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The Rock County 4-H organization hosted the 2019 awards and recognition night Saturday, Nov. 2, at the Luverne Elementary School commons.
This year’s theme was “Any Way You Cut It: 4-H is Top Choice.”
About 160 4-H members, parents, leaders and sponsors attended the event that recognized members for their achievements during the 2019 4-H year.
Federation officers
elected for 2020 4-H year
The evening began with the installation of the newly elected Federation officers.
Installed were officers Whitney Elbers, president; Jacob Raak, vice president; Justin Mente, treasurer, Grace Sandbulte, secretary, Danette Leenderts, assistant secretary/reporter, as well as youth leaders Leah Kruse and Caleb Raak, Extension Committee representatives Michael Kinsinger and Krista Burkman, adult treasurer Candy Reese, and adult representatives Mike Uhl, Theresa Raak, Dawn Leenderts, Becky Ossefoort, Russell Forrest, Cory Schoeneman and Michele Kruse.
Ambassadors recognized
The Rock County 4-H ambassadors were the hosts of the program and were recognized for providing youth leadership to many of the county 4-H programs.
The Ambies for the past year were Josie Scholten, Hannah Kruse, Allie LaRock, Michaella Sandbulte, Hunter Sandbulte, Michael Kinsinger, Joni Vander Beek, Christian Kruse, Tory Knobloch, Gretchen Jacobsma, Emily Malsom, Cassie Flanagan, Whitney Elbers, Brianna Jonas, McKenna Westphal, Kaylie Ossefoort, Trevor Mente, Joshua Raak, Jacob Raak, Halle Hough, Keisha Veldkamp, Sam Moser, Danette Leenderts, and Justin Mente.
Club awards given
The county 4-H clubs were also recognized for their members’ achievements throughout the year.
This year the Magnolia Juniors 4-H Club won top Community Pride honors for their activities, which included hosting an Easter egg hunt, cleaning ditches, and hosting a pet food drive for the Tracy Area Animal Rescue.
The Springdell club took second place for their Community Pride projects, which included spending time with the residents at Palisades Manor and assisting with the Garretson City Wide Clean-up.
The 4-H clubs also compete for awards based on the activities they do as a club. Among the activities for which they receive points include member attendance, having project meetings, the percentage of members that do demonstrations and project talks, having recreation. This year the first-place active club award went to Springdell.
Second place was awarded to Denver Go-Getters.
This year two clubs tied for having the highest percentage of members complete their re-enrollment for the 2020 4-H year and that was awarded to Denver Go-Getters and Livewires.
Club abbreviation key
For individual award recognition, the club names will be abbreviated as BR = Blue Ribbon, K9s = County K9s, DGG = Denver Go-Getters, LW = Livewires, MJ = Magnolia Juniors, SD = Springdell, and WW = Willing Workers.
Individuals recognized
Recognition was given to a large group of Rock County’s youngest 4-H members, the Cloverbuds, who are members in kindergarten through second grade.
Receiving awards were Penni Moore from BR; Cora Mesman from K9s; Ashlyn Klein and Matthew Koedam from DGG; Allison Honken, Alayna Oechsle, Ivy Tiesler, and Jackson Viger from LW; Braylynn Altman, Caul Bonnett, Brody Buntjer, Blakely Fick, Joshua Luitjens and Adalyn Uithoven from MJ; and Cale Barefoot, Cole Barefoot, Caylix Buchholz, Colton Buchholz, Mason Cox, Hayden Devine, Memphis Haeffner, Cannon Halbersma and Norah Maloney from SD.
4-H members in their first and second years in 4-H can compete for the Clover Power award given to members based on their participation in club and county activities through the year.
Recipients included Camdyn Broesder, Hailey Moser, Ava Steinhoff and AnnMarie Wiersema of BR; Lily Ehlers of K9s; Joshua Honken of LW; Lucas Madison, Evan Ossefoort, and Kailee Sandbulte of MJ; and Klarissa Burkman, Lillian Maloney, Brady Malsom, and Lizzy Pitz of SD.
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 Fantastic 15 awards were presented to Mazzi Moore, Ava Steinhoff, and AnnMarie Wiersema of BR; Paige Blom and Peyton Blom of DGG; Fox Forrest of K9s; Andrea Honken, Joshua Honken, Janica Oechsle, and Makayla Oechsle of LW; Brianna Kinsinger, Andrea Luitjens, Austin Sandbulte, and Kailee Sandbulte of MJ; and Klarissa Burkman and Lillian Maloney of SD.
As 4-H members age, they can expand their involvement in 4-H to include leadership activities.
The youth in grades 7 and up compete for the FAB 15.
The Fab 15 included Whitney Elbers, Danette Leenderts, and Samantha Moser of BR; Caleb Raak, Jacob Raak, and Joshua Raak of DGG; Egypt Forrest of K9s; Hannah Kruse of LW; Gretchen Jacobsma, Michael Kinsinger, Justin Mente, Dennie Sandbulte, and Grace Sandbulte of MJ; and Krista Burkman and Zach Uhl of SD.
Achievement honors
Awards were presented to three 4-H’ers for their involvement.
Achievement awards are “once in a lifetime” awards given to 4-H members who have done significant work through the years in one project area, and have shared their knowledge with others.
