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Under the theme, “This is how we roll,” adults and youth members of the Rock County 4-H Program gathered Nov. 6 in the Luverne Elementary commons to recognize the achievements of 2021 and hand out awards.
The annual potluck event was attended by more than 110 members, parents, leaders and sponsors.
Federation officers
Installation of new Federation officers took place with each given Rolos and squeeze balls to remind them to relax and “roll’ with life. The Federation, a team of youth and adult leaders, assist local Extension personnel to further develop learning opportunities for 4-H members.
Youth officers include president Krista Burkman, vice president Leah Kruse, treasurer Nathan Kinsinger (also an Extension committee representative), secretary Lanae Elbers, assistant secretary/reporter Brianna Kinsinger, youth leaders Karly Kruse and Calab Raak, and Extension committee representative Justin Mente.
Adult members include treasurer Candy Reese and representatives Marisa Maloney, Joshua Raak, Lanette Elbers, Teresa Kinsinger, Russell Forrest, Cory Schoeneman and Michele Kruse.
4-H ambassadors
Hosting the annual program and providing youth leadership within the county program are older youth members and ambassadors promoting 4-H.
The 2020 ambassadors honored for their work over the past program year include Krista Burkman, Lanae Elbers, Cassie Flanagan, Sophie Holmberg, Gretchen Jacobsma, Nathan Kinsinger, Tory Knobloch, Karly Kruse, Leah Kruse, Danette Leenderts, Jacob Madison, Justin Mente, Samantha Moser, Cody Moser, Austin Ossefoort, Caleb Raak, Jacob Raak, Dennie Sandbulte, Grace Sandbulte and Hunter Sandbulte.
Awards were sponsored by the Luverne Area Chamber of Commerce.
Club awards
The Blue Ribbon 4-H Club earned top honors for their activities in 2021. Activities include filling bags of candy for Project Love, cleaning ditches, and planting flowers with residents at the nursing home in Hills.
The Livewires club took runner-up honors for their community pride project of “lead by example” to younger members and care packages to the residents of the Ellsworth nursing home.
Clubs also competed for additional awards based on activities their members complete. Points were awarded for the active club awards.
The Springdell 4-H Club received first place award sponsored by Pizza Ranch. Second place, sponsored by Ace Hardware, was earned by the Denver Go-Getters. The highest percentage of members to complete their re-enrollment was awarded to the Blue Ribbon club.
Club abbreviations
Blue Ribbon (BR)
County K9s (K9)
Denver Go-Getters (DGG)
Livewires (LW)
Magnolia Juniors (MJ)
Springdell (SD)
Willing Workers (WW)
Cloverbud recognition
Recognition was given to a large group of the youngest 4-H members. Cloverbuds are youth in kindergarten through second grade.
Earning the Cloverbud award for activities completed during the year were Grady Broesder, Fox Busswitz, River Johnson and Addison Sammons from BR; Summer Aning and Gracelyn Hamann from K9; Karsten Haas, Landon Jessen, Matthew Koedam and Henry Pap from DGG; Jaxen Jansma, Daniel Sina, Demmi Sina, Aiden Snyders, Cameron Snyders, Ivy Tiesler and Alexis Wrigg from LW; Joshua Luitjens and Kallista Van Grootheest from MJ; Caylix Buchholz, Colton Buchholz, Hayden Devine, Memphis Haeffner, Dashel Halbersma, Connor Snell and Noelle Snell from SD.
Clover Power honors
Members in their first or second year in 4-H earn points for year-end awards. Clover Power award recipients include Penni Moore of BR, Allison Honken of LW and Colton Buchholz of SD.
Fantastic 15
Members in grades 3-6 with the highest points for completing various activities earn the Fantastic 15 award.
Winners were Camdyn Broesder, Jed Fagerness, Ava Steinhoff, Hailey Moser and Penni Moore of BR; Luella Johnson of K9; Allison Honken and Joshua Honken of LW; Lucas Madison and Evan Ossefoort of MJ; Colton Buchholz, Lillian Maloney and Norah Maloney of SD.
The Fantastic 15 awards were sponsored by the Rock County Star Herald.
Fab 15
Older 4-H’ers, youth in grades 7 and higher, compete for Fab 15 honors by earning points throughout the year.
Fab 15 honorees include Lanae Elbers, Danette Leenderts, Larissa Steinhoff of BR; Caleb Raak, Jacob Raak of DGG; Egypt Forrest, Fox Forrest of K9; Andrea Honken, Leah Kruse and Karly Kruse of LW; Brianna Kinsinger, Nathan Kinsinger and Justin Mente of MJ; Krista Burkman and Zach Uhl of SD.
Awards were sponsored by Security Savings Bank and CHS Inc.
Project achievement
Six members earned “once in a lifetime” awards for their work in a project area during their 4-H careers and shared their knowledge with other members.
Justin Mente (MJ) was awarded a beef achievement recognition by the Rock/Nobles Cattlemen’s Association. He is the son of Dave and Stacy Mente of Adrian.
Jacob Raak (DGG) received the dairy achievement award sponsored by the Rock County American Dairy Association. Raak is the son of Philip and Theresa Raak of Jasper.
Ashlyn Johnson (K9) earned the pet achievement award sponsored by the Rock Veterinary Center in Luverne. She is the daughter of Jim and Heather Johnson of Luverne.
Krista Burkman earned a crafts and fine arts achievement from Making Memories Last Retreat of Adrian. Burkman also earned the clothing and textiles achievement, sponsored by the Sewing Basket of Luverne. She is the daughter of Crystal Burkman and John Burkman of Brandon.
Zach Uhl was given the show achievement from Cleveringa Construction of Luverne. He is the son of Mike and Anna Uhl of Garretson.
George Golla Award
The George A. Golla 4-H Award honors 4-H’ers who demonstrate an extraordinary display of 4-H qualities and incorporation of 4-H values into their life goals. Applicants are encouraged to reflect on those qualities and the way they have given back to others and their communities.
Justin Mente (MJ) was the 2021 award recipient by the Golla family.
Outstanding leader
The ultimate youth leader award is given to an older member based on involvement in the 4-H program, displaying leadership to younger members and being a positive role model.
Zach Uhl (SD) was the 2021 outstanding youth leader.
Scholarship recipients
Jacob Raak was awarded the scholarship from Sunshine Foods and the Reisch 4-H fund.
Gretchen Jacobsma, Tory Knobloch and Dalton Popkes earned Reisch 4-H fund scholarships.
Graduating members
Six members were honored as graduates of the 4-H program in 2021. They are Aisha Porter and Candace Porter of K9, Dalton Popkes (LW), Kallie Chapa and Christian Kruse of MJ and Tacey Baustian (WW).
Project disks
Disks are given in each of the 4-H project areas. Member earn project disks based on records submitted and judged. Top recorder winners in each project area include:
Beef: Claire Knobloch, Tory Knobloch, Danette Leenderts, all of BR, Justin Mente, MJ; Claire Popkes, LW.
Cat: Penni Moore, BR.
Dairy: Caleb Raak and Jacob Raak, both of DGG.
Horse: Lily Ehlers, K9; Andrea Honken, LW; and Reagan Spath, BR
Poultry: Justin Mente, MJ.
Rabbit: Joshua Honken, LW; and Andrea Luitjens, MJ.
Clothing and textiles: Krista Burkman, SD; Fox Forrest, K9; and Morgan Gonnerman, WW.
Communication Contest: Krista Burkman, SD; Candace Porter, K9.
Crafts and Fine Arts: Allison Honken, LW; Jacob Madison, MJ; Mazzi Moore, BR; Penni Moore, BR; Alayna Oechsle, LW; Evan Ossefoort, MJ; Aisha Porter, K9; Candace Porter, K9; Larissa Steinhoff, BR; Zach Uhl, SD.
Fishing Sports: Aaliyah Stensland, SD.
Flower Gardening: Gabriella Porter, K9.
Food and Nutrition: Fox Forrest, K9; Lucas Madison, MJ; Lillian Maloney, SD; Hailey Moser, BR; Samantha Moser, BR; Alayna Oechsle, LW; Ava Steinhoff, BR.
Food Preservation: Jacob Madison, MJ; Justin Mente, MJ.
Geology: Colton Buchholz, SD
Home Environment: Colton Buchholz, SD.
Indoor Gardening: Norah Maloney, SD.
Needle Arts: Fox Forrest, K9; Alayna Oechsle, LW; Gabriella Porter, K9.
Photography: Claire Boeve, BR; Krista Burkman, SD; Lily Ehlers, K9; Brianna Kinsinger, MJ; Samantha Moser, BR; Ava Steinhoff, BR; Larissa Steinhoff, BR.
Tractor: Zach Uhl, SD.
Self-Determined: Zach Uhl, SD.
Shop/Wood Science: Krista Burkman, SD; Evan Ossefoort, MJ; Jacob Raak, DGG; Zach Uhl, SD.
Adult volunteers
Receiving recognition for 25 years were Wayne Brands and Beth Kalass; 20 years Theresa Raak, Anne Stegenga, Craig Stegenga; 15 years Dave and Dawn Leenderts, Dave and Stacy Mente; 10 years Erin deKoning, Kurt and Lanette Elbers, Kris VanDerBrink; five years Cory and Kelsey Buchholz, Anna Haas, Meranda Kramer, Robin Kroon, Dennis and Melonie Madison, Amie and Ryan Reker, Mike Spath, Patti Stensland, and Amanda and Jeremey Wiersema.
Club Leaders were also recognized. They included Lanette Elbers from BR, Katie Walgrave, K-9, Theresa Raak, DGG, Michele Kruse, LW, Laura Luitjens, MJ, Anna and Michael Uhl, SD, and Anne Stegenga, WW.
Alumni and friends
A group of adults were recognized for their support of the 4-H program.
The Rock County Ag Society was named a Friend of 4-H for the group’s support of the program over the years and bringing new ideas to the annual county fair.
Dave and Dawn Leenderts of Hills were honored for their many years of volunteering and being parents to active 4-H’ers with the 4-H Alumni Award.
Kelsey Buchholz of Garretson also received a 4-H Alumni Award for being an ultimate role model and example of making the best better.