BY MARK J. CRAWFORD
Telegraph Editor
STARKE — Bradford County commissioners have hired a new agent to oversee the 4-H program at the extension office.
Bailea Gnann Scarbrough has previously worked as the 4-H youth development agent for the UF/IFAS Extension in Flagler County.
Scarbrough interviewed with the county commission in September along with another candidate screened by the University of Florida Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences.
Commissioner Chris Dougherty said it was a shame that there weren’t two positions to fill, because both candidates did an excellent job. It was a tough decision, he said, adding that the extension office would be in good hands with Scarborough in charge.
County Manager Scott Kornegay said if he ever had a position to fill with a remarkable young woman, it would go to the other candidate, Emily Murphy from Union County. She is coordinator for UF’s Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology Program and previously served as a 4-H agent in Lee County.
Each candidate gave a brief presentation on their vision for the future of 4-H in Bradford County and then fielded questions from commissioners, extension staff and the public.
Scarbrough said much of what she has done to enhance the 4-H program in Flagler could apply in Bradford. Flagler programs needed to be revitalized post-COVID. She benefited from her background with livestock, but most of the six or seven 4-H clubs had that focus, and the program need to expand its reach. There was a demand from families with other interests who didn’t have room to raise a pig.
By her second year on the job, the number of clubs doubled.
“It was very chaotic and difficult, but it was also very rewarding to see so many new programs started,” she said.
With the assistance of knowledgeable volunteers, clubs were founded for sewing, fishing, forestry and more.
“This is all through getting out in the community, recruiting volunteers and getting good help to run these programs,” she said.
Scarborough was adamant about about getting younger kids involved in the Cloverbuds, a program for 5- to 7-year-olds. She took that on herself.
“We just learned about generally Head, Heart, Hands and Health, your opportunities in 4-H, and that was probably one of the most rewarding experiences for me,” she said. Everyone who aged out of Cloverbuds this past year joined another interest club.
As for the most important thing she has done as an extension agent, it is building trust. That included showing real support for a popular archery program which had been neglected by a prior agent. Being present and involved is important to the volunteers, parents and youth, she said.
Scarbrough hopes to enhance already strong programs in Bradford County, including poultry, equine and livestock, and offer new opportunities. Another positive in Bradford are the strong community partnerships with 4-H. She looks to grow these partnerships and program participation. In-school and after-school programs are a good way to recruit more youth, including in private schools and the new charter school. She would also like to see Bradford 4-H’ers return to leadership positions at the district, state and national levels. She wants to retain older members because 4-H and FFA are both different and complimentary experiences.
Scarbrough was born and raised in Bradford County. She attended school in Keystone Heights and grew up in the Clay County 4-H and FFA programs. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in agricultural education, communication and leadership at UF, and she is currently at work on her master’s degree.
Through the end of her undergraduate time at UF, Scarbrough said she wasn’t aware of what she wanted to do until she accepted an internship with the Clay County extension office where she was asked to build a new STEM lab for the 4-H program with funding from the Clay Electric Foundation. A few years after deciding on a career in extension, she was hired by Flagler County 4-H.
Scarbrough has been commuting from Starke to Flagler four to six days a week and said she looks forward to working close to home.
The commission voted 4-1 to hire her. Commissioner Carolyn Spooner voted against the hire, not because she was opposed to the appointment, but because she was not able to attend the interview and didn’t feel informed enough to vote in favor.
