Wayne Ford
Wayne Ford
The highlight of my retirement party was having 32 former 4-H'er's who had attended Nationals in either the 4-H Forestry or Wildlife Invitational. I have some who are successful farmers, lawyers, pharmacists, teachers, accountants, foresters, nurses, pilots. businessmen, etc. Some are in the Management Information System Honor Based Program at the U of A. Around 14 have been selected as the Alabama Governor's Youth Conservationist of the Year in various years.
Wow, what a positive foundation the Invitational has played in the lives of so many of these kids - present-day stewards of the land. Some of my former 4-H'ers have told me they even went back to Jackson's Mill several years later just to reminisce of the year they attended. The Invitational has been a very positive influence on me also. Due to some of my former 4-Her's, I was invited to attend the Alabama Society of American Foresters Annual Banquet at Auburn University last weekend. My career goals were achieved when they called me out to be inducted into the Alabama Foresters' Hall of Fame. Now, my humble name is on a special plaque along with some very special individuals such as a fellow called Ben Meadows.
