Dr. Christmas Inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame

ORLANDO - Dr. Robert Bruce Christmas, Sr. was inducted into the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame last week at the annual Extension Professional Associations of Florida meeting in Orlando, for his dedication to positive youth development.

Christmas began his career as a 4-H Agent and later an agricultural agent in central Florida before returning to the University of Florida to pursue his PhD and continuing his career as the director of the UF/IFAS Poultry Evaluation Center once located in Chipley.

During those years, Christmas mentored, coached and instructed youth through many different 4-H and FFA judging contests as well as volunteering his time to local 4-H and FFA programs. 

Christmas is a strong advocate of Florida agriculture and teaching youth and adults its value and has done so through his work with the Florida Farm Bureau and the UF College of Agriculture and Life Sciences alumni programs. 

As a Kiwanian, he has also dedicated many hours to developing youth programs in Washington County.  As an active member of First Baptist Church, he serves as a Sunday school teacher working with young married couples and as a deacon.

Christmas was nominated to the Florida 4-H Hall of Fame by Washington County 4-H Agent, Julie Pigott Dillard, whom he has known her whole life and coached her to a state win on the Chipley FFA poultry judging team.  Dillard also works directly with Christmas through the Washington County Farm Bureau Young Farmer and Rancher Program as well as through agriculture in the classroom activities conducted through Washington County 4-H and can attest first-hand to his dedication to developing positive character traits in youth.

Congratulations on this honor!