Barbara spent over 25 years as an Extension professional. In addition to supporting and expanding many traditional 4-H programs, Barbara added value to the Oregon 4-H program by thinking “outside-the-box”. Through individual and team efforts she influenced program direction and impact, for example:
- Evaluating for Accountability: Barbara was an early leader in program evaluation within Oregon Extension and nationally. Her book “Evaluating for Accountability; A Practical Guide for the Inexperienced Evaluator”, 1984, became the bible for 4-H and Extension program evaluation. Barbara was sought out for numerous evaluation presentations at national and international professional conferences and seminars.
- Parents and Adolescents Can Talk (PACT): In the late 80’s Barbara co-led this program as part of a statewide Youth at Risk Initiative. It focused on helping parents learn to talk with their teens about sensitive issues like sex and sexuality, to encourage abstinence or delay sexual activity. This effort was in response to Oregon’s high teen pregnancy rate.
Barbara’s commendable career contributed greatly to the 4-H experience of thousands of youth in Oregon and across the nation. Her work has also contributed to the national and international body of knowledge that undergirds 4-H youth development programming to this day. Barbara has always believed that her responsibilities extend beyond 4-H to include the larger field of positive youth development, as well as to all of Extension. By sharing her work with others across the country through publications, conference workshops, and individual consultations, she has improved educational experiences for 4-H youth wherever they reside.
