Anna Lucas of Waynesburg recently was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame for her lifetime achievements and contributions to the nation’s young people. Lucas, a former Kentucky 4-H youth development specialist, was one of 16 people inducted during the ceremony at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Maryland.

Raised on a Lincoln County farm, Lucas graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in home economics from the University of Kentucky. She was offered a job as a home demonstration agent position prior to graduation. This began a career spanning five decades with the Cooperative Extension Service.

In 1967, she accepted an agent position in Tennessee and began pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Tennessee. In 1969, she finished her degree and became an assistant professor at University of Tennessee 4-H, emphasizing citizenship, community service and communications.

She returned to Kentucky in 1976 as state 4-H specialist in curriculum management. She served on numerous curriculum development and planning committees in Kentucky, the region and nationally. Lucas made a lasting impression on thousands of youth, volunteers and agents. She served as National 4-H Congress chair, providing leadership to multiple committees to coordinate the event for 1,500 youth each year.

Lucas coordinated 4-H food and nutrition programs and collaborated with specialists to update food and nutrition projects.

Upon retirement, Lucas returned to her hometown and serves in multiple leadership roles in her church and community. She remains a vital part of Kentucky 4-H and provides statewide leadership in character education as volunteer coordinator for the CHARACTER COUNTS! Program.

Demonstrating her lifelong commitment to youth development, education and 4-H, Lucas created two annual scholarships for students in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the School of Human and Environmental Sciences.

The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents in partnership with National 4-H Council and the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit http://www.nae4ha.com/hof.