Two stalwarts of the Pike County 4-H program were inducted into the Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame at the Alabama 4-H Center in Columbiana on Nov. 13.

Addie Green of Troy and the late David Carpenter were among the 24 inductees who were honored for their long and dedicated service to the Alabama 4-H program.

Green has served as a 4-H volunteer leader in Pike County for more than 15 years.

“Addie has worked with and positively affected the lives of thousands of 4-H members,” said Tammy Powell, Pike County Extension coordinator.

Green has served in many roles, including local club volunteer, county 4-H council leader, judge, fund-raiser, fair exhibit constructor, civic group speaker, state 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association board member, 4-H Camp volunteer and parent.

“Not only has ‘Miss Addie’ served in all of those roles, she has excelled in them,” Powell said. In each of these positions, she has made a difference in the lives of the youth with whom she has worked.

“Her contributions to the 4-H program have been seen in her positive influence and she continuously finds new and better ways to share the 4-H story.”

Green said she was honored and deeply moved by the recognition.

“This was a complete surprise to me,” she said. “When the letter came, I got chill bumps. It was such an honor to think that people thought enough of me to nominate me. It was just a feeling that I can’t express. I never imagined that anything like this would happen to me. It’s a good feeling to know that others appreciate what you do. We all like to get a pat on the back.”

A contingent of family, friends and coworkers traveled to Columbiana to share that special time with Green, including her son, Corey, who drove over from Jackson, Miss., and her “boss” at the Troy Public Library Director William White.

“That meant so much to me to have all of them there, to share that moment with me,” Green said. “When I received the award, the tears started.”

Green’s work with children began when she worked with the local Head Start program and continued with the 4-H program, when her two sons, Corey and Damorio, became involved in the program.

“As a single mom with guys, 4-H was a way to stay involved with them. Now, it keeps me busy so I’m not sitting around twiddling my thumbs,” she said. “I like staying active and involved. And, once a volunteer, always a volunteer. It’s not something that you want to give up doing.

“I think that being able to work with children is a gift and I’m thankful that I have that gift because it has brought me so much happiness.”

David Carpenter, who served Pike County as an Extension agent for more than 25 years, was inducted posthumously into the Alabama 4-H Wall of Fame at the same November ceremony.

Carpenter joined the Alabama Cooperative Extension System as an assistant county agent in Geneva County in 1975.

Two years later, he transferred to Pike County where he continued to serve clientele in the areas of horticulture, natural resources, animal and dairy science, agronomy and 4-H until his retirement in 2003.

“One of David’s greatest contributions to the Pike County 4-H program was the creation of the first Pike County 4-H horse club in 1977,” Powell said.

“Today’s leaders for that club were in David’s first 4-H horse club.

Following Carpenter’s retirement, he was elected to the Pike County Commission.

“David often said that his time spent as a county commissioner was almost like the time he spent as a young county agent,” Powell said.