Lawrence County 4-H Volunteers
Inducted November 10, 2011
Garland and Doris Jones have been involved with 4-H horsemanship activities for approximately 12 years. They have shown support for the 4-H Horse Club and allowed the group to host nine youth rodeo events at their facilities. This event gives youth the opportunity to exhibit horsemanship skills in traditional horse events as well as participate in fun activities such as stick horse race, pole bending on foot, hay dig, and many others. The events are executed in a manner to help youth build self-confidence, teach good sportsmanship, teamwork, and socialization skills. Over the past nine years, approximately 4,000 to 5,000 youth and adults have participated or assisted with the youth rodeo activities.
For the last six years, the Jones’ have allowed the 4-H Horse Club to host a “Special Needs Rodeo” for all handicapped and special needs students in the Lawrence County School System. 4-H Horse Club members demonstrate their riding and roping skills and conduct other fun interactive activities with the special needs students. Approximately 2,000 individuals have been involved in these events at Iron Rail Arena, which included students, Horse Club members, and adult and youth volunteers.
In addition to rodeo events, they have allowed and supported numerous educational horsemanship workshops and clinics as well as a 4-H Fun Day to recruit youth to participate in the 4-H Horse Club and the 4-H Beef Livestock Program.
As certified 4-H volunteers, Garland and Doris Jones have served as overnight chaperons on educational tours, donated to the 4-H Horse Club Program through in-kind and volunteer service, and touched the lives of thousands of young people through their generosity and sharing Iron Rail Arena with horse enthusiasts from Lawrence County and across the state.
Nominated by Lawrence County Extension
