2023 Meritorious Service Award

Posted

Annually two outstanding Extension professionals will be recognized for their role in making 4-H volunteers more effective with the Meritorious Service Award. These nominations should not be limited to 4-H Faculty. Nominees must be a resident of Texas and have been paid staff or faculty with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service/Texas 4-H for the immediate past five (5) years. Two awards are given annually in the whole state of Texas. Joan Gray-Soria, 2023 Meritorious Service Award.

“Heart of a servant”, “Willingness to go out of her comfort zone, even for just one 4-H Member, and become certified as an Archery Coach”, “No one holds a candle for the hours and hours of dedication put into this program”, “Her passion for supporting and leading 4-H youth and families is extraordinary”, “Adamant that kids have fun first, do their best, and learn something new at each 4-H event”, “Joan’s dedication to teach life-skills through the 4-H program is a great upheaval to the prevention of these skills becoming a lost art.”

Joan Gray-Soria has been an AgriLife Extension Employee for more than 3 decades, and 2 of them have been in Gray County. As the current Family and Consumer Heath County Extension Agent for Gray County, she has dedicated a full-time job of 40 hours a week to the 4-H Program, and another 20 or more hours a week to her title as an FCH Agent. Without her passion, perseverance, patience, and dedication, the Gray County 4-H program would not be what it is today.

For at least 5 years, Joan has been the captain of the Gray County 4-H ship. Joan’s heart of service for the 4-H youth and families is evidenced by her countless hours in the office, on the phone, entering reports or on the road and out of her comfort zone for required trainings more, than with her family or friends at home or away from her job. Not only has she created a firm foundation for her son, Tony’s, future success, but by exhibiting her own leadership skills to other parents by taking hours to assist with 4-H Record Book assembly and maintenance, and 4-H Scholarship Opportunity applications, she puts as much heart into helping all Gray County’s 4-H Youth succeed.

For example, at one point, our Shooting Sports – Archery Project was very popular in Gray County and that project attracted many from other adjacent counties. With COVID interceding in many activities, and life happening with the coach, the archery project nearly crashed. Joan stepped way out of her comfort zone and was able to recruit one other parent to attend the Archery Coaches training with her in Brownwood this March. For a Family and Consumer Health County Extension Agent to step this far from f her comfort zone and put forth the effort and drop everything for hands-on Archery Coaches Training as a last resort to save the program and be successful, that says a lot about Joan’s dedication and heart of a servant.

Although any career can be an investment, it takes someone super special to use that investment toward the success of others. For Joan, Gray County 4-H is not just a job, nor a career. Gray County 4-H is her passion. Joan has received many deserving awards, but the Meritorious Service Award is long past due of her reception based on her efforts mentioned to keep our 4-H Ship afloat. Thank you for your time and consideration.

What do some of our parents have to say about Joan?

“Joan goes above and beyond each day for the youth of Gray County.  She is there day and night to answer questions, give guidance and put forth everything that she has.  Most recently with the departure of two Ag Agents in 3 years, she stepped up to the plate on the Livestock side to ensure that the youth showing and attending majors weren’t just left to the wayside having no guidance as to what to do or where to turn.  If she did not have the answers, she was more than willing to find out. There have been many times when she wished she could be at multiple places at the same time, but also relieved that she would not. She knew she would not be able to attend Major Stock Shows, however, she made sure that the livestock families had contact with an advisor who also had all the livestock validation information and show entry information, to turn to for guidance, should it be needed.” 

“Joan serves as a project leader for Health & Nutrition, Consumer Sciences, Public Speaking, Fashion & Interior Design, and now Archery. She also serves as Club Manager and coordinates both 4-H Clubs as well as the Clover Kids. While serving in the volunteer roles, she coordinates and plans the meetings activities and programs events. Joan judges at, and recruits judges for district contests, promotes 4-H, answers questions, and gives guidance to the youth and the parents that are learning. Not only do the children in her projects learn, but the parents have the option to stay and learn with their children, and they do! Joan encourages parents to stay and learn at her meetings and parents appreciate her patience when the attention of Joan turns to them and away from teaching the youth.”

“If there is an interest in a project that there is no leader for, she will either guide the family to complete the project independently or she becomes the leader of that project herself. This year two 4-H members got to participate independently in the Ag Product ID contest in the Fall, and one other 4-H member participated independently in the Companion Animal/Dog Project.”

“Joan cares and desires for the youth to succeed and learn so much.  She is a true blessing to Gray County 4-H and has been an asset as she now guides the children of some of the 4-H members from years ago. She is truly invaluable.”

“Mrs. Joan is the absolute best.  This is our 2nd year in 4H and she has helped us with every project all 3 of our kids have participated in.  Not only did she go through extra training so our son can do archery, but she has also brought our daughters on to learn parliamentary procedure in council.  Mrs. Joan is very patient and answers our (many) questions that arise mostly on nights and weekends.  She has shared her passion for sewing and clothing design with both of our girls, giving them lifelong skills that I envy.  Mrs. Joan consistently goes above and beyond for my family in every aspect and always has a smile on her face.  She is most deserving of the Meritorious Service Award as she exemplifies a true servant’s heart.”

“As a project leader, I have seen firsthand the behind the scenes work that Joan puts in to help the kids and 4-H program in Gray County. She makes sure that any child that wants to participate in 4-H has the opportunity. I see her in both 4-H and clover kids and she is adamant that kids have fun and learn something new at each 4-H event. This is evident in the fact, that the kids love Joan and are excited for 4-H events.”

“Joan wears many hats, and she is passionate about making sure all her work is thorough and correct. 4-H is one of many things that she makes an impact on, and she could easily put this program on the backburner for the other programs she heads up. However, she does not. She spends many evenings planning programs, submitting paperwork, checking with parents and kids for the 4-H experience to be optimal for all.”

“There is no one who holds a candle for the effort and time Joan has with her heart for the program. She not only wants her child to succeed, but the success of other youth is as important as evidenced by her dedication. She sees potential in every 4-H member and wants to strengthen their skills for future success outside of 4-H.”

“Availability and flexibility to answer questions and give guidance for the benefit of the 4-H members and families is out of this world. Not many people have the heart to dedicate the hours and hours of time and amount of effort to see the youth in her community succeed through the skills and lessons to be learned by being in 4-H.”

CONGRATULATIONS MS. JOAN!! YOU ARE SO APPRECIATED, AND WE ARE SO BLESSED TO HAVE YOU AS OUR COUNTY AGENT!!