BOURBONNAIS, Ill — University of Illinois Extension in Kankakee County recently announced the 2025 youth award recipients for the 2024-25 program year.
“This year we want to take the time to recognize 4-H members who have accomplished so much during this past program year,” said Barbara Dubravec, Kankakee County 4-H program coordinator. “We want to congratulate everyone who has received awards and thank those who make our program so successful.”
Award recipients in Kankakee County were recognized at the Kankakee County Awards Night, which took place on Sunday.
“It’s great to come together as a county to celebrate the successes of local young people,” said Colleen Hoffman, office support assistant in Kankakee County, who helped to ensure the night ran smoothly. “Our thanks go to the Kankakee County 4-H Federation and Bobbi Buza for all of their work in making the night so meaningful.”
2025 Kankakee County Award recipients are:
Outstanding Secretary Award
Leah Grider (Momence Troopers)
Outstanding Treasurer Award
Leslie Grider (Momence Troopers)
Outstanding Scrapbook
Momence Troopers -Kimber Ziegle
Chebanse Ag- Emelia Williams
Livestock Show Awards
Showman of Showmen
Cole Saathoff (Manteno Best Pioneers)
Champion Beef Rate-of-Gain
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers) – On the Hoof
Carter Deany (Chebanse Ag)- On the Rail
Lamb Carcass Grand Champion
Bridger Dunnill (Cabery Specials)
Swine-Pork Premiere
Avery Wright (Herscher Hustlers)
Food Science Award
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers)
Joaquin Marin (St. George Dragons)
Star of the Barn (voted award)
Mason Zirkle (Herscher Hustlers)
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers)
Pyper Johnston (Cabery Specials)
Macy Meyer (Chebanse Ag)
Landon Hertz (Herscher Hustlers)
Pru Davies (Cabery Specials)
Star of the Club (voted award)
Annie Rodawold (Grant Park LL SS)
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers)
Brooke Smith (Herscher Hustlers)
Leader of the Year (voted award)
Heather Thurston- (Herscher Hustlers)
Record Awards
Animal Science
Certificate of Achievement
Cole Meredith (Herscher Hustlers)
Certificate of Merit
Elsie Rodawold (Grant Park LL SS) – Horses
Ruthie Rodawold (Grant Park LL SS)- Goats
Michael Leaver (Grant Park LL SS) – Poultry
Harley Leaver (Grant Park LL SS) - Poultry
Emily Voigt (Grant Park LL SS) – Beef
Alexis Roberts (Grant Park LL SS) – Goats
Delilah Sexton (Grant Park LL SS) – Swine
Daphne Sexton (Grant Park LL SS) – Sheep
Landon Hertz (Herscher Hustlers) – Animal Science
Colton Hertz (Herscher Hustlers)- Animal Science
Outstanding Certificate
Mackenzie Adams (Chebanse Ag) – Vet Science, Sheep
Avery Adams (Chebanse Ag) – Sheep
Ellie Jensen (Chebanse Ag) – Goats
Sage Jensen (Chebanse Ag) – Goats
Abigail Williams (Chebanse Ag) - Poultry
Jacob Williams (Chebanse Ag) – Poultry
Lucas Williams (Chebanse Ag) – Poultry
Lavinia Helwich (Grant Park LL SS) – Dogs, Cats
Annie Rodawold (Grant Park LL SS) - Sheep
Tessa Chappell (Grant Park LL SS) – Beef
Dirk Chappel (Grant Park LL SS) – Beef
Isabella Barnas (Grant Park LL SS) – Cats, Small Pet, Vet Science, Animal Science
Elliott Cox (Herscher Hustlers) – Beef
Caisen Ohrt (Herscher Hustlers) – Swine
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers)- Beef, Vet Science
Kaitlyn Costello (Momence Troopers) – Dogs and Poultry
Aidan Knobloch (Herscher Hustlers) – Beef
STEM
Certificate of Achievement
Brennan Walsh (Grant Park LL SS) – Electricity
Sam Frey (St. George Dragons) – Electricity
Certificate of Merit
Fiona Walsh (Grant Park LL SS) – Woodworking
Brennan Walsh (Grant Park LL SS) - Woodworking
Daphne Sexton (Grant Park LL SS) - Woodworking
Damian Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Woodworking
Outstanding Certificate
Deagan Thurston (Herscher Hustlers) – Woodworking, Welding
Elizabeth Whittington (Momence Troopers) – Aerospace: Rocketry
Aaron Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Woodworking
George Helwich (Grant Park LL SS) – Aerospace
Isabella Barnas (Grant Park LL SS) – Aerospace
Environmental Science
Outstanding Certificate
Madaline Cote (St. George Dragons) – Shooting Sports
Aaron Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Entomology
Isabella Barnas (Grant Park LL SS) – Weather
Kaitlyn Costello (Momence Troopers) – Beekeeping
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers)– Wildlife
Civic Engagement
Certificate of Merit
Isabelle Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Diversity & Cultural Awareness
Outstanding Certificate
Isabella Barnas (Grant Park LL SS) – Passport to the World
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers) – Family Heritage
Career Leadership
Outstanding Certificate
Isabella Barnas (Grant Park LL SS)- Public Speaking
Creative Arts
Certificate of Merit
Emilia Williams (Chebanse Ag) - Quilting
Fiona Walsh (Grant Park LL SS) – Sewing 101
Brennan Walsh (Grant Park LL SS) – Sewing 101
Delilah Sexton (Grant Park LL SS) – Photography 3
Daphne Sexton (Grant Park LL SS) – Chalk/Carbon/Pigment
Harley Leaver (Grant Park LL SS) – Photography 1
Alexis Roberts (