4-H Youth and volunteers were celebrated the evening of Wednesday November 6 at their Annual Awards and volunteer recognition night held at St. Peters Church in Morrison. 4-H Clubs and 4-Hers of all ages worked hard yearlong to excel in different project areas. This banquet recognized awards from the 4-H Show that was held in mid-July as well as application based awards in different areas. Below is a list of Whiteside County award winners. Congratulations to these young people, they should be very proud!
Federation Officers 2019-2020:
President: Lara Bielema of the Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Vice President: Madison Krum of Cottonwood
Secretary: Quinn James of Cottonwood
Treasurer: August Kuehl of the Genesee Hillbillies
Illinois 4-H Awards
Lara Bielema, Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Anna Eggemeyer, Cottonwood
Katie Eggemeyer, Cottonwood
Audrey Gesiakowski, Genesee Hillbillies
Quinn James, Cottonwood
Madison Krum, Cottonwood
Chloe Luckritz, Fulton 4-Hers
Kaleb Luckritz, Fulton 4-Hers
Talisa Thomas, Fenton Wizards
Tea Thomas, Fenton Wizards
Community Service
Top Score- Madison Krum, Cottonwood
Leadership
Top Score- Chloe Luckritz, Fulton 4-Hers
Personal Growth
Top Score- Quinn James, Cottonwood
Project Mastery
Top Score- Audrey Gesiakowski, Genesee Hillbillies
Experience Award Winners
Jr County Outstanding: Bronze Clover
Andrew Doughty
Sarah Doughty
Paige Dysktra
Alyssa Galloway
Harper Johnson
Chloe Luckritz
Kaleb Luckritz
Hannah Zinke
Jr County Outstanding: Silver Clover
Jeremey Gesiakowski
Justin Gesiakowski
Vivian Gesiakowski
Talisa Thomas
Noah Vonholten
Jr County Outstanding: Gold Clover
Lara Bielema
Quinn James
Top JR Outstanding Winner:
Quinn James, Cottonwood
Sr County Outstanding: Bronze Award
Bradyn Abell
Sean Sandrock
Sr County Outstanding: Silver Award
Audrey Gesiakowski
Tea Thomas
Sr County Outstanding: Gold Award
Jay Dykstra
Zoey Klavenga
Abby Stichter
Top SR Outstanding:
Jay Dykstra, Fenton Wizards
Records Submitted to State– Audrey Gesiakowski, Genesee Hillbillies
The Mary Catlett Award, Visual Arts– Audrey Gesiakowski, Genesee Hillbillies
Top Teen Woodworking Award, In memory of Herb Hall– Aaron Wetzell, Hume Happy Hustlers
Secretary Award– Berkley Eggers, Fenton Wizards
Treasurer Award– Alyssa Galloway, Genesee Hillbillies
National 4-H Week Awards:
Window Display 2nd Place– Cottonwood
Window Display 1st Place- Fenton Wizards
Cookie Box Decorating 2nd Place: Bryce Mattson, Fenton Wizards
Cookie Box Decorating 2nd place: Lola Klimstra, Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Cookie Box Decorating 1st place: Byrnna Mattson, Fenton Wizards
Unit Challenge during National 4-H Week- Genesee Hillbillies Club
Club of the Year Award-Cottonwood 4-H Club, Morrison
Top 4-Her of the Year: Jay Dykstra, Fenton Wizards
Cloverbud Graduates
Micah Bach- Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Mason Camps- Genesee Hillbillies
Aleeya Dykstra- Genesee Hillbillies
Hailey Eyrich- Fenton Wizards
Noah Fassler- Genesee Hillbillies
Jordan Galloway- Genesee Hillbillies
Cade Holesinger-Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Zoey Horton- Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Ella Kelly-Cottonwood
Aiden Koster- Genesee Hillbillies
Delaney Kuehl- Genesee Hillbillies
Isabel Lee- Cottonwood
Eli Modglin- Cottonwood
Owen VonHolten- Fenton Wizards
Samuel Whyte- Cottonwood
Watson Williams- Garden Plain Ripsnorters
Hailey Yaun- Fenton Wizards
Volunteer Recognition
Cottonwood Club Leaders
LuEllen Lee 30 Years
Lisa James 8 years
Jean Eggemeyer 4 years
Chris Krum 21 years
Fenton Wizards Club Leaders
Casey Stichter 22 years
Jen Eggers 8 years
Melody VonHolten 33 years
Heather Mattson 5 years
Fulton 4-Hers Club Leaders
Heather Dykstra 4 years
Brittany Dykstra 3 years
Tina Dykstra 3 years
Garden Plain Ripsnorters Club Leader
Julie Bielema 20 years
Genesee Hillbillies Club Leaders
Teresa Galloway 2 years
Marcy Shank 2 years
Hume Happy Hustlers Club Leaders
Gordon Kelm 46 years
Traci Sandrock 13 years
Miranda Wetzell 3 years
Gwen Hurd 25 years
Self Help Tigers Club Leaders
Lori Campos 4 years
Carla Haubrich 3 years
More Volunteers not associated with a specific club
Lucas Bush, 2 years
Kady Dziudzek, 6 years
Nathan Eggers, 1 year
Beth Lancaster, 6 years
Susie Patten, 25 years
2019 Hall of Fame Winner
The Illinois 4-H Foundation annually recognizes 4-H volunteers for exemplary service to the Illinois 4-H program. The Illinois 4-H Foundation established the statewide Hall of Fame in 2004 to honor and celebrate extraordinary 4-H alumni, volunteers, and former 4-H staff. This year members were inducted into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame during a celebration Tuesday, Aug. 13 at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield. This year Whiteside county 4-H nominated Darren Mosher who has been involved in the Whiteside County 4-H program for 30 years in many capacities
State Level Community Service
The State Illinois 4-H program had their “Celebrating Excellence” Ceremony last month October 5 in Champaign, IL. Abby Stichter received an award on the state level in Community service and was recognized at this ceremony. Abby said her greatest joy is using her hands for larger service, Those hands have served food to the homeless, made gifts for veterans, gathers supplies for pet shelters, crafted kits for children’s hospitals, prepared birthday and Christmas party kids for food pantry families, and collected donations for the library. She has given so much and continues to give in her 4H Career and we could not be more proud. Because of all of this and her efforts to apply for awards, at the end of this month Abby has the wonderful opportunity to go to Atlanta Georgia to the National 4-H congress. Congratulations Abby!