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“A Year to Remember” was the theme of the 2020 virtual awards and recognition night for Rock County 4-H on Nov. 2.
“Even though it wasn’t in person this year, we still had around 100 people attend,” said Kelsey Maeschen, 4-H program coordinator.
“Rock County 4-H would like to give a special thanks to all of the local businesses that sponsored awards and door prizes this year.”
Clubs, individual youth and adult volunteers were recognized for their work completed in 2020:
4-H ambassadors
Ambassadors provide youth leadership to many county 4-H programs.
The Ambies for the past year were Hannah Kruse, Hunter Sandbulte, Michael Kinsinger, Christian Kruse, Tory Knobloch, Gretchen Jacobsma, Cassie Flanagan, Whitney Elbers, Kaylie Ossefoort, Trevor Mente, Joshua Raak, Jacob Raak, Halle Hough, Justin Mente, Danette Leenderts, Samantha Moser, Keisha Veldkamp, Krista Burkman, Caleb Raak, Leah Kruse, Karly Kruse, Cody Moser, Austin Ossefoort, Sophie Holmberg and Grace Sandbulte.
Federation officers
Installed as Federation officers for the 2021 program year were President Jacob Raak, Vice President Leah Kruse, Treasurer Nathan Kinsinger, Secretary Lanae Elbers, Assistant Secretary/Reporter Samantha Moser, Youth Leaders Karly Kruse and Krista Burkman, Extension Committee Reps Nathan Kinsinger and Krista Burkman, Adult Treasurer Candy Reese, Adult Representatives Mike Uhl, Theresa Raak, Lanette Elbers, Teresa Kinsinger, Russell Forrest, Cory Schoeneman and Michele Kruse.
Club awards
Each club in Rock County earned points based on the activities members completed as a club. Attendance, having project meetings, the percentage of members that complete demonstrations and project talks, and having recreation are among the point-earning activities.
This year the first-place Active Club Award sponsored by Pizza Ranch went to the Denver Go-Getters.
Second place sponsored by Ace Hardware was awarded to Blue Ribbon.
The club with the highest percentage of members to re-enroll in 4-H for the new program year was awarded to Blue Ribbon.
Member recognition
For individual award recognition, the club names will be abbreviated as follows:
BR = Blue Ribbon,
K9s = County K9s,
DGG = Denver Go-Getters,
LW = Livewires,
MJ = Magnolia Juniors,
SD = Springdell,
WW = Willing Workers.
Cloverbuds honored
Maeschen recognized the largest group of youngest 4-H members the program has experienced in several years.
Cloverbuds are 4-H members in kindergarten through second grade.
Receiving awards were Grady Broesder, Fox Busswitz, Penni Moore and Addison Sammons, all of BR; Summer Aning, K9s; Landon Jessen, Ashlyn Klein, Matthew Koedam, Dena Pap, all of DGG; Alayna Oechsle, Daniel Sina, Ivy Tiesler, Alexis Wrigg, all of LW; Braylynn Altman, Caul Bonnett, Elsie Buntjer, Joshua Luitjens, all of MJ; Cole Barefoot, Caylix Buchholz, Hayden Devine, Memphis Haeffner, Cannon Halbersma, Leeland Maloney and Connor Snell, all of SD.
Clover Power awards
4-H members in their first and second years in 4-H can compete for Clover Power awards by participating in club and county activities throughout the year.
Recipients included Colton Buchholz, Norah Maloney, Lillian Maloney, all of SD and Gabriella Porter, K9s.
Fantastic 15 and Fab 15
4-H members also compete for awards in two age divisions.
The Fantastic 15 Awards go to 15 members in grades 3-6 with the highest points for various activities such as participating in club activities, attending 4-H camp, exhibiting at county fair, filling out records and giving demonstrations.
The winners received awards sponsored by the Rock County Star Herald.
The Fantastic 15 2020 awards were presented to Colton Buchholz, Klarissa Burkman, Lillian Maloney, Norah Maloney, all of SD; Luella Johnson, K-9s; Claire Knobloch and Ava Steinhoff, both of BR; Evan Ossefoort and Kailee Sandbulte, both of of MJ.
As 4-H members get older, they expand their involvement in 4-H to include leadership activities.
The youth in grades seven and up compete for the Fab 15 Awards sponsored by Security Savings Bank and CHS.
The Fab 15 included Krista Burkman, SD; Whitney Elbers, Lanae Elbers, Tory Knobloch, Mazzi Moore, Larissa Steinhoff, all of BR; Brianna Kinsinger, Justin Mente, Austin Ossefoort, Hunter Sandbulte, all of MJ; Leah Kruse and Karly Kruse, both of LW; Joshua Raak, Jacob Raak and Caleb Raak, all of DGG.
Project achievement
“Once in a lifetime” awards are given to 4-H’ers who have done significant work over many years in one project area and have shared their knowledge with others.
An Achievement Award in the area of beef was awarded to Joshua Raak, member of DGG and son of Philip and Theresa Raak, Jasper.
A Performing Arts Achievement Award was presented to Krista Burkman, member of SD and daughter of John and Crystal Burkman, Brandon. The award was sponsored by the Green Earth Players.
