As the new 4-H year begins every fall, members gather to celebrate the successes of the previous year. 4-H in Washington County held their annual Achievement program on September 27 at Okawville Community Club. Achievement Night followed the annual Kick-Off Pork Chop Dinner Fundraiser hosted by the Washington County Extension Education Foundation.

Among the honors of the evening, Gary Torrens was recognized as a recent inductee into the Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame. Gary has been a leader for the Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers for 28 years and has served on the Washington County Animal Science Committee. He is passionate about agriculture and livestock and has dedicated much time to sharing his knowledge with 4-H youth. He is a role model who leads by example, giving back to his community and instilling values of service and leadership in the 4-H members. Washington County 4-H is better because of volunteers like Gary, and his service and passion for the program are invaluable.

Additional volunteer recognition included:

• New leaders: Alicia Hiller (teen leadership), Jessica Shewmake and Amanda Winka (Ashley), Sarah Cameron (Hoyleton).
• First-year leaders: Kyle Borrenpohl, Cynthia Hermanns, Diann Brammeier, Danielle Shubert, Shaye Wiegmann, Deanna Geppert, Matt Hornbostel (livestock judging), Emmalee Haege.
• Fifth-year leaders: Anne Hentges, Erica Riechmann
• Ten-year leaders: John LaBusier
• 30-year leader: Donna Hesker

The 2023 Windler Memorial Leader of the Year Award went to Erica Riechmann. Janet and Bill Windler were long-time 4-H leaders in Washington County. Though no longer with us, their legacy still lives on. We thank Erica for being an incredible role model for our members and making her work look so effortless.

Alumni Award: Matt Hornbostel

Matt is a club leader for the Hoyleton Boosters and also signed on as a leader and coach for our newly established livestock judging team this past year. He is an active member of the Washington County Youth Livestock Auction Committee and serves on our Washington County Extension Education Foundation and our 5-county unit Extension Council. 

Matt speaks fondly of his own 4-H experience and wants to give back to a program that was influential in his growth. Matt believes in making 4-H accessible to all youth, advocates for the importance of public speaking, and teaches responsibility and commitment as vital life skills through generosity and leadership. Matt supports the staff and volunteers of the 4-H program and is always truly just a phone call, continually proving to be a reliable mentor and committed partner.

Club officer recognition includes those who turned in the records associated with their office.

Club Secretary:

• Mackenzie Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters
• Jayla Ledford, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Mary Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

Club Treasurer:

• Stephen Vahlkamp, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Alexys Spratt, Nashville Eager Beavers                   
• Braxton Rennegarbe, Okawville Busy Bees

Club Historian:  

• Annabelle Herzig, Okawville Busy Bees
• Penelope Herzig, Okawville Busy Bees

Cloverbud Recognition for those who completed award applications. Cloverbud members are between the ages of five and seven as of September 1. (* indicates graduating Cloverbuds)

• Dade Beckmann, Hoyleton Boosters*
• Liam Bollmeier, Okawville Busy Bees*
• James Braddy, Nashville Eager Beavers*
• Titan Clark, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Rowen Doran, Hoyleton Boosters*               
• Weston Haley, Okawville Busy Bees
• Caden Hanenberger, Hoyleton Boosters*               
• Kera Harre, Okawville Busy Bees
• Henry Hundelt, Okawville Busy Bees
• Everett Jacobs, Okawville Busy Bees
• Harper Jacobs, Okawville Busy Bees
• Morgan Kessler, Hoyleton Boosters*
• Lucy Klie, Okawville Busy Bees
• Ryerson Kramper, Okawville Busy Bees
• Leandra Kunnemann, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Penny Lintker, Okawville Busy Bees
• Kamdyn Paul, Okawville Busy Bees
• Maisie Riechmann, Okawville Busy Bees*
• Kaidyn Schmacher, Okawville Busy Bees*
• Emery Segelhorst, Okawville Busy Bees
• Augie Shubert, Okawville Busy Bees
• Katherine Shubert, Okawville Busy Bees
• Daya Siliven, Okawville Busy Bees
• Ainsley Swoboda, Nashville Eager Beavers*
• Olive Swoboda, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Kinsley Thole, Hoyleton Boosters
• Sophia Vahlkamp, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Adele Weiser, Okawville Busy Bees
• Grady Weiser, Okawville Busy Bees

First-year members who completed 4-H records (* indicates Outstanding First-Year Member Award recipient):

• Easton Braddy, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Sadie Emge, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Jackson Harre, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Cambrie Hesker, Okawville Busy Bees
• Raven Kirgan, Hoyleton Boosters
• Trace Kirgan, Hoyleton Boosters
• Mary Klie, Okawville Busy Bees
• Ayla Kottmeyer, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Brylan Ledford, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Trevor Lilienkamp, Hoyleton Boosters
• Annabel Lintker, Okawville Busy Bees
• Ila Maschhoff, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Theodore Meyer, Hoyleton Boosters
• Sarah Piasecki, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers*
• Colton Segelhorst, Okawville Busy Bees

Five-Year Member Awards: 

• Matthew Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Annabelle Herzig, Okawville Busy Bees
• Holleigh Hiller, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Daniel Ratermann, Hoyleton Boosters

Ten-Year Member Awards: 

• Abigail Meyer, Hoyleton Boosters
• Paige Riechmann, Okawville Busy Bees

Individual Member Experience Level Awards

The Illinois 4-H program offers many experiences for its members. This award area recognizes members involved in diverse 4-H experiences in club, county, multi-county, state, national, and international levels. The four areas/dimensions include Participation, Community Service, Leadership, and Project Learning. 

