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AgriLife extension agent Johanna Hicks accepts the award for educator of the year from Dr. Courtney Dodd (not pictured), associate director for Health, Youth, and Families and state 4-H program leader, at an Extension awards ceremony held in Amarillo in late July. Courtesy/Johanna Hicks
AgriLife champion takes home prize for column writing
Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent Johanna Hicks is beloved in our community and this year has been recognized by the state for her role in both education and writing. Hicks was named Extension educator of the year and received the communications written media award on July 30 at the Texas Extension Association of Family and Consumer Sciences Awards Celebration in Amarillo.
The educator of the year award recognizes an agent who is conducting outstanding educational programming that demonstrates an impact on families and has continued their professional development activities and involvement.
Hicks has been Hopkins County’s Extension agent for the past 24 years and has received numerous accolades for her accomplishments. But she’s not done yet— Hicks will also be recognized on the national level as Extension educator of the year for the southern region, which comprises 22 states, in September.
The committee who selected Hicks recognized her excellence in educational programming as a contributing factor. Some of the program accomplishments in which Hicks took the lead include: Do Well, Be Well with Diabetes; Cooking Well with Diabetes; An Evening with the Diabetic Chef; Taking the Mystery Out of Diabetes regional conferences; and Kids Cook at the Market Diabetes Initiative. She and a colleague also created Diabetes Jeopardy which was recognized on the national level as a valuable tool to reinforce diabetes management concepts in a fun, interactive format.
The committee also highlighted Hicks’ work with kids camps. Popular in the county every summer, the camps highlight health, wellness, fitness and job skills for elementary and middle schoolers. Youth Health & Wellness components have included “Kids’ Camp: Fun, Food, Fitness” and Skills Camp. Both camps include interactive, hands-on project fun for the participants. Nutrition, physical activity, gardening, safety and teamwork are the emphases of Kids’ Camp, while Skills Camp focuses on skills that can be used in the future as a hobby or a profession, as well as everyday life. This year due to COVID-19, both on a different appearance but were successfully implemented as Hicks presented the programs at other camps and made take-home skills boxes.
Not only did Hicks receive educator of the year, she also took home the communications written media award for her column titled, “It’s Not Gone– Just Renamed.” The column, published in the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram in January 2020, tackled the misconception that home economics is no longer being taught in schools. In fact, the column explained that family and consumer sciences is still being taught in high schools and colleges across the country, just under different names. As part of Texas A&M AgriLife Extension’s youth component, two of the most popular 4-H projects are Foods & Nutrition and Fashion/ Interior Design, both coordinated by Hicks.
The column brought great reviews from FCS (Family & Consumer Sciences) teachers, Extension agents and retired individuals. The article was also published on multiple area websites and social media. Believing that Extension provides valuable contributions to clientele, the vision of Extension is held to the highest regard for Hicks, she said—helping Texans better their lives for lasting and effective change.
—Hopkins County AgriLife Extension Agent Johanna Hicks contributed to this article.