Statement from the Program Coordinator 

My name is David Smith and I'm an Extension Program Specialist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service. For more than twenty years, I've developed educational programs and resources on many different water topics. With this experience comes the realization that water, and how we choose to manage it, is arguably the single most important issue facing the next generation. It is essential that we invest today in tomorrow's water industry leaders and decision-makers. In 2017, I created the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program with the support and encouragement of many Texas water industry leaders. The mission of the program is to "provide high school youth an opportunity to gain advanced knowledge and develop leadership skills related to the science, technology, engineering and management of water in Texas." To date, 74 youth from across the state have served as 4-H Water Ambassadors and are having a profound impact in their communities. In just its second year, the program was named winner of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Texas Environmental Excellence Award!

Meet the Water Ambassador Advisory Committee 

• Dirk Aaron – General Manager, Clearwater Underground Water Conservation District

• Jay Bragg – Associate Director, Commodity and Regulatory Activities, Texas Farm Bureau

• Riley Calk– Former 4-H Water Ambassador (Yoakum Co.), Student Technician, and current TAMU student

• Michelle Cooper – Education Coordinator, Southern Ogallala Conservation & Outreach Program

• Katherine Drury – Education & Outreach Coordinator, High Plains Water District

• Adeline Fox – Communications Director, Texas Water Conservation Association, Texas Ground Water Association

• Whitney Grantham – Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent, Bell County AgriLife Extension

• Meagan Haas – Educational & Conservation Outreach Coordinator, Brazos Valley Groundwater District

• Stephanie Keith – Education & Public Relations Coordinator, Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District

• Molly McKinney – Former 4-H Water Ambassador (Bexar Co.), Student Technician, and current TAMU student

• Dianne Meadows – Program Assistant, Wise County AgriLife Extension

• Roxanna Reyna – Extension Program Specialist, 4-H Youth Development, Roscoe Collegiate ISD

• David Smith – Extension Program Specialist, 4-H Youth Development/Biological & Agricultural Engineering

• Julia Stanford – Program & Operations Manager, Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts

• Preston Sturdivant – 4-H and Youth Development Agent, Anderson County AgriLife Extension

• Michelle Wood-Ramirez – Watershed Coordinator, Tarrant Regional Water District

The 4-H Water Ambassadors Program is supported through private sponsorships. Funds are used solely for the mission and objectives of the Texas 4-H Water Ambassadors Program. Sponsorships are made to the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation - a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.