4-Hers Honored for Outstanding Achievement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007

Ogle County's top 4-H members and clubs were honored for outstanding achievement at a special program held November 11 at the Oregon Coliseum.

Top county honors went to 4-H teens Karen Gallant, Leaf River and Jessica Golden, Rochelle. Gallant and Golden were the recipients of the Co-op Watch Awards sponsored by Ogle County Farm Bureau and its affiliates. Gold watches are awarded each year to the two 4-Hers with the most impressive records of long-term leadership and service at the club level and beyond.

Karen Gallant was also the recipient of a $50 savings bond sponsored by the Ogle County 4-H Foundation. The Foundation Award is presented annually to a single 4-Her who has shown leadership skill, a willingness to help with 4-H activities, and has served as a positive example to younger members.

Four youth were challenged to greater leadership and service as recipients of the "I Dare You" Leadership Award. New owners of William Danforth's inspiring book, "I Dare You", were youth selected based on their previous leadership, citizenship, and project work. Winners included: Jill Ebens, Oregon; Dylan Joens, Forreston; Catherine Gallant, Leaf River; and Jordyn Strohman, Chana.

Quondam Awards are given to three youth each year. Recipients must be between 10 and 15 years old and have completed outstanding home economics projects. The awards aresponsored by the Ogle County Home & Community Education Association Quondam Club. This year's winners were: Ketarah DeVries, Forreston; Katherine Edwards, Byron; and Sydney Klein, Oregon.

4-H Fair Animal Exhibit Traveling Trophies are awarded each year to clubs that maintained the most impressive stall exhibits at the 4-H Fair. The second place trophy, sponsored by Oregon Rotary, went to Ogle Jolly 4-H Club, Stillman Valley. The first place trophy, sponsored by Pomona Grange, went to Circle M 4-H Club, Mt. Morris.

Other special award winners included:

Top Club President

• Kaitlyn Baker, Oregon
• Karen Gallant, Leaf River

Top Club Vice-presidents

• Mellisa Herwig, Franklin Grove
• Elizabeth Stauffer, Polo

Top Club Secretaries

• Elizabeth Engelbarts, Forreston
• Josie Woodworth, Monroe Center

Top Club Treasurers

• Sydney Klein, Oregon
• Barby Sweeney & Lucas Woodworth, Monroe Center

Top Club Reporter

• Kendal Kuelling, Forreston
• Daniel Ludwig, Baileyville

Top Club Historian

• Siri McMahon, Polo

Top Club Recreation Chairman

• Dylan Moser, Stillman Valley

Bits 'N Reins Traveling Horse Trophy

• Catherine Gallant, Leaf River

Five 4-Hers were selected to represent Ogle County 4-H in the state 4-H records competition in January, 2008. They included: Megan Buttel, Leaf River; Lindsay Hoyle, Grand Detour; Cindall Marsh, Stillman Valley; Laura Overmyer, Oregon; and Samantha Scholl, Polo.

Dustin Poole, Polo, was recognized for outstanding volunteer service through the 4-H program as the recipient of a state-level Certificate of Excellence from the 2007 Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program.

A number of awards were distributed to community clubs throughout the county in recognition of outstanding community service, educational programming, and promotional efforts. Additionally, one club leader was recognized for her outstanding efforts to effectively meet the needs of and coordinate the work of her club. Congratulations go to all of the following club winners:

Top Educational Club Programming Efforts in Various Areas of Study

• Agriculture – Carefree 4-H Club, Oregon
• Community Involvement & Global Understanding – Forreston Friskies 4-H Club
• Environment & Natural Resources – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club
• Personal Development – Polo Pioneers 4-H Club
• Food, Nutrition, & Health –Forreston Friskies 4-H Club
• Mechanics & Technology – Forreston Friskies 4-H Club
• Home & Family – Circle M 4-H Club, Mt. Morris
• Honorable Mention – Top Club Programming – Bits 'N Reins 4-H Club of Ogle County; By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club, Byron; Grand Detour Greens 4-H Club; and Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club, Rochelle.
• International Studies – Bits 'N Reins 4-H Club of Ogle County; By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club, Byron; Grand Detour Greens 4-H Club; Hayseed Kids 4-H Club, Rochelle; Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club, Rochelle; Leaf River Busy Beavers 4-H Club; Mighty Clovers 4-H Club, Monroe Center; and Trailblazers 4-H Club, Oregon.
• 4-H Honor Clubs
  • Bits 'N Reins 4-H Club of Ogle County
  • By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club, Byron
  • Carefree 4-H Club, Oregon
  • Circle M 4-H Club, Mt. Morris
  • Forreston Friskies 4-H Club
  • Grand Detour Greens 4-H Club
  • Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club, Rochelle
  • Leaf River Busy Beavers 4-H Club
  • Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club
  • Mighty Clovers 4-H Club, Monroe Center
  • Polo Pioneers 4-H Club
  • Summerhill Huskies 4-H Club, Forreston

Promotional Efforts Associated with the "June is Dairy Month" Contest

• 1^st Place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club
• 2^nd Place – Mighty Clovers 4-H Club
• Honorable Mention:
  • Bits 'N Reins 4-H Club
  • Forreston Friskies 4-H Club
  • Hub Hickory Nuts 4-H Club
  • Leaf River Busy Beavers 4-H Club
  • Polo Pioneers 4-H Club

Fall Club Promotion Award

• Mighty Clovers 4-H Club, Monroe Center

Horse Stall Traveling Trophy Award

• Bits 'N Reins 4-H Club of Ogle County

Ogle County 4-H Club-of-the-Year

• Forreston Friskies 4-H Club

Top Leader Team Award

• Trailblazers 4-H Club: Karen Wolber, Cherie Bertsch, and Annette Martin, all of Oregon.

Four Ogle County 4-H Clubs were recognized for outstanding club programming efforts at the state level. Congratulations to Carefree 4-H Club, Oregon, for their efforts in the area of Agriculture; to Mighty Clovers 4-H Club, Monroe Center, for their efforts in the area of Food, Nutrition, and Health; to Polo Pioneers 4-H Club for their efforts in Personal Development; and to the Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club for their work in the area of Environment and Natural Resources.

The 2007 awards program followed a "Down on the Farm" theme that was brought to life by the members of the Ogle County 4-H youth Federation, their parents, and an entourage of youth and adult volunteers. Special thanks goes to the show's host, Cliff Jones, Ashton; and the event videographer, Kevin Shores, Forreston.

4-H is the informal youth education program of University of Illinois Extension. For more information or to get involved, call 815/732-2191 or visit us online at www.extension.uiuc.edu/ogle. There is still plenty of time to join for the 2007-2008 year!