LEWISTOWN, Ill. - The Fulton County 4-H Achievement Open House was held Sunday, November 8, at the University of Illinois Extension Office in Lewistown. Approximately 60 young people were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in the 4-H program. Since the usually well-attended program could not be held this year, 4-H members stopped by an outdoor open house event to pick up their awards, in assigned time frames to keep numbers low at a time.
The "I Dare You" book award, which is presented to 4-Hers showing outstanding leadership, scholarship, physical fitness, and character, was presented to Hannah Johnson, Elizabeth Reed, Jenna Spangler, and Hannah Stevenson.
The Secretary of the Year Award goes to the club secretary who has kept the best record of club events, attendance, and minutes of the meetings. Hannah Stevenson of the Pleasant Spacemakers 4-H Club was named the winner.
The Treasurer of the Year Award goes to the club treasurer who has kept the best financial records for his or her club. This year the winner was Cole Robbins of the Smithfield Up and Coming 4-H Club.
The Reporter of the Year Award goes to the club reporter who has prepared the best scrapbook of club events. Receiving this award was Jace Martin of the Country Kids 4-H Club. Receiving High Honors in this category were Isabelle Kemp of Avondale and Abigail Stevenson of Pleasant Spacemakers.
One of the highest honors that a young 4-H member can receive is to be named one of the Outstanding First Year 4-H Members in the county. The outstanding members receiving this award were Kalvin Gorsuch, Taylor Malott, Brayton McCoy, Ella Osborn, Zaya Peirce, Mason Robinson, and Thomas Stevenson.
In the livestock projects, one outstanding member was chosen for each species and presented with a plaque. The winner for Best of Beef was Jenna Spangler; Best of Horse, Halle Tindall; Best of Rabbit, Aliyah Janssen; Best of Sheep, Chloe Nelson; Best of Poultry, Cole Ricker; and Best of Goat, Isabelle Kemp.
Mrs. Hilda Rock was the leader of the Brick Fiatt Sparklers 4-H Club for over 30 years. Her influence on the lives of her former members, and the memories of her many contributions to the Fulton County 4-H Program, live on. An award to honor Hilda's memory goes each year to the 4-Her with the outstanding third year foods project, who plans to continue with 4-H foods projects in the future. The winners of this award were Lydia Fouts and Aliyah Janssen.
In the non-livestock projects, outstanding members were honored as follows: Best of Sewing and Textiles – Victoria Cooper; Best of Communications and Business – Elizabeth Reed; Best of Crops and Horticulture – Makenna Johnson; Best of Family Life – Aliyah Janssen; Best of Foods – Washita Bradford; Best of Mechanical Sciences – Abigail Stevenson; Best of Natural Resources – Max Johnson; Best of Small Animals – Makenna Johnson; and Best of The Arts – Max Johnson.
The County Community Service Award is given to the club doing the most work in the area of community involvement and service. The 2020 recipient of this award is the Checkrow Volunteers 4-H Club. Honorable Mention went to the Busy Bees, Fairview Huskies, and Pleasant Spacemakers 4-H Clubs.
4-H members receiving project awards included Dalen Bradford, Washita Bradford, Isabella Cooper, Victoria Cooper, Kate Fitzjarrald, Lydia Fouts, Emma Gorsuch, Kalvin Gorsuch, Brooke Hampton, Caleb Hartstirn, Kendra Hartstirn, Will Hensley, Aliyah Janssen, Benton Janssen, Jaclyn Janssen, Thomas Janssen, Hannah Johnson, Makenna Johnson, Max Johnson, Lexi Joplin, Isabelle Kemp, Malachi Kendrick, Declan Kotewa, Mallory Kotewa, Taylor Malott, Jace Martin, Brayton McCoy, Chloe Nelson, Ella Osborn, Zaya Peirce, Elizabeth Reed, Cole Ricker, David Roberts, Rhiannah Roberts, Mason Robinson, Michael Shaw, Jenna Spangler, Abigail Stevenson, Hannah Stevenson, Joseph Stevenson, Thomas Stevenson, Sara Stufflebeam, Halle Tindall, and Alex Wetterauer.
4-H Federation members were honored for their service to the county 4-H Program over the past year. 4-H Clubs that participated in Fulton County 4-H Week received recognition.
4-H is the youth program of University of Illinois Extension. To find out how young people ages 8‑18 can become members of 4-H, call Janis Blout at University of Illinois Extension, Fulton County Office, at 547‑3711.