Freeport, IL – On Saturday, October 21, 2023, over 125 volunteers, members, and families gathered at the Stephenson County Farm Bureau building for the annual Stephenson County 4-H Award and Volunteer Recognition Event.  Together they enjoyed an awards ceremony, program updates, and a sweet treat from Megan Marie’s Bakery. The 4-H Awards event is an annual occasion where 4-H members are awarded for outstanding accomplishments while 4-H volunteers are recognized for their valuable contributions to the Stephenson County 4-H Program.

Eleven 4-H Ambassadors helped Brenda Heimann, Stephenson County’s 4-H Program Coordinator, emcee the awards ceremony and help with desserts: Aaliyah Whitney of Pearl City, Rhayanna Cotter of Baileyville, Connor Bausman of Freeport, Abby, Rachel, Matthew & Magen Busker of Ridott, Kinzy DeHaven of Ridott, Rebekah and Joanna Visel of Lena, and Jordan Heimann of Warren. “These young leaders did a fantastic job at the ceremony and show incredible growth in leadership skills from over this past year,” stated Brenda Heimann. “The enthusiasm these young leaders bring to 4-H events is contagious and helps encourage more members to get involved in activities and programs.”

Highlighted award winners include:

• 4-H Club of the Year: Davis Rockets 4-H Club
• 4-H Youth Volunteer of the Year: Aaliyah Whitney of Pearl City Hornets
• 4-H Adult Volunteer of the Year: Alyssa Winning of Lena Lucky Clovers
• Top 4-H’er of the Year- Magen Busker of Country Cuzins
• Stephenson County Hall of Fame’r: Julie Miller of Davis Rockets
• 4-H Family of the Year: Boyer Family: Adam, Christina, Audrey, and Cassie of the Davis Rockets
• Top Ten 1st Year 4-H’ers (10): Faith Brinkmeier, Madi Dietmeier, & Taylor Geddes of Country Cuzins, Alaina Stache of Davis Rockets, Gunner Winning of Lena Lucky Clovers, Tatum Tessendorf of Pearl City Hornets, Paige McPeek of Pearl Valley Rangers, Kylie Manning, Ian Smith, and Michael Wise of Snappy Snazzers
• Program Book Cover: Colbie Roberts of Lena Lucky Clovers
• Scrapbook of the Year: Large Club- Country Cuzins; Small Club- Davis Rockets
• Illinois Holstein-Friesan Association Award: Stella Prasse, Sarah McPeek, & Chloe Jean Schmidt of Pearl Valley Rangers, Magen Busker & Josie Meier of Country Cuzins
• 10 Year 4-H Members: Audrey Boyer of Davis Rockets, Sarah Kempel of Florence Crickets, Logan Miller of German Valley Golden Eagles, Brea Musser of Pearl City Hornets, Destiny Haugh, Jordan Johnson, Levi Sheffey of Pearl Valley Rangers, and Vanessa Hartwig of Snappy Snazzers
• 11 Year 4-H Members: Magen Busker & Dalia Weber of Country Cuzins, Ellie Bower of Florence Crickets, Daemyn Heslop of German Valley Golden Eagles, Zakary Krahmer & Ross Stabenow of Lena Lucky Clovers, Cheyenne Handsaker of Pearl City Hornets, Benjamin Bremmer & Stella Prasse of Pearl Valley Rangers.

Besides the county awards, Illinois 4-H has an Experience Level Recognition program for 4-H members that youth ages 8-18 can achieve. Members need to complete different experiences at the individual, club, county, multi-county, state, national, or international levels within one of the four dimensions: Participation, Community Service, Leadership, and Project Learning. The medals that can be earned at the county level are bronze, silver, and gold. Medals that proceed to state recognition are emeralds and diamonds. This year Stephenson County had fourteen bronze medal winners: Aubrey Benning, Madi Dietmeier, Amery Dinderman, Leia Doescher, Whitni Doescher, Missy Heath-Ils, Elowen Lamm, Kayla Mock, Gavin, Roth, Chloe Jean Schmidt, Lily Smith, Carson Williams, Gunner Winning, & Makena Yeagle. To win a bronze medal, youth must complete at least one experience in the four dimensions listed above.

Our silver medal winners were: Addy Ackerson, Kinzy DeHaven, Aidan Dinderman, Ava Fellows, Mason Fellows, Natalie Fellows, Piper Heath, Lizzie Lamm, Grace Maskell, Sarah McPeek, and Mya Mitchell.  These youth had to complete two experiences in each of the four dimensions, with at least two of those experiences being beyond the individual and club level.

Our gold medal winners had to complete four experiences in each dimension, and two of those experiences must be outside of their club and county. The youth who win this award are very active not just in their 4-H clubs in Stephenson County, but they also attend and get involved with 4-H on a state and multi-county level. We had four youths who won gold medals this year: Vanessa Hartwig, Stella Prasse, Blair Schultz, and Lauren Witte.

We also take this time and recognize our incredible 4-H Volunteers. Our 4-H volunteers are what help make our 4-H program the huge success that it is today. In Stephenson County, we have over 75 4-H volunteers who give of their time to be 4-H leaders, and superintendents for our 4-H shows, lead a special interest club, or help lead workshops. These volunteers give willingly of their time to help youth find their spark in 4-H!

If you would like to learn more about 4-H or the Ambassador program, please call our Stephenson County Extension office at 815-235-4125 or check out our website at: web.extension.illinois.edu/jsw

About 4-H: Illinois 4-H strives to help youth learn skills for living. 4-H programs are offered in every Illinois county by University of Illinois Extension. Illinois 4-H aims to impact the lives of 250,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs and groups and short-term programming. 4-H is a community of seven million young people around the world learning leadership, citizenship, & life skills. For more information, contact the University of Illinois Extension-Stephenson County at 815-235-4125.