BOONE, Iowa—Over one hundred 4-H members and adult volunteers were honored for their achievements at the Boone County 4-H Awards Day held Sunday, November 11th at the Community Building on the Boone County Fairgrounds.  Awards were presented to recognize youth for growth and achievement in project areas, for outstanding overall 4-H participation, and for communication, citizenship and leadership activities.  Members of the Boone County 4-H Youth Committee reviewed record books and award nominations, selected 4-H members to receive awards and conducted the awards presentation.

Six Outstanding Graduate 4-H members were introduced by donors of the awards, Bill Zinnel, representing Boone Bank and Trust Co., Amy Landas, representing US Bank of Boone, and Alyssa Knudsen, representing the Ag Committee of the Boone Area Chamber of Commerce.  The six graduated 4-H members honored for their achievements were:  Mason Porter, Landra Reece, Amelia Verkade and Makenzie Weyhrich from Boone, Madelyn Ostendorf from Madrid, and Ebony Scott from Pilot Mound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Six Outstanding Freshmen 4-H Members were honored by the family of Arnold and Marie Harris.  Recipients included: Katie Barnes, Hailey Beckett, Hannah Heckman and Claire Smith from Boone, Parket Garcia from Paton and Chaz Warson from Madrid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Lions Club of Boone and Boone Rotary Club sponsored five Outstanding Sixer 4-H members.  They included: Halle Heyer and Claire Jonas from Boone, Bella Bryan from Ogden, Josie Mowrer from Madrid and Julian Weddle from Ames.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A scholarship was awarded to Ebony Scott of Pilot Mound in memory of Joyce Safly and Julienne Blomgren, former Boone County 4-H alumni, leaders, and dedicated volunteers. Ebony is currently studying Veterinary Tech at Des Moines Area Community College.

Four scholarships were presented to former Boone County 4-H members who are now juniors or seniors in college.  Donors were the Ed and Fran Thompson Memorial, the George Leonard Endowment and Boone County Farm Bureau.  Scholarship recipients and the college they are attending were:  Madeleine Bretey who is currently studying Agronomy at Iowa State University, Aaliyah Scott who attends Iowa Central Community College studying to be a Medical Lab Technician, Aaron Swanson who is currently studying English and Cinema at the University of Iowa, and Braeden Weyhrich who attends Oklahoma State University studying Instrumental Music Education.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Leader of Tomorrow awards were given in memory of Charles and Coletta Nalean of Ogden to Kenna Redies and Casey Wilmes from Boone and Viatris Scott from Pilot Mound.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The George Leonard Memorial award honors two 4-H members who have been active club members and role models for younger members.  The 2018 recipients were Natalie Bretey from Boone and Spencer Toms from Madrid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The 4-H Spirit Award recognized nine 4-H members who have made 4-H more fun or educational through their attitude, leadership, and hard work.  Sponsors of the Spirit Awards are Leigh and Julie Foster of Boone.  2018 recipients included junior members: Vincent Castro and Tyler Osborn from Ames, Connor Moe from Ogden; intermediate members: Julia Brooks from Boone, Chloe Phelps from Madrid and Nate Scott from Pilot Mound and senior members: Scott Krause and Zoe Mamakos from Boone and Amber Witt from Ames.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For the twenty-second year, the Julie and Carrie Ensley Club Citizenship award recognized one 4-H club for outstanding citizenship activities. This year, the Bluff Creek Wranglers 4-H Club was given this award due to their citizenship efforts.  Bluff Creek Wranglers 4-H Club has a strong history of citizenship activities.  Every year, the club participates in many projects that help many people within their community and county.  The biggest project that the Bluff Creek Wranglers completed this year was the building of a Gaga Ball Pit on the Boone County Fairgrounds. This big project was completed in time to be enjoyed at the 2018 Boone County Fair.   The club received a DuPont Pioneer Grant and coordinated additional funding to purchase the supplies, then worked hard to build the Gaga Ball Pit.  In addition to the Gaga Ball Pit, the club brought joy to the residents of the Grandview Care Center with their monthly visits; repainted the lines and replaced the nets at the outdoor Basketball court in Pilot Mound; installed boarders and pea gravel at a park in Pilot Mound; coordinated a Back to School Carnival which provided children with school bags full of school supplies; replaced the American Flag at the Pilot Mound United Methodist Church; and collected food donations for a local food pantry. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three bank donors recognized 4-H members who earned the merit and achievement awards for active 4-H participation, growth, and an obvious desire for sharing the 4-H passion with others.  These three banks were Vision Bank, Peoples Trust & Savings Bank, and Security Savings Bank of Boxholm.  Receiving the Intermediate Merit awards were Erin Barnes, Kayla Beckett, Hudson Bretey, Jacie Flockhart, and Nathan Lynch from Boone, Franny Burke-Vens from Madrid, Alanna Schroeder from Ames, and Alex Wilson form Ogden.  McKayla Dozier from Ogden received the Senior Merit Award.

Youth receiving the Intermediate Achievement award were Emily Baumgardner from Boone, Abigail Dies from Ames and Hunter Wisecup from Ogden.  Youth receiving the Senior Achievement Awards were Carter Baumgardner and Reilly Hayworth from Boone, Abby Bryan from Ogden, Paige Garcia from Paton and Megan Osborn from Ames.

The Boone County 4-H Youth Committee sponsors the I CARE awards.   I CARE award recipients show that they love the 4-H program through their efforts behind the scenes and their willingness to help out where ever needed. The recipients of the I CARE Awards were Jordan Crosman, Drew Hayworth and Emma Wiebold from Boone.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Project award discs, nameplates, and plaques were presented to 84 4-H members.  The members may apply for a bronze, silver, or gold disc in up to three projects in which they meet the criteria.  This year a total of 190 project award discs were presented in 28 different project areas.  These awards were made possible by the support of community groups including the Lions Club of Ogden and Madrid, Boone Daybreaker’s Kiwanis, Boone Noon Kiwanis, and Boone County Farm Bureau.

Thirty-six 4-H members who earned the gold level award in their projects also received a gift related to their project from area businesses and families.  Donors included the Boone County 4-H Youth Committee, Haley Bethards, Melody Bethards, Britton Family, Canines and Clovers Dog Group, Jo Erb Photography, Frames & Things – Deb Weber, Dorlis Good Smith Memorial, Lori Good, Hedlund Family, Heiller Family, Paul Heineman Family, Johansen/Martin Family, and Randy & Joyce Patterson.

Vision Bank recognized four 4-H members who kept accurate records on their Pen of 3 beef projects.  These recipients included: 1^st Brock Crosman, 2^nd Anna Wilson, 3^rd Brylee Bice and 4^th CeJay Jones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4-H Awards Day activities also included presentation of adult awards and installation of the 2018-2019 Boone County 4-H Council.  For more information on 4-H, contact the Boone County Extension Office at (515) 432-3882.

 

(contributed article and photos, Boone County 4-H)