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Rock County 4-H’ers were recognized for their year’s achievements at the annual year-end awards banquet Saturday, Nov. 5, at Generation Events in Luverne.
The potluck event, “Color Your Life with 4-H” was attended by 100 4-H’ers, parents, leaders and sponsors.
Federation officers
The evening began with the installation of Federation officers.
Installed as officers were president Lanae Elbers, vice president Leah Kruse, treasurer Nathan Kinsinger, secretary Krista Burkman, assistant secretary/reporter Caleb Raak, youth leaders Klarissa Burkman and Zach Uhl, Extension committee representatives Justin Mente and Lanae Elbers, adult treasurer Candy Reese, adult representatives Marisa Maloney, Joshua Raak, Karin Moser, Teresa Kinsinger, Russell Forrest and Kory Kruse.
They were presented with notebooks, markers, colored pens and the candy, Mike and Ike’s, to remind them to keep color in their lives and embrace their creative sides.
Ambassadors
The county 4-H ambassadors hosted the awards event. They provided youth leadership to many of the 4-H programs during the year. Ambies for the past year were Morgan Bonnett, Krista Burkman, Lanae Elbers, Mallie Fick, Brianna Kinsinger, Nathan Kinsinger, Karly Kruse, Leah Kruse, Danette Leenderts, Andrea Luitjens, Jacob Madison, Justin Mente, Mazzi Moore, Samantha Moser, Cody Moser, Austin Ossefoort, Caleb Raak, Jacob Raak, and Grace Sandbulte.
Club recognitions
This year the Blue Ribbon Club won top Community Pride honors for their activities which included donating clothing items and money toward the HBC Care Closet program, making tie blankets for Project Love to be distributed in the Hills, Beaver Creek and Steen areas, and hosting an Easter Egg Hunt at the Tuff Home in Hills.
The Livewires Club took second place for their Community Pride projects which included doing random acts of kindness throughout the community, making May Day baskets for the residents of the Ellsworth Nursing Home, and painting the softball dugouts in Ellsworth.
The 4-H Clubs also compete for awards based on the activities they do as a club. They receive points for attendance, having project meetings, the percentage of members that do demonstrations and project talks, having recreation, and so on.
This year the first-place Active Club Award, sponsored by Pizza Ranch, went to the Denver Go-Getters.
Second place, sponsored by the Rock County 4-H Federation, was awarded to Springdell.
This year the club with the highest percentage of members to complete their re-enrollment for the new year was awarded to the Livewires.
Club abbreviations
For individual award recognition, the club abbreviations include: BR = Blue Ribbon Club, K9 = County K9’s Club, DGG = Denver Go-Getters Club, LW = Livewires Club, MJ = Magnolia Juniors Club, SD = Springdell Club, and WW = Willing Workers Club.
Cloverbud awards
Recognition was given to a large group of the youngest 4-H members, the Cloverbuds, who are 4-H members in kindergarten through second grade.
Receiving those awards were Charles Barber and Mallorie Boeve from BR, Noël Henrichs, Lily Lund and Piper Meinerts from K9, Garrett Carlson, Karsten Haas, Landon Jessen, Morgan Koedam and Noah Klein from DGG, Jacob Deutsch, Colby Jansma, Grace Jansma, Jaxen Jansma, Karter Jansma, Daniel Sina, Demmi Sina and Ivy Tiesler from LW, Eden Uithoven, Tyson Uithoven, and Kallista Van Grootheest from MJ, Cosmo Brim, Coyer Buchholz, Dashel Halbersma, Landrie Jansma, Leeland Maloney, Connor Snell and Noelle Snell from SD.
Clover Power awards
First- and second-year 4-H members can compete for Clover Power awards by participating in club and county activities throughout the year.
Recipients included Matthew Koedam of DGG, Haley Jansma of LW, and Caylix Buchholz, Hayden Devine and Memphis Haeffner of SD.
Fantastic 15
The Fantastic 15 awards are earned by members in grades 3-6 with the points given by participating in various 4-H activities.
Earning Fantastic 15 awards are Penni Moore of BR, Seth Ehlers, Luella Johnson and Gabriella Porter of K9; Paige Blom and Matthew Koedam of DGG, Allison Honken and Alayna Oechsle of LW, Josh Luitjens and Evan Ossefoort of MJ, Caylix Buchholz, Colton Buchholz, Hayden Devine, Memphis Haeffner, and Norah Maloney of SD.
Fab 15 awards
The Fab 15 awards are reserved for youth in grade seven and higher. This year’s recipients include Lanae Elbers, Mazzi Moore and Larissa Steinhoff of BR, Caleb Raak and Jacob Raak of DGG, Egypt Forrest and Fox Forrest of K9; Andrea Honken, Leah Kruse and Karly Kruse of LW, Brianna Kinsinger and Nathan Kinsinger of MJ, Krista Burkman, Lillian Maloney and Zach Uhl of SD.
Project Achievement
Six 4-H’ers received project achievement awards, “once in a lifetime” honors earned by 4-H members who have done significant work over the years in one project area and have shared their knowledge with others.
Two awards were given in beef: Jacob Raak, son of Philip and Theresa Raak, Jasper, and Leah Kruse, daughter of Kory and Michele Kruse of Ellsworth.
Earning two project achievements, in photography and quilting, was Krista Burkman, daughter of John Burkman and Crystal Burkman of Sioux Falls.
A crafts and fine arts achievement was given to Zach Uhl, son of Mike and Anna Uhl of Garretson.
Brianna Kinsinger, daughter of Shawn and Teresa Kinsinger of Luverne, was awarded the performing arts achievement.
George Golla award
Zach Uhl of the Springdell 4-H Club was given the George A. Golla award. The award is given each year by the Golla family to a 4-H’er who demonstrates an extraordinary display of 4-H qualities and has incorporated the 4-H values into their goals and their life.
Outstanding youth leader award
Samantha Moser, daughter of Stuart and Karin Moser of Beaver Creek, was chosen for the outstanding youth leader award. The award is based on Moser’s active involvement in the 4-H program, providing leadership to younger members and the 4-H program as a whole, and being an excellent role model. Moser is a member of the Blue Ribbon 4-H Club.
Scholarships
Scholarship recipients were Samantha Moser, Morgan Gonnerman, Danette Leenderts, Drew Leenderts, Donavon Leenderts, Justin Mente and Grace Sandbulte.
Graduates
Submitting their intensions to graduate from the 4-H program were Tory Knobloch, Donavon Leenderts, Drew Leenderts and Kennedy Safar of BR; Jacob Raak of DGG; Payton Bork and Hunter Sandbulte of MJ; Joy Fry of SD; and Trista Baustian and Morgan Gonnerman of WW.
Project disk awards
Project disks are given in each of the 4-H project areas based on project records that the youth completed and submit for judging. A group of adult and youth leaders select the top records from each area as follow:
Beef: Lanae Elbers, BR, Nathan Kinsinger, MJ; Leah Kruse, LW; Austin Ossefoort, MJ; Jacob Raak DGG
Dairy: Paige Blom; DGG; Peyton Blom, DGG
Goat: Lanae Elbers, BR
Horse: Peyton Blom, DGG; Claire Boeve, BR; Hayden Devine, SD
Pets/Pet Show: Norah Maloney, SD
Poultry: Andrea Honken, LW; Josh Honken, LW; Andrea Luitjens, MJ
Rabbit: Andrea Honken, LW; Ellie Loose, MJ; Josh Luitjens, MJ
Swine: Gracie Fagerness, BR; Jed Fagerness, BR; Fox Forrest, K9; Brenna Reker, SD
Child and family Development: Caylix Buchholz, SD
Clothing and textiles, fashion revue: Caylix Buchholz, SD; Egypt Forrest, K9; Gabriella Porter, K9
Communication contest: Colton Buchholz, SD; Gabriella Porter, K9
Crafts and fine arts: Caylix Buchholz, SD; Colton Buchholz, SD; Klarissa Burkman, SD; Krista Burkman, SD; Egypt Forrest, K9; Fox Forrest, K9; Memphis Haeffner, SD; Josh Honken, LW; Haley Jansma, LW; Ashlyn Johnson, K9; Luella Johnson, K9; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ; Lillian Maloney, SD; Janica Oechsle, LW; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR
Creative writing: Mazzi Moore, BR
Engineering design: Krista Burkman, SD
Fishing sports: Colton Buchholz, SD
Flower gardening: Lanae Elbers, BR; Lillian Maloney, SD; Norah Maloney, SD
Food and nutrition: Krista Burkman, SD; Lily Ehlers, K9; Lanae Elbers, BR; Gracie Fagerness, BR; AnnMarie Wiersema, BR
Food preservation: Egypt Forrest, K9; Lucas Madison, MJ
Fruit, vegetable and herb gardening: Fox Forrest, K9; Norah Maloney, SD; Larissa Steinhoff, BR
Home environment: Krista Burkman, SD; Lillian Maloney, SD
Indoor gardening: Ashlyn Johnson, K9
Industrial technology: Caylix Buchholz, SD; Colton Buchholz, SD
Mechanical science: Jacob Raak, DGG
Natural resources: Fox Forrest, K9
Needle arts: Krista Burkman, SD; Janica Oechsle, LW
Performing arts: Fox Forrest, K9; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ
Photography: Eliot Brim, SD; Caylix Buchholz, SD; Colton Buchholz, SD; Klarissa Burkman, SD; Gracie Fagerness, BR; Memphis Haeffner, SD; Gabriella Porter, K9; Zach Uhl, SD
Plastic sculpture challenge: Mazzi and Penni Moore, BR (Team project)
Quilting: Klarissa Burkman, SD; Krista Burkman, SD
Science inquiry: Penni Moore, BR
Self-determined: Lucas Madison, MJ
Technology: Penni Moore, BR
Veterinary science: AnnMarie Wiersema, BR
Youth leadership: Penni Moore, BR
Adult volunteers
Adult volunteers were honored for their years of service and contribution to Rock County 4-H. Receiving recognition for 30 years was Curt Roos; 20 years, Candy Reese; 10 years, Crystal Burkman, John Burkman and Jen Luitjens, five years Kelli Blom and Becky Ossefoort; and first year Ashley Carlson, Marsha Fick and Trevor Mente.
Club leaders were also recognized. They included Karin Moser from Blue Ribbon, Katie Walgrave from County K-9’s, Theresa Raak from Denver Go-Getters, Jamie Tiesler from Livewires, Laura Luitjens, Teresa Kinsinger and Becky Ossefoort from Magnolia Juniors, and Anna and Mike Uhl from Springdell
Friend/Alumni awards
Recognized as the 2022 Friend of 4-H were Sunshine Foods and the Bosch Family. The 4-H Alumni award was given to Cheyenne Edmundson for being a great role model and for encouraging youth to grow and explore the many aspects of the 4-H program.