A Crafts & Fine Arts Achievement Award was presented to Leah Kruse, daughter of Kory and Michele Kruse, Ellsworth. The award was sponsored by Coffey Contemporary Arts.
George A. Golla Award
The George A. Golla Award is presented by the Golla Family each year to someone who has demonstrated an extraordinary display of 4-H qualities and has incorporated the 4-H values into their goals and their life.
After reflecting on those qualities and the way they have given back to others and their communities, the award was presented to Krista Burkman of SD. She is the daughter of John and Crystal Burkman, Brandon.
Youth leader awards
The ultimate youth leader award of the evening is the Outstanding Youth Leader award, which is sponsored by Minnwest Bank.
This year based on her active involvement in the 4-H program, providing leadership to younger members, being an active ambassador and being a wonderful role model, the Outstanding Youth Leader was awarded to Whitney Elbers of BR. She is the daughter of Kurt and Lanette Elbers, Steen.
Many other youth and adults were recognized as well.
Scholarship recipients were Whitney Elbers, sponsored by Sunshine Foods and the Reisch Scholarship Fund and Christian Kruse, sponsored by the Reisch Scholarhsip Fund.
Graduating members
Graduating members were Whitney Elbers and Madison Spath, both of BR; Joshua Raak, DGG; Alexandra Hartman, K9s; Hannah Kruse, LW; Lizzie Chapa, Michael Kinsinger, Trevor Mente, Kaylie Ossefoort and Halle Hough, all of MJ; and Aleck Schoeneman, WW.
Project Disk Awards
Project Disk Awards are given in each of the project areas in 4-H based on the project records that the youth complete and submit for judging. A group of adult and youth leaders gathered in October to select the top records in each project area.
Those top record winners are:
Animal Science Areas
Beef: Whitney Elbers, BR; Austin Ossefoort, MJ; Caleb Raak, DGG
Cat: Norah Maloney, SD
Dairy: Joshua Raak, DGG
Goat: Lanae Elbers, BR; Whitney Elbers, BR
Horse: Ellie Loose, MJ
Pet: Egypt Forrest, Fox Forrest, Ashlyn Johnson, all of K9s
Poultry: Fox Forrest, K9; Allison Honken and Joshua Honken, LW
Rabbit: Ellie Loose, MJ
General Areas
Aerospace: Colton Buchholz, SD
Clothing & Textiles: Colton Buchholz, SD; Egypt Forrest and Gabriella Porter, both of K9s
Communication Contest: Colton Buchholz, SD; Gabriella Porter, K9s
Crafts & Fine Arts: Krista Burkman and Colton Buchholz, both of SD; Andrea Honken, LW; Ashlyn Johnson, Gabriella Porter and Luella Johnson, both of K9s; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ; Lillian Maloney and Norah Maloney, Aaliyah Stensland, Andres Stensland and NeVaeh Stensland, all of SD
Engineering Design: Colton Buchholz and Andres Stensland, both of SD; Mazzi Moore, BR
Exploring the Environment: Mazzi Moore, BR
Fishing Sports: Andres Stensland, SD
Flower Gardening: Fox Forrest, K9s; Lillian Maloney and Norah Maloney, both of SD
Food and Nutrition: Brianna Kinsinger, MJ; Brady Lemme, WW
Food Preservation: Fox Forrest and Gabriella Porter, both of K9s
Fruit: Luella Johnson, K9s
Geology: Bradey Lemme, WW
Home Environment: Klarissa Burkman, SD
Horticulture: Aaliyah Stensland, SD
Needle Arts: Krista Burkman, SD
Performing Arts: Egypt Forrest, K9s; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ
Photography: Colton Buchholz, SD; Andrea Honken, LW; Gabriella Porter, K9s
Quilting: Krista Burkman, SD
Self-Determined: Andres Stensland, SD
Shop/Wood Science: Jed Fagerness, BR; Fox Forrest, K9s
Adult volunteers
A number of adult volunteers were honored for their years of service and contributions to Rock County 4-H as follows:
20 years: John Flanagan and Laura Richters.
15 years: Jason Johnson.
10 years: Amy and Daryl Fuerstenberg, Chris and Jamie Tiesler, Amanda Sandbulte, Teresa Kinsinger and Troy Williamson.
5 years: Stuart and Karin Moser, Chris and Mary Fagerness, Dallas and Amy Knobloch, David and Lexi Moore, Jessica Devine, Amy Fry, JD Steinhoff, Paul Sandbulte, Cliff Malsom and Matthew Raak.
Club Leaders were also recognized. They include Dawn Leenderts and Lanette Elbers, BR; Diana Hensley and Katie Walgrave, K9s; Theresa Raak, DGG; Lori Oechsle and Michele Kruse, LW; Amanda Sandbulte and Becky Ossefoort, MJ; Anna and Mike Uhl, SD; and Andrea Johnson, WW.
Friends of 4-H, alumni
Other adult awards presented were the Friend of 4-H Award and the 4-H Alumni Award.
Recognized as Friends of 4-H for their years of supporting the 4-H program and service as club leaders were Mike and Anna Uhl.
Receiving the 4-H Alumni Award for their many years of giving back to 4-H through being a club leader and volunteering on many committees were Kory and Michele Kruse.