Members who have completed at least one experience in each of the four dimensions are recognized with a Bronze Clover Award.

Hoyleton Boosters                                                         

• Dakota Hanenberger
• Ryan Hanenberger
• Raven Kirgan
• Joesphine Meyer

Nashville Eager Beavers

• Coen Kunnemann
• Brylan Ledford
• Jayla Ledford

Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

• Luke Hentges
• Mary Hentges
• Matthew Hentges
• Sarah Hentges
• Avery Piasecki
• Sarah Piasecki
• Henry Vahlkamp
• Stephen Vahlkamp

Okawville Busy Bees

• Lily Helbig
• Maylen Kramper
• Braxton Rennegarbe
• Amelia Riechmann
• Paige Riechmann
• Colton Segelhorst

Members who have completed at least two experiences in each of the four dimensions are recognized with a Silver Clover Award. At least two of these experiences were at the county level or beyond.                

• Mackenzie Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters
• Morgan Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters
• Mary Klie, Okawville Busy Bees
• Alexys Spratt, Nashville Eager Beavers

Members who have completed four experiences in each of the four dimensions are recognized with a Gold Clover Award. At least two of these experiences were beyond the county level. 

• Holleigh Hiller, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

County Project/Activity Awards:

Animal Sciences

• Averi Braddy, Nashville Eager Beavers – sheep
• Easton Braddy, Nashville Eager Beavers – sheep
• Lucy Emge, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers - beef
• Jackson Harre, Nashville Eager Beavers – dairy
• Mackenzie Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters – sheep
• Morgan Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters – poultry
• Morgan Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters – goat
• Jayla Ledford, Nashville Eager Beavers – swine
• Avery Piasecki, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers- poultry
• Braxton Rennegarbe, Okawville Busy Bees - beef
• Amelia Riechmann, Okawville Busy Bees - beef
• County Outstanding Project/Activity Award:

This special award is presented to members with an outstanding score in the Project Learning dimension of the Permanent Member Record.

Animal Science

• Jayla Ledford, Nashville Eager Beavers
• Amelia Riechmann, Okawville Busy Bees

Creative Arts

• Mary Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Sarah Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Mackenzie Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters
• Coen Kunnemann, Nashville Eager Beavers

Healthy Living

• Mary Klie, Okawville Busy Bees

STEM

• Luke Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

4-H Memorial Summer Camp Award:

Winners receive an $80 award to help offset the cost of the trip.

• Sarah Piasecki, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Henry Vahlkamp, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

Illinois Junior Leadership Conference Award:

The conference is open to 7th and 8th grade students. Winners receive an $80 award to help offset the cost of the trip. 

• Mackenzie Hornbostel, Hoyleton Boosters
• Matthew Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

Youth Livestock Conference Award:

The conference is open to 7th-9th grade students every other year (2025). Winners receive an $80 award to help offset the cost of the trip.

• Averi Braddy, Nashville Eager Beavers

Illini Summer Academies:

Illini Summer Academies is a chance for youth in high school to visit the University of Illinois campus for a taste of college life, staying in the dorms and working hands-on with college professors in an academy area of their choosing. Winners receive a $100 award to help offset the cost of the trip.

•  Sarah Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Paige Riechmann, Okawville Busy Bees

County Outstanding 4-H Member:

Members can receive this award only once for each age division. Outstanding scores on the Washington County 4-H Member Record are honored with this special award. Members demonstrate leadership and/or mentoring skills, high levels of participation, active service in their communities, exploration of project areas beyond the required minimum, and efforts to participate in activities above and beyond their club. 

• Junior Division - Jayla Ledford, Nashville Eager Beavers
•  Senior Division – Mary Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers

National Leadership Award:

Previously known as the I Dare You Award, it is presented to members 15-18 years old or who have completed the 9th grade. It's awarded to members climbing the ladder of achievement and leadership responsibilities. Recipients will receive Danforth's "I Dare You" book and are eligible to attend a National Leadership Conference with possible scholarship opportunities. 

• Sarah Hentges, Oakdale 4-Leaf Clovers
• Paige Riechmann, Okawville Busy Bees

Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth program for the University of Illinois Extension and the largest out-of-school youth organization in Illinois. 4-H youth development programs in Washington County challenge youth to "learn by doing" with fun, hands-on activities. Kids can learn, practice, and demonstrate new skills while exploring the interests that are important to them. 

In 4-H, youth are brought together in clubs led by caring adults who welcome them as a part of the larger 4-H family. In 4-H, members learn about topics that interest them through projects. That could be anything from learning how to cook, build a robot, or care for the environment. Members can explore these topics through 4-H experiences such as community clubs, special interest clubs, workshops, and more.

Both returning and potential members are invited to a 4-H open house on October 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the Nashville Community Center. Activity stations, snacks, giveaways, and more! This will be an excellent opportunity to meet members and see what 4-H offers. For more information, call the Illinois Extension Office at 618-327-8881.