and adults each year.

Armajo has served as the chair of the state 4-H initiative team since 2013. She has been involved in statewide club strengthening and volunteer development and teaches state 4-H judge training and master 4-H volunteer training.

She has served as superintendent of the state 4-H dog skill-a-thon competition since 2010 and has served on the Wyoming Agriculture Leadership Council Board since 2012.

A 2008 graduate of the Western 4-H Institute, Armajo has led efforts to support and train newly hired 4-H professionals in western states. She also participated in the Western Extension Leadership Development (WELD) program.

An active member of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents since 2002, Armajo often presents at the annual conference. She received the Distinguished Service Award in 2010 and the Achievement in Service Award in 2007 from this national organization.

Armajo has completed Wyoming LEAD, the leadership development program for young professionals, and the Washakie Institute, a comparable local effort, and has served on the planning boards for both.

The Jim DeBree Award is named in honor of the retired Wyoming Extension administrator and given to those who demonstrate a high level of professionalism, performance and leadership within their program areas and communities.

Armajo joined UW Extension in 2002 and is based in Worland.