Washington County 4-H Award Celebration distributes 430 Awards

The Washington County 4-H & Youth Committee along with the Washington County 4-H County Council held the annual 4-H Awards Celebration November 2. This event celebrated the 2024-2025 4-H year and recognized 4-Hers and volunteers for their hard work. Over 240 youth, volunteers and family members gathered to celebrate the 4-H award recipients at the KC Hall in Washington.

4-H Volunteers were awarded for their dedication and contributions to the Washington County 4-H Program. The Washington County 4-H program runs smoothly and can grow to do so much only with dedicated and caring volunteers, so it is deserving volunteers be recognized during the Awards Celebration.

Bridget Litwiller was awarded the Volunteer of the Year Award for his work supporting the 4-H county council with their monthly meetings and events as well as providing significant support to the sheep department, pancake breakfast, Saturday Kitchen. Mike Hammes was awarded the Friend of 4-H Award for his support to all the 4-H events and clubs as the Washington County Fairgrounds building and grounds manager. The Partner in 4-H Award went to KCII Radio for helping tell the 4-H story in southeast Iowa. 4-H Alumni of the Year award was given to Katie Reuman who serves as the Clothing Superintendent and is a dedicated fair support volunteer helping with many shows, behind the scenes work in the office and nonlivestock judging day. The 4-H Family of the Year was presented to Tom and Julie Evans with their children. The family has been actively involved with the beef department events and Fairboard support.

It was a successful night recognizing many 4-H members. 137 4-H Participant of Excellence & Merit Awards sponsored by CBI Bank & Trust were given. A record number of 244 Outstanding Record Book Awards were given for youth who have completed annual records to show goals, learning and financial records at an exceptional level.

First year members were given a certificate and seal, marking one year of membership in 4-H.

Current seniors were recognized for their involvement in the Washington County 4-H program and thanked for their hard work over the years. This program wishes these seniors the best of luck this year and hopes 4-H continues to play an important role in their lives.

Community Service is a critical and valuable component to 4-H. Almost 100% of our 4-H clubs complete a club community service project throughout the year in a variety of ways ranging from Highway clean up to packaging meals to raking leaves for elderly to sponsoring needy families for the holidays. A competitive Club Community Service Award is offered through an application process. The Limecreek Livewires 4-H Club was recognized with this honor after their work with their cleaning and restoration work of the cemeteries in the Wellman area. The club was is to receive a $50 award that goes toward their next community service project.

The 4-Hers who receive Project Awards have been committed this past year to that specific project area. They become an expert by not only completing a project exhibited at the county and many times state fair — but have also taken the opportunity to give some sort of public speech on that topic, and also been involved with some leadership and teaching others as well. These youth received a 4-H Project Award:

Emma Alderton: Dairy & Dog; Cooper Boman: Poultry; Morgan Bruty: Food & Nutrition; Peighton Ford: Beef & Swine; Preston Ford: Beef & Swine; Madison Gent: Swine; Sydnie Glandon: Welding; Caden Heisner: Dog; Ann Koch: Poultry; Lason Montz: Tractor; Joseph Pacha: Swine; Nicolas Pacha: Pet; Nickolas Peck: Beef & Swine; Lovella Peiffer: Music; Sophia Puttmann: Communications; Charlee Read: Horse; Bryce Roth: Communication & Horse & Dog; Emma Taylor: Food & Nutrition

Given for the very first time in Washington County 4-H history was the Phenomenal 4-Her Award. It’s an exciting addition to the award opportunities that is different than other awards. The 4-H county council team has been working to design this for almost two years. They wanted an award that had 4-Hers recognizing 4-Hers for making a difference at the club meetings. They didn’t want application paperwork or interviews but we wanted 4-Hers to have a voice in who really made a positive impact on their club in the past year. The phenomenal 4-Hers are engaged at meetings, offer ideas, include others, welcome new members, participate in activities, show respectful behavior and have a positive attitude. “They are people you want to be around and sit next to and they are people you want in your club. They are going to grow up to be the people we want as our neighbors and community leaders,” explained Amy Green, 4-H & Youth Coordinator.

The following youth represent the club selections as Phenomenal 4-Her. One member was voted on at club meetings this fall to meet that criteria.

Emma Alderton, Braydon Clough, Reese Conrad, Gatlin Farrier, Jack Greiner, Presley Hora, Adelyn Huston, Madilynn Liska, Brynn Northup, Lovella Peiffer, Charlee Read, Emilia Rodgers, Parker Shalla, Siena Stanerson

The phenomenal 4-Her must also have earned an outstanding record book as the 4-H program values the life skills of record keeping. The 4-H & Youth Committee reviewed these members’ record books to select the top 4 to represent our Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

For more information on how to get involved with the 4-H program as a member, volunteer, or sponsor, please contact Amy at the Washington County Extension Office at 319-653-4811. Follow “Washington County 4-H — Iowa” on Facebook to see many photos of the 4-H Awards Celebration event and other details of upcoming 4-H events and youth programs.