Jefferson County 4-H holds annual recognition ceremony

On Saturday, Jan. 27, Jefferson County 4-H members, families, and volunteers gathered at the Fairfield Middle School for the annual Recognition Ceremony. Teen Council members assisted staff and the Retention and Recognition Committee in emceeing the event. Joshua Mineart, 4-H member, took pictures of all the award winners as they were recognized.

The evening began by introducing the Extension Office staff, Jefferson County Extension Council members, Jefferson County Fair Board members, Youth Committee members, Sales Committee members, and 4-H Leaders. Special recognition was given to Jennifer Stever, Megan Hines, Amber Thorton, Phoebe Wiley, Lisa Burkhalter, Emily Sobaski, Teri Hoag, Sandra McBeth, and Katie Mitchell for completing their first year as a 4-H leader. Laura Taglauer and Michelle Manning were recognized for 5 years of service, Cindy Hall for 10 years of service, and Heather Pickard for 15 years of service as 4-H leaders.

All 4-H members were recognized for their years of 4-H membership by receiving their yearly 4-H pins. Teen Council and Junior Teen Council members were recognized, along with all who assisted with Summer Day Camps. The Ceniteers 4-H Club was recognized for completing a Club Historian book.

Kolby Freeman was awarded the Friends of 4-H Award. Kolby was a Jefferson County 4-H member growing up, and she became both a 4-H leader and fair board member in 2017 and has helped with numerous projects in these roles. Kolby serves as a Horse Superintendent and Dog Superintendent and an assistant Clover Kids leader, in addition to helping with many projects. John Peck was recognized for the 4-H Hall of Fame award, which he received last year at the Iowa State Fair and was recognized at the county fair.

The following 4-H members completed record books this year: Madisyn Woodburn, Josh Mineart, Camryn Clubb, Briana Steele, Sterling Spees, Anthony Smithburg, Alex Hudson, Kale McBeth, Emma Cass, Natalie Steele, Taylor Miller, Emily White, Mareyn Dunkin, Piper Miller, Donna Noe, Maylee Trump, Zachary Doud, Sam Hall, Peyton Freeman, Dain Burkhart, Kara Daugherty, Gabriella Diers, Kory McBeth, Jack Sobaski, Carly Clubb, Lauren White, Seth Steele, Brogan Mottet, Jordan Miller, Josie Mosinski, Violet Yeager, Kinzley Dunkin, Vera Smith, Anna Hall, Jacob White, Brooklyn Ledger, and Jasper Mitchell. Each was recognized with a certificate.

Many of those members were also recognized with Project Area Awards, which are given out to members who have completed at least two years in the project area and maintained excellent records. They received certificates and pins. Junior Members: Carly Clubb — Poultry; Kory McBeth — Rabbit, Science, Engineering & Technology; Jordan Miller — Photography, Food and Nutrition, Home Improvement, Herbs, House Plants, Patio Pots; and Jack Sobaski — Woodworking. Intermediate Members: Piper Miller — Beef; Alex Hudson — Cat; Peyton Freeman — Horse; Emma Cass — Rabbit; Taylor Miller — Other Ag and Natural Resources, Sewing & Needle Arts, Thrifty Meal Challenge, Herbs, Flowers, House Plants, Patio Pots, Dish Garden/terrarium, and Garden Containers; Kale McBeth — Photography; Dain Burkhart — Visual Arts; Kara Daugherty — Clothing and Textiles, Food and Nutrition; Emily White — Self-Determined; and Mareyn Dunkin — Woodworking. Senior Members: Briana Steele — Beef, Visual Arts; Camryn Clubb — Poultry, Rabbit, Woodworking; and Josh Mineart — Photography, Food and Nutrition.

Record Book Awards were awarded to members who maintained excellent records in an entire project division with multiple areas. They each received a certificate and Chamber Bucks. Juniors were: Jasper Mitchell — Beef; Jack Sobaski — Dog; Gabriella Diers — Goat, Horse; Anna Hall — Pets; Vera Smith — Poultry, Horticulture; Carly Clubb — Rabbit; Jacob White — Swine; Violet Yeager — Personal Development; Brogan Mottet — Creative Arts; Josie Mosinski — Family and Consumer Sciences; and Kinzley Dunkin — Science, Engineering and Technology. Intermediates were: Emily White — Beef; Alex Hudson — Cat; Peyton Freeman — Dog, Horse; Kale McBeth — Goat; Emma Cass — Rabbit; Zachary Doud — Sheep; Natalie Steele— Animals, Family and Consumer Sciences; Taylor Miller — Agricultural and Natural Resources, Horticulture; Sam Hall — Personal Development; Dane Burkhart — Creative Arts; and Mareyn Dunkin — Science, Engineering and Technology. Seniors were: Maddi Woodburn — Beef; Sterling Spees — Horse; Camryn Clubb — Rabbit, Poultry; and Briana Steele — Creative Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences.

The Overall Record Book Award is given to a 4-Her who has maintained excellent records throughout all their project areas. The Overall Junior Record Book Award was given to Seth Steele; the Overall Intermediate Record Book Award was given to Natalie Steele; and the Overall Senior Record Book Award was given to Briana Steele. The Overall Junior Livestock Feed Record Award was given to Kory McBeth, and the Overall Senior Livestock Feed Record Award was given to Maddi Woodburn.

Outstanding Members are 4-H members who have demonstrated leadership skills beyond the club level and have shown personal growth through participation in a variety of 4-H work. The Outstanding Junior Member was Lauren White; the Outstanding Intermediate Member was Piper Miller; and the Outstanding Senior Member was Maddi Woodburn.

Special Award winners can only be won once during a member’s 4-H career and are given based on the supporting materials in their record book and an essay. The Advanced Award was given to Taylor Miller. The Lamp of Knowledge Award was given to Jack Sobaski in the Junior Division and Natalie Steele in the Intermediate Division. Zachary Doud was the Community Service Award and Agriculture Award winner. Josh Mineart was recognized as the All-Around Award winner. Briana Steele was awarded the Stan Stover Award and National Danforth I Dare You Award.

The awards ceremony ended with the Spirit of 4-H Award, which recognizes 4-H members who have demonstrated outstanding leadership skills, a positive attitude, a helping hand, and superior dedication to 4-H during the past year. Both Maddi Woodburn and Briana Steele received this award. All 2024 graduating seniors were announced and recognized onstage as well.

The evening closed with entertainment from Keith West and the Illusioneers. We greatly appreciate the Retention and Recognition Committee Members for all their work in planning and organizing the awards night this year. The committee members are Amy White, Emily Sobaski, Heidi Pickard, Kelly Spees, Samantha Haney, Tonya Doud, and Carrie Steele. We also appreciate Linda Dimmitt for making cookies, the Fairfield Chamber of Commerce for sponsoring some of the Chamber Bucks, Hy-Vee for the catered meal, Rock Creek Real Estate for donating bottled water, and the Fairfield Middle School for allowing us to hold our event there.

Jefferson County 4-H had 145 members during the 2022-2023 year. Over 60 approved volunteers served as 4-H and Clover Kids leaders and Youth Committee members. For more information about the 4-H program, visit: https://www.extension.iastate.edu/jefferson/

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