Orleans County 4-H'ers celebrate achievements

Orleans County 4-H'ers celebrate achievements

On Thursday, October 25, more than 145 Orleans County 4-H members, parents and leaders gathered at the Trolley Building on the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds in Knowlesville to celebrate the past year's achievements. The 2007 Orleans County 4-H Fair King and Queen, Shane Harmer and Toni Garcia-Codori, were the master and mistress of ceremonies for the evening.

Among the honorees were the Orleans County 4-H Project Champions. Project Champions are 4-H'ers 13 years and older who have completed a project record and had it judged by the Project Record Review Committee of the Leaders' Association. Project records are extensively reviewed for the overall quality of the project, the number of activities involved in the project, leadership roles of the 4-H'er, community service in the project and demonstration experiences involved in the project. Orleans County 4-H Project Champions are: Dean Graning, Sarah Collier, Jeanette Trautwein, Hannah Coville, Lyndzea Hamilton, Thomas Smith, Tiffani Arnold and Aimee Shortridge.

Also honored were the past year's Super Clubs. These are clubs that not only participate in a wide range of events, but also complete an exhaustive record of their achievements. The Super Club in the large club category was the Barn Bums. There was a tie for the Super Club in the small club category between the Lazy Ranchers and the H.O.R.S.E. Club.

Secretaries of the 4-H Clubs were also honored with the Honorary Secretary Award. This award recognizes those clubs, particularly the secretaries, that turn in 12 secretary's reports on time during the program year. Three clubs and their secretaries were honored at Achievement Night: the Barn Bums and their secretary, Raquel Roberts, the K-9 Companions and their secretary, Amanda Sullivan, and the H.O.R.S.E. Club and their secretary, Jeanette Trautwein.

In the 4-H horse programs, Samantha Kirby was the recipient of the Marie Dibley Award which recognizes a 4-H'er who shows in both English and Western divisions and best exhibits the qualities of sportsmanship, hard work and dedication. Hannah Coville was the recipient of the Elaine Stirk Well Rounded Rider Award which recognizes a 4-H'er that competes in at least three divisions in Orleans County 4-H Horse events. Stacia Southcott was the recipient of the Elaine Stirk Educational Award which recognizes a 4-H'er that participates in at least three educational events in the 4-H horse program. Jeanette Trautwein was the Betty Vanderlaan Horseperson of the Year Memorial Award recipient.

The "Choose Health" Awards are a new award for Orleans County 4-H to recognize those club members that set a healthy example for the club and their community. Presented with the "Choose Health" Awards were: Amanda Merlau, nominated by the Hindsburg Hilltop and Towpath 4-H club; Haley Watkins, nominated by the H.O.R.S.E. Club; Aimee Shortridge, nominated by Odds-n-Ends 4-H Club; Abigail Feldman, nominated by the 4-H Poultry Club; Courtney Morris Read, nominated by the Barre Bunch 4-H Club; Jeanette Trautwein, nominated by the Creative Stitchers 4-H Club; Rachel Keifer, nominated by the Barn Bums; Amanda Sullivan, nominated by the K-9 Companions 4-H Club and Shirley Armer, nominated by the Helping Hands 4-H Club.

For information about the Orleans County 4-H Youth Development Program, contact the Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension at 798-4265.