Former Baton Rouge resident Kellett Hathorn will be posthumously inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame on Oct. 7 for his lifetime achievements and contributions to 4-H.

Honored by the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, he will be one of 15 people inducted during the ceremony held at the National 4-H Youth Conference Center in Chevy Chase, Md.

“Mr. Hathorn spent his 33-year career from 1955-1988 in 4-H, first serving as a parish 4-H agent and then as a state 4-H specialist,” said Mark Tassin, director of 4-H Youth Development for the LSU AgCenter. “Kellett and his wife are the proud parents of seven children, all who were active in 4-H. He believed firmly in trying to reach all youth regardless of their economic situation or personal difficulties through 4-H.”

Hathorn organized many outstanding statewide programs that are still major 4-H programs in Louisiana today, Tassin said.

“He originated and created the Junior Leader Club program in Louisiana along with the statewide Junior Leader Club contest and awards program,” Tassin said. “Mr. Hathorn wrote the first Junior Leadership Project bulletin, developed the Louisiana 4-H Awards Handbook, conceived the idea of Best Community Club contest and co-authored the first adult leader bulletin.”

Honorees are nominated by their home states, National 4-H Council, National Association of Extension 4-H Agents or 4-H headquarters based upon their leadership at the local, state, national and international levels.

“NAE4-HA is proud to acknowledge the outstanding 2011 National 4-H Hall of Fame honorees for the passion, dedication, vision and leadership they’ve shown toward our young people during their many years of service to 4-H,” said Lori Purcell-Bledsoe, president of National Association of Extension 4-H Agents.

The honorees will be recognized with the National 4-H Hall of Fame Medallion, a plaque and memory book during the ceremony.

The National 4-H Hall of Fame was established in 2002 as part of the Centennial Project of the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents, and in partnership with National 4-H Council and the United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

For more information about the National 4-H Hall of Fame event and past recipients, visit www.nae4ha.com/hof.

Johnny Morgan