Since 1974, the Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Youth Development Professionals has recognized the outstanding support and personal involvement in Georgia 4-H programming efforts with the Friend of 4-H Award. Given to an individual, group of people, or business/organization, this award signifies important contributions in helping to fulfill the Georgia 4-H vision and mission. GAE4-HYDP solicits nominations annually from its members and votes on the recipient(s) each spring.
Previous Winners Include
| Year | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Pat Lahatte | Atlanta Journal |
| 1975 | No Award | |
| 1976 | Georgia Association of Superintendents | |
| 1977 | Julius Benton | Savannah Sugar |
| 1978 | Charles Kent | Chairman, Association of County Commissioners |
| 1979 | Bobby Carroll | Georgia House of Representatives |
| 1980 | Georgia Bankers Association | |
| 1981 | Georgia Power | |
| 1982 | Para Lee Brock | The 4-H Hour |
| 1983 | Frances Tegeder | Atlanta Gas Light |
| 1984 | Fred Greer | Citizens & Southern Bank; 4-H Foundation Trustee |
| 1985 | Olin Ginn Nat Harrison Frank Bunch | Georgia Power Coca-Cola Chevron |
| 1986 | Rep. Charles Allen | |
| 1987 | Margy De George | Georgia Power |
| 1988 | Tom Murphy | Speaker of the House |
| 1989 | Edgar Rhodes | Chairman, Board of Regents |
| 1990 | Oglethorpe Power Corporation | |
| 1991 | Harold Darden Martha H. Jones Tommy Walton | Associate State 4-H Leader State Home Economics Leader, State 4-H Staff State 4-H Leader |
| 1992 | Rep. Frank E. Stancil | Georgia House of Representatives |
| 1993 | Mort Ewing | President, Georgia Farm Bureau |
| 1994 | Edmund Taylor Gas, Inc. | 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees |
| 1995 | Charles Inman | Georgia State Fair |
| 1996 | Six Flags Over Georgia | |
| 1997 | Wayne Shackelford | Commissioner, GA Department of Transportation |
| 1998 | Thomas F. Rodgers | State 4-H Leader |
| 1999 | Pat Barkaloo Rep. Ann Purcell Rep. Billy Ray | Tift County Extension Agent Georgia House of Representatives Georgia House of Representatives |
| 2000 | Frank Carter | 4-H Foundation Trustee |
| 2001 | Lt. Gov. Mark F. Taylor | State of Georgia |
| 2002 | Herman Talmadge Family | |
| 2003 | Rep. Richard Royal | Georgia House of Representatives |
| 2004 | Robert & Regena Whitaker Wayne Dollar | Founders, Camp Fortson President, Georgia Farm Buraau |
| 2005 | Paul Wood | President and CEO, Georgia EMC |
| 2006 | Mel Garber Robert & Maxine Burton | Director of CES; Associate Dean CAES Burton 4-H Center Benefactors |
| 2007 | Bill Edwards | Associate State 4-H Leader |
| 2008 | Rep. Bob Smith Jim & Renee Williamson | Georgia House of Representatives Saint Simons Island Donors |
| 2009 | Horace Hamilton | Kroger Cabin Campaign |
| 2010 | Scott Angle | Dean, CAES |
| 2011 | Mike & Karen Garrett | Retired, President, Georgia Power; 4-H Foundation |
| 2012 | Wanda Barrs | Chairwoman, State Board of Education |
| 2013 | Gail Hanula Rep. Johnny Bulloch | UGA FACS Specialist Georgia House of Representatives |
| 2014 | Bo Ryles | Retired, State 4-H Leader |
| 2015 | Gale Cutler | Georgia EMC |
| 2016 | Allen Nasworthy Beverly Sparks | Fortson 4-H Center Director Director of CES; Associate Dean CAES |
| 2017 | Ronnie Silcox | Retired, UGA Animal and Dairy Science Professor |
| 2018 | Governor Nathan Deal | State of Georgia |
| 2019 | Don Bower | FACS Professor Emeritus and Extension Specialist |
| 2020 | George Lee | Retired, 4-H Program Development Coordinator |
| 2021 | Doris Belcher | Retired, 4-H Extension Agent |