An Achievement Award in the Beef project was presented to Whitney Elbers, member of Blue Ribbon 4-H Club and daughter of Kurt and Lanette Elbers of Steen.
A Dairy Achievement Award was given to Jacob Raak, member of Denver Go-Getters and son of Philip and Theresa Raak of Jasper.
Each year the George A. Golla Award is presented by the Golla Family of Luverne to a 4-H’er 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 Whitney Elbers.
Outstanding youth honors
The ultimate youth leader award is the Outstanding Youth Leader award.
This year, based on her active involvement in the 4-H program, providing leadership to younger members, and being a wonderful role model, the Outstanding Youth Leader Award was presented to Gretchen Jacobsma of the Magnolia Juniors 4-H Club. She is the daughter of Doug and Erin Jacobsma of Luverne.
Other youth and adults were recognized as well.
Scholarship recipients were Michael Kinsinger, Hannah Kruse, Kaylie Ossefoort, Joshua Raak, Josie Scholten and Trevor Mente.
Graduating members were Dawson Leenderts and McKenna Westphal of BR; Tyler Fick and Sage VerSteeg of LW; Brooke Feit, Brianna Jonas, Dylan Mente, Michella Sandbulte, and Cody Sasker of MJ; Trey Baustian and William Stegenga of WW; and Emily Malsom of SD.
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.
The following are the top record winners:
Animal Science Projects
Beef: Karly Kruse, LW; Leah Kruse, LW; Justin Mente, MJ; Jacob Raak, DGG; Joshua Raak, DGG.
Dairy: Caleb Raak, DGG; Jacob Raak, DGG.
Dog: Rebecca Austin, K9s.
Horse: Gretchen Jacobsma, MJ.
Poultry: Caleb Raak, DGG.
Rabbit: Keisha Veldkamp, SD.
Sheep: Keisha Veldkamp, SD.
Swine: Nathan Kinsinger, MJ; Kailey Moser, BR.
General Project Areas
Aerospace: Zach Uhl, SD.
Clothing and Textiles: Krista Burkman, SD; Morgan Gonnerman, WW; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ; Myles Trimble, K9s; Amber Wiersema, BR; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR.
Communication Contest: Klarissa Burkman, SD; Krista Burkman, SD.
Computer: Burke Johnson, K9s.
Consumer Education: Samantha Moser, BR.
Crafts & Fine Arts: Klarissa Burkman, SD; Fox Forrest, K9s; Alexandra Hartman, K9s; Gretchen Jacobsma, MJ; Austin Ossefoort, MJ; Kaylie Ossefoort, MJ; Jacob Raak, DGG; Joshua Raak, DGG; Myles Trimble, K9; Zach Uhl, SD; Amber Wiersema, BR.
Crop Science: Justin Mente, MJ.
Electric: Zach Uhl, SD.
Fishing Sports: Aaliyah Stensland, SD.
Flower Gardening: Klarissa Burkman, SD.
Food and Nutrition: Lanae Elbers, BR; Quentin Johnson, WW; Lillian Malony, SD; Lizzy Pitz, SD; Larissa Steinhoff, BR; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR.
Home Environment: Emily Malsom, SD; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR.
Indoor Gardening: Klarissa Burkman, SD.
Needle Arts: Gracie Fagerness, BR; Claire Knobloch, BR.
Performing Arts: Krista Burkman, SD; Fox Forrest, K9s.
Photography: Klarissa Burkman, SD; Krista Burkman, SD; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ; Joshua Raak, DGG; Grace Sandbulte, MJ; Amber Wiersema, BR; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR.
Potato: NaVeah Stensland, SD.
Quilting: Klarissa Burkman, SD; Amber Wiersema, BR.
Self-Determined: Caleb Raak, DGG.
Shooting Sports/Wildlife: Whitney Elbers, BR; Grace Sandbulte, MJ.
Shop/Wood Science: Justin Mente, MJ; Amber Wiersema, BR; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR.
Video: Fox Forrest, K9s.
Youth Leadership: Quentin Johnson, WW.
Adults also recognized
A number of adult volunteers were honored for their years of service and contributions to Rock County 4-H as well.
Receiving recognition for 30 years were Linda Wenzel and Greg Uithoven; 15 years Darrin and Nancy Popkes; 10 years were Judy Chesley, Sherri and Jim Ladd, Chris and Bobbi Safar, Lee Sells, and Amy and Brad VerSteeg; and for five years of service were Jason Braucht, Dorene Chapa, Andrea Johnson, Heather Johnson, Alysha Kientopf, Chad and Bonnie Meinerts, Lucas Nath, Angie Sandbulte and Meagan Stueven.
Club leaders were also recognized. They included Dawn Leenderts from BR, Diana Hensley, K9s, Theresa Raak, DGG, Michele Kruse and Lori Oechsle, LW, Erin Jacobsma and Amanda Sandbulte, MJ, Anna and Michael Uhl, SD, and Andrea Johnson, WW.
Recognized as a Friend of 4-H for his years of supporting the 4-H program and years sponsoring the Premier Showmanship Trophy was Leonard “Shorty” Leenderts of Hills.
Receiving the 4-H Alumni Award for her many years of giving back to 4-H through being a club leader and volunteering on many committees was Theresa Raak of Jasper.
For more information about the 4-H program contact Kelsey Maeschen, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development, Rock County, at 507-283-1302 or klmaesch@umn.edu.