A year of work was rewarded Saturday, November 7 at the annual 4-H Evening of Excellence Achievement Awards Night held virtually due to COVID-19 and certain restrictions. Members and clubs will receive medals, prizes, and honors for their work completed September 2019 through August 2020. Every one of the 142 members of 4-H was recognized via the PowerPoint presentation provided.
The Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club received the Club of the Year Award, sponsored by the White County Farm Bureau. The group conducted several community service projects including providing a Thanksgiving food basket to an area family, went Christmas caroling at the local nursing home, made male & female gift bags to the local nursing home residents, provided a 200.00 gift card to the Nashville Disaster, provided school supply baskets to the middle/grade school, participated in the National Day of Service by donating a carport to be set at the city park for a second picnic shelter, and so much more. Karen McKinney and Holly Healy are leaders of the club.
The Friend of 4-H Award honors businesses and individuals who have given their time, talents, and resources to improve the 4-H program. This year, the Friend of 4-H award was given to Wabash Valley Service Company and the Carmi Plant. The 4-H motto making the best better is exemplified through the dedication and support that they all give to White County 4-H.
A special lady was also honored. Many words come to mind when we think of this woman, devoted, caring, hardworking, and generous. We think of someone who serves and goes over and beyond for the 4-H program and kids especially during the last part of the long week of 4-H shows. She never hesitates to help those in need; it does not matter if it is a stranger or a friend. She lives the 4-H motto of service to her community. We are happy to present the 2020 White County 4-H Alumni award to Susan Bryant.
Two first-year members were given full scholarships to 4-H camp as recipients of the Outstanding First Year Member Award. They are Emmaline Draper and Johanna Zieren of the Enfield Blue Ribbon 4-H Club.
Eight 4-H members are completing their 4-H careers this year. Rebecca Brinkley, Issie Bryant, Jace Carter, Kennedy Cook, Payton Dixon, Olivia Knight, Kilee Roser, and Caitlin South received completion pins.
The Victory Award recognizes 4-H members who attend the most activities and complete the most projects during the year. Three age divisions winners (8 and 9-year-olds, 10 and 11-year-olds and 12-year-olds) in each club are selected, then an overall county winner for each division is selected. Club winners in the 8 and 9-year-old group were Cooper Fuqua of the ’76 Clovers, Sydney Stallings of the Mad Hatters, Kelsey Aldrich of the Town & Country Clovers, Emmaline Draper of the Enfield Blue Ribbon, and Katelyn Garner of the Centerville Ripsnorters. Emmaline Draper was the county winner of the 8 and 9-year-olds. Winners in the 10 and 11-year-old group were Marlee Fuqua of the ’76 Clovers, Katelyn Davis of the Mad Hatters, Breyton Sauls of the Centerville Ripsnorters, Grace McCarty of the Grayville Go-Getters, Annsley Healy of the Enfield Blue Ribbon, and Jax Jordan of the Town & Country Clovers. Annsley Healy was the county winner. Winners in the age 12 group were Lincoln Draper of the Enfield Blue Ribbon and Kaitlyn Aldrich of the Town & Country Clovers. Lincoln Draper was the county winner of the age 12 group.
4-H members who excel in project work may compete in competition for county medals of honor. This year’s medal winners included Annsley Healy & Hailee Ellerman: Food & Nutrition, Grace McCarty & Braxton Wheeler: Animal Science, Katelyn Allen & Hailee Ellerman: Engineering & Technology, Katelyn Davis: Home & Family, Gracie Schneider & Grace McCarty: Personal Development, and Breyton Sauls: Plants & Soils.
The Ken Korte Memorial Safety Award recognizes 4-H members who have outstanding work in the safety area. Annsley Healy took first place in the junior division, followed by Katelyn Davis in second. The winner in the senior division was Katelyn Allen. The 4-H members received cash prizes sponsored by the Wabash Christian Therapy.
The Encouragement Award urges young people to keep trying hard no matter how big the obstacles are in their way. That ‘never give up’ attitude is recognized in this year’s four winners: Gracie Aldredge, Katelyn Allen, Hailee Ellerman, Aaliya Robinson, and Breyton Sauls.
Once a 4-H member enters high school, the demands on their time are unbelievable. Trust me. It may be tempting to drop 4-H to ease up the pressure, but the 4-H members receiving the I Dare You Award this year have not given in. They keep coming to 4-H meetings and events because 4-H matters to them. The I Dare You Award challenges youth to Think Tall, Smile Tall, Stand Tall and Live Tall. Lane Buchanan, Claire Cawthron, and Samantha Stallings have done just that, as our recipients this year.
Winners of the Health Award were Annsley Healy in the 8-12 age group. Earning second place was Katelyn Davis, and Bailey Buchanan receiving third. The winner in the 13-18 age group was Katelyn Allen and Lane Buchanan earning second place. Dr. Timothy Roser of the Carmi Family Dental Office sponsored the health awards.
The White County Association of Home and Community Education awards $50 checks to 4-H members who excel in home and family 4-H projects. This year’s winners were Katelyn Davis and Katelyn Allen. In addition, this year the White County HCE sponsored a $200 scholarship to a graduated senior. This year’s winner was Payton Dixon.
A White County volunteer was honored for her service as a 4-H volunteer. Liz Masterson was one of 87 volunteers recognized by the Illinois 4-H Foundation as a 4-H Hall of Fame recipient during a virtual ceremony held in August. Liz is a wonderful, long-time supporter of 4-H and Extension in White County. She was a long-time member of the Hawthorne Homemakers 4-H club, and has spent at least the past 20 years serving as a volunteer for the Centerville Ripsnorters 4-H club and White County 4-H. Liz has served and continues to serve on many committees related to 4-H. She has always been willing to volunteer whenever extra help was needed. The White County 4-H Support Committee annual pork chop supper could not have run so smoothly all these years without the leadership of Liz and her husband Craig. The Illinois 4-H Foundation established the statewide Hall of Fame in 2004 to honor and celebrate extraordinary 4-H alumni, volunteers, and former 4-H staff. Each inductee received a commemorative Hall of Fame medallion.
Healy Farms sponsored the Community Involvement Award, which recognizes members who are great at service to others. The winner in the senior division was Gracie Schneider. The winners in the junior division were Annsley Healy, first place, Katelyn Davis, second, and Nichole Smith third.
WRUL/WROY and Brownfield Ag was honored to award two young members with this year’s ag youth award on behalf of the Brownfield Ag News. Presented with these awards were Cody Nausley and Samantha Stallings.
JC Tinsley, on behalf of WRUL/WROY and Brownfield Ag presented the Promotional Performance Award to two young 4-Hers. The first is a kind of Lifetime achievement recognizing a 4-Her who is nearing the end of their 4-H run, who has shown exemplary commitment to showing up for their role in radio commercials, and who have come a long way from the nervous young person who stepped in front of a microphone for the first time. This year’s winner was Joseph Gates. The second award goes to a Best of this year, which could be the young person who has shown up the most consistently, shown the most
improvement or continued excellence, or is perhaps simply the best ambassador in getting the word out about the programs and activities that 4-H is involved in. This year’s winner was Marlee Fuqua.
The Carmi Elks sponsored the top club officers in the county: Kaden Carter, top president; Katelyn Davis, top secretary; Emmaline Draper, top treasurer; Grace McCarty, top news reporter; and Jax Jordan top office reporter.
