Furnas County 4-H achievement night
4-H Achievement Night is a special event held each year to honor 4-H’ers, club leaders, and volunteers for all the hard work they have put forth toward their projects and the Furnas County 4-H program over the past year. This year, over 70 4-H’ers and family members attended Achievement Night held at the Ella Missing Center in Arapahoe on Sunday, October 17th hosted by the Arapahoe Baby Beef 4-H Club.
First year Clover Kids (participants 5-7 years of age), first year 4-H members, 5 year, and 10 year members are recognized each year and awarded with a membership pin. Those recognized for their years of 4-H enrollment include:
First Year Clover Kids: Gideon Aerni, Baylin Becker, Leru Botha, Jae Lee Brown, Brantley Coffman, Cody Drudik, Marcella Gross, Molly Leising, Claire Nickerson, Addison Reiman, Neligh Robinson, Scotland Tucker, Cameron Underwood, Kyler Wilken.
First Year 4-H’ers: Riley Aerni, Amelia Blickenstaff, Carter Blickenstaff, Wyatt Blickenstaff, Liza Botha, Ludick Botha, Breckyn Christensen, Kinley Christensen, Caleb Gavierez, Shyloh Gavierez, Chris Hermes, Hunter Jorschumb, Hadley Klinkebiel, Will Nickerson, Xander Sherwood, Austin Warburton.
5 Year 4-H Members: Dakota Deterding, Hailey Fries, Danielle Holcomb, Emma Strand, Kallen Warner, Ellie Weatherwax.
10 Year 4-H Members: Chet Fisher, Cord Frink, Austin Woods.
The Furnas County 4-H program would not be as strong as it is today without the support of our club leaders. Club leaders that have dedicated 5 years to Furnas County 4-H youth that were recognized at Achievement Night include Dick Potts, Carla Potts, Erika Hunt, and Reba Deterding. We are so grateful for all our leaders’ hard work!
This year, 4-H’ers were able to apply for awards through the Annual Achievement Application which is used for the selection of county, state, and national 4-H awards. We had 10 outstanding 4-H members complete the application who will be awarded a camp scholarship sponsored by the Furnas County 4-H Council. These 4-H’ers include Dakota Deterding, Taytum Roskop, Capri Sayer, Dierks Sayer, Clayton Sayer, Trenton Roskop, Kinley Christensen, Autumn Deterding, Tracy Roskop, and Brenna Deterding. 4-H’ers that complete the Achievement Application are also eligible to apply for special awards. Those who were recognized for special awards included Clayton Sayer for his project in Achievement, Dierks Sayer for his Beef project, Brenna Deterding for her project in Leadership, Autumn Deterding for her Photography project, and Taytum Roskop for her Swine project.
The 4-H Council selects 4-H’ers for the Ag and Family and Consumer Science Awards. Youth must have participated in variety of different 4-H activities or contests to be eligible for these awards. Youth selected for these awards include Dakota Deterding for the Ag Award and Kinley Christensen for the Family and Consumer Science Award.
The Helen Frey award is a special monetary award for young members of the Furnas County 4-H program. Asher Gerlach and Dakota Deterding have been nominated to receive the award next year upon completion of their Achievement Applications. The nominee from 2020, Taytum Roskop, received the monetary award this year.
Each year, the 4-H Council chooses 4 special recognition awards including Outstanding 4-H’er, Honorary 4-H Member, 4-H Alumni, and Meritorious Service. Furnas County 4-H is proud to recognize Haiden Garey as the 2021 Outstanding 4-H’er for her involvement in several 4-H projects including home environment, photography, cooking, swine, talent contest, and much more. She has also demonstrated true leadership in the community through sharing her modeling expertise with young 4-H’ers at a 4-H modeling clinic.
The Honorary 4-H Member Award was presented to Julie Sayer. Julie is the kind of volunteer that always shows up early and is the last to leave. Her dedication to 4-H Clothing Day and hard work behind the scenes is what makes the day go so smoothly. Her leadership and support are very much appreciated.
Kelly Gillen received the 4-H Alumni Award. It is easy to see her passion for the 4-H program through her patience, poise, and compassion as she volunteers her time. Kelly never hesitates to jump in and do what needs to be done. She is a dedicated Alum that continues to be a true 4-H’er by making the best better.
Pat Theobald was recognized for receiving the Meritorious Service Award. Pat has shown true leadership and dedicated many years to the 4-H horse program. We greatly appreciated the time she has spent building confidence and skills in young riders and her commitment to the 4-H Horse Show.
At the end of the evening, 4-H Council elections were held. Members whose terms have ended and are stepping down from their leadership roles on the council include Margaret McInturf, Jared Sayer, and Clayton Sayer. Their dedication to serving the Furnas County 4-H program is very much appreciated. We are excited to announce 3 new members that will be joining the council; Blake Soucie of Cambridge, Laura McInturf of Oxford, and Trenton Roskop will be serving as a youth representative.
It was a great evening to celebrate the accomplishments of youth participants, club leaders, and volunteers of Furnas County 4-H. The Extension Office would like to extend their appreciation to the 4-H Council for all their work in selecting the award winners and for their financial support of the event and to the Arapahoe Baby Beef for hosting this celebration.
