Marifloyd Hamil

    Extension Agent 4-H Emerita

    Friendsville, TN

    Marifloyd was a 4-H Member in Blount County, Tennessee. After college, she worked as a 4-H Agent in Campbell County before joining the State 4-H Staff in Tennessee specializing in teen leadership and supporting County agents. She also took advanced courses at the Merrill Palmer Institute that prepared her for her next career challenge, working with inner city youth and families in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Program in Phoenix, Arizona. Marifloyd soon became an expert and mentor for other agents working in urban areas.

    Marifloyd developed other programs to support low income families. The Phoenix Coalition for Children, Youth, and Families was recognized nationally by NAE4-HA and JCEP as Outstanding Extension Program. It built a collaboration with over 20 agencies and 70 schools in a low-income inner-city area. This work also led to several other successful programs including Project SOAR (Student Opportunity for Academic Renewal), a mentoring program supported by the Arizona Supreme Court and National Juvenile Justice funding, and a local Tobacco Use Prevention program. She continued to share her knowledge and skills with professionals throughout the Cooperative Extension System.

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    I had the best jobs anyone could ever have! I enjoyed my time in Tennessee both as a county agent in Campbell County and on the State 4-H Staff. I have always loved working with teen leaders, and the 4-H EFNEP agent job in Phoenix gave me a unique opportunity to work with teens whom 4-H programs have often forgotten, the inner city, minority and/or low-income youth who flourished when offered the opportunities and learning 4-H offers. Their stories also made a significant impact on my life and on the programs offered in our county.

    My 4-H Story