Wendy French, a long-time 4-H volunteer, recently received the sixth annual Annette P. Schmitt UnSung Hero award for 2007 in Belknap County. The award honors someone who has worked quietly behind the scenes on behalf of children and families in Belknap County.

French was honored as a teacher, mentor, role model, innovator and hardworking friend of children and youth in Belknap County. She has spent almost 20 years as a 4-H volunteer in Belknap County.

She started the Tilton-Northfield Pines 4-H Club and quickly enrolled 23 children, including her own daughters. Over the years, she has taught such activities as cooking, sewing, crafts, gardening, food preservation and public speaking. She has used her talents in communication and mediation in leading a team of volunteers to build the capacity of the 4-H Fair Association, the group responsible for the comprehensive 4-H Fair during two days in August on the 4-H Fairgrounds in Belmont

Belknap County Extension Educator Becky Levesque noted, "Her 4-H work is a true labor of love."