The Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District's 2012 Conservation Educator Award was presented to Jennifer Bowen at the Prince Edward County Board of Supervisors meeting on Dec. 11 at the County Administrative Building in Farmville. Ms. Bowen is the Virginia Cooperative Extension Agent in charge of the 4-H Youth Development program in Prince Edward County.

For over 12 years Ms. Bowen has helped young people gain the skills they need to be proactive forces in their communities through school programs like Agricultural Awareness Day and Ag in the Classroom instruction; through 4-H after-school programs like Club Meetings, Junior Master Gardeners, the Science Fair program, Cooking Classes, and the Piedmont Area Junior Livestock Show; and through the 4-H Summer Camp program. Ms. Bowen added the role of unit coordinator to her responsibilities in 2010 and has since then helped develop an even stronger, more multifaceted program. Ms. Bowen is also a strong supporter of the Local Food Program.

Cooperative Extension's 4-H Program helps foster leadership, citizenship, and a vast array of life skills. They do this while inspiring an appreciation of the natural world and a respect for the important of agriculture. For this reason Virginia Cooperative Extension continues to be a valuable partner to the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District in support of their mission to promote the wise use and conservation of soil, water and related resources.