Nichols recognized as 4-H Leader of the Year

Doug Nichols was recently named Wyoming 4-H Leader of the Year for the Northwest Area.

According to a statement from 4-H Educator Joey Johnson, “Nichols has been a steadfast 4-H Leader and volunteer for the Hot Springs County 4-H Program since 2013. Doug has spent countless hours teaching archery to 4-H youth ages 8-18. Since Doug started helping, the archery program has grown exponentially and 4-H youth of all ages enjoy learning the 4-H Archery discipline. Nichols has also been instrumental in helping the Hot Springs County 4-H program with fundraising projects such as our Shooting Sports Raffle and the Smokin Waters Golf Tournament.”

Nichols has also been a board member of the H<>W 4-H Camp, a board that has shared responsibilities between Hot Springs and Washakie County 4-H Volunteers and manages the H<>W Youth Camp that is up Grass Creek. “Since Doug has been on this board,” Johnson stated, “he has built and constructed four cabins for youth campers, a new outhouse for the camp, helped put in a new sewer system and has done countless other projects to help keep the 4-H camp useable and up to date for 4-H youth.

“Currently Doug has just finished re-modeling our shooting vault and with the help of another 4-H volunteer they have completely installed new cabinetry and custom made gun racks for the 4-H air rifle, .22, muzzleloader and shotgun programs for Hot Springs County 4-H.”

4-H has over 3000 leaders state-wide that help 4-H youth with over 60 project areas. According to Johnson, Hot Springs County has right around 50 adult leaders that volunteer their time and resources to enrich the lives of 4-H Youth in our county. “Doug Nichols continues to be a great 4-H leader for our county because he believes in our kids and he likes to help them succeed. You can tell that he loves what he is doing because he always greets all 4-H members with a smile on his face, and has a genuine interest in how their day is going. Yes, he is responsible for building many things for 4-H youth that we have come to appreciate, but what we appreciate the most are the smiles he puts on the faces of 4-H youth and the confidence that he helps bring to them in our 4-H Shooting Sports Programs.”

Johnson expressed his congratulations Nichols on his award for the State 4-H Northwest Region Leader of the Year in 2018, and his appreciation of Nichols’ donation of time and dedication to Hot Springs County 4-H.