Molly Kaiser and Katelyn Reh, 2018 4-H Council officers, welcomed Barton County 4-H members to the 84th annual 4-H Achievement Celebration held at Barton Community College on Nov. 11.
The Kansas 4-H Key Award is the most prestigious award that a 4-H member can earn. Candidates must have exhibited outstanding contributions in leadership, citizenship, community service. The recipients of the 2018 Key Awards were BrayLynn Anshutz and Luke Wondra. The Key awards are sponsored by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas.
The “I Dare You” award was first offered in 1941 by the late William H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina Company. He challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service. This award was presented to Lexi Straub from the Ellinwood Energizers 4-H Club.
Cloverbud 4-H members receiving ribbon display neckbands were Brecklynn Carper, Marlee Gaddis, Charlotte Huston, Lilly Ann Linsner (BB); Lindsay Prescott, Fiona Rugan, Aliza Straub (EE); Piper Scheck (EH); Amber Ochs (GBCS); Willow Braddy, Aiden Loesch, Kaisha Woydziak (HJ); Abigail Lopez (SS). Cloverbud members are 5 and 6 year olds by January 1 and are eligible for 4-H membership when they are seven years old by January 1 of the current 4-H year.
The 4-H Achievement Pin series includes nine applications that require more involvement and work each year. Those receiving first year membership pins were: Braylee Carper, Braxton Linsner, Kassie Linsner, Ellie Lutt, Levi McCormick (BB); Anna Prescott, Cole Ringwald, Grey Ringwald and Penelope Rugan (EE); Yessica Esquivel and Jamie Stos (HJ); Ethan Harr (SBJW).
Bronze Pin recipients: Blake Deines and Jesseca Hames (BCDC); Mikayla Watts (BB); Adessa Prosser (HJ); Elydia Harr, Christopher and Faith Schneweis-Trickey (SBJW).
Clover Pin recipients: Kylee Miessler (BCHT); Madison Gaddis (BB); Melody Braddy (HJ); Benjamin Wutka (TLC).
Emerald Pin winners: Noah Deines (BCDC); Kirsten Miessler (BCHT); Dylan Ferguson, Sierra Ferguson, Kylie McCormick and Dinah Newman (BB); Tate Martin (EE); Nicole Rziha (GBCS); Landon Woydziak, (HJ); Elsasildai Lopez, (SBJW); Ailey Williams and Nathaniel Wutka (TLC).
Silver Pin winners: Parker Dicks and Haley McCormick (BB); Zeb Hughes (EE); Melissa Gutierrez, Jason Villarreal (SBJW); Natalie Williams (TLC).
Silver Guard recipients: Augustus and Woodson Corbett (EE), Hailey Hicks (GBCS), Ivan Gutierrez, Chelsea Villarreal (SBJW)
Leadership Pin recipients: Alaina Straub (EE)
Gold Pin winners were Ryan Niles and Alexa Straub (EE); Kyle Rziha (GBCS); Paige Koehn (SS).
The Gold Guard winners were Dalton Dicks (BB); Luke Wondra (EE); Molly Kaiser (TLC).
Sean Hames (BCDC); BrayLynn Anshutz (BB); Shae Hoskins, Lily Hoskins, Grace Hoskins, Bryce Oliphant (EE); and Mathew Hicks (SBJW) all earned a yearly membership pin.
Barton County Project Award Winners are determined by their work in the project. The youth are asked to set goals and then share they have accomplished in their project. The award is based on what was learned and the leadership and citizenship work that is recorded in the Kansas Award Portfolio (KAP) application.
The Barton County senior project winner in Beef was Dalton Dicks. Parker Dicks was named junior champion and Sierra Ferguson was honorable mention. In the Bucket Calf project, Levi McCormick was champion and Dylan Ferguson was named honorable mention.
In Clothing and Textiles the senior project winner was Alexa Straub and BrayLynn Anshutz was alternate senior. In the junior division, Ellie Lutt was named champion and Kylie McCormick was honorable mention.
The Dog Care and Training senior project winner was Gus Corbett. Noah Deines, Hoisington Jets was junior champion and Nicole Rziha was named honorable mention.
Kyle Rziha was named the Champion senior in Energy Management.
Fiber Arts Project Champion was Alexa Straub from the Ellinwood Energizers. Kylie McCormick was named junior champion and Braylee Carper was honorable mention. The Foods and Nutrition project winner was BrayLynn Anshutz. Junior champion was Kassie Linsner and honorable mention was Noah Deines.
In Meat Goats, Sierra Ferguson was named champion. The senior Photography project champion was Ryan Niles. In the junior division, Sierra Ferguson was champion. Rabbit project Champion was awarded to Madison Gaddis and Alaina Straub was honorable mention.
Shooting Sports project winner was Dalton Dicks and Gus Corbett was honorable mention. Parker Dicks was junior champion and Madison Gaddis was named honorable mention. In Space Tech, the senior champion was Dalton Dicks. Parker Dicks was junior champion and Penelope Rugan was named honorable mention
The Swine project winner in the senior division was Luke Wondra with Woodson Corbett as alternate. Dylan Ferguson was named junior champion. Visual Arts project winner was Woodson Corbett. Wood Science project winner was Haley McCormick. Dinah Newman completed the top secretary book and Grace Hoskins was named honorable mention. Nicole Rziha completed the top Treasurer Book.
Farm Bureau supports leadership activities for young people and this year they provided recognition for those who served as 2018 4-H camp counselors at Heart of Kansas 4-H Camp. Counselors serving from Barton County were Alexa Straub, Emma Mayhill, Paige Koehn, Katelyn Reh, Hailey Hicks, Victoria Luttrell and Colton McPherson.
The judging teams who represented the county at state judging contests were recognized. Senior photography team members were Paige Koehn, Alexa Straub, Alaina Straub and Hailey Hicks. Intermediate team members were Natalie Williams, Ailey Williams, Samantha and Shelby Huston.
The State Family and Consumer Science intermediate judging team members were Alaina Straub, Natalie Williams and Ailey Williams. Alexa Straub, Dinah Newman and Kyle Rziha completed the contest in the senior division.
Poultry judging team members were Jayla Wyant, Dathan and Liam Proffitt.. Dalton Dicks and Steele Brack were honored for competing at the State Livestock Sweepstakes contest.
The Friends of 4-H were nominated by 4-H Clubs and a vote was taken at the 4-H Council meeting. Trinity Lutheran Church and Tom Burns were honored as Friends of 4-H and thanked for all their volunteer work with the 4-H Program.
The clubs in Barton County are Barton County Dog Club (BCDC), Barton County Horse Team (BCHT), Busy Buzzers (BB), Ellinwood Energizers (EE), Eureka Homesteaders (EH), Great Bend City Slickers (GBCS), Hoisington Jets (HJ), The Sharpshooters (SS), South Bend Jolly Workers (SBJW) and TLC Twisters (TLC).
Berny Unruh is the Cottonwood District 4-H and Youth Development Extension agent. She is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at 620-793-1910 or at bunruh@ksu.edu.
