Sarasota County judge among those honored at 4-H awards

When Barbara Briggs attended college, she initially earned a teaching degree, but then chose to enter the field of law. 

She says she thinks what has drawn her to volunteer with 4-H for over 35 years was the teaching aspect involved, and says it complemented her work as a Sarasota judge for the 12th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida.

"It's nice to do different things," she said. 

Briggs became actively involved in Sarasota's Action Clovers 4-H club with her own children, and, according to UF/IFAS Extension Office, was instrumental in recreating it later on as Action Clovers 2.0.

Briggs is one of six individuals selected for induction into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame, to be honored at a ceremony at the University of Florida’s campus in Gainesville, on July 31.

Briggs began attending 4-H while growing up in the suburbs of Kansas City, Missouri.

The national youth development organization, which offers education in areas that include agriculture, science, health, and citizenship, is administered through the land-grant university system, including by UF/IFAS Extension Office in Sarasota County.

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Her experience went on to encompass numerous roles, including that of a youth member, leader, mentor, judge and foundation member.

After she graduated from the University of Florida Levin College of Law, going on to serve as a judge for 18 years, she continued to serve the organization, which included 25 years with the Sarasota County 4-H Foundation.

"We're really lucky that we have such a good 4-H foundation supporting 4-H, the community," she said.

Some of the reasons Briggs cites for her admiration of 4-H is the variety of subjects it includes, the dedication of its leadership and the ability for kids to showcase their animals and projects at county fairs.

She also notes the inclusion of demonstrations and public speaking. 

"I think you really get a lot of confidence, so that by the time you get to high school and college, the kids have done that every single year, and I think it really helps all the kids to know how to do that," she said.

According to UF/IFAS, Briggs often taught youth about parliamentary procedure and public speaking, and has advocated for the local club in Tallahassee, organizing 4-H "Day at the Capitol" visits. 

“Barbara is an exemplary model to our entire community — not just 4-H — of what it looks like to live a life dedicated to citizenship, leadership and character,” Ashley Worsham, co-leader of Action Clovers 2.0, said in a media release. “She was funny and engaging, but it was also evident that she loved the youth and was there to support them, however that may look. She is the very best example of what it means to be a 4-H alumna, 4-H parent and 4-H volunteer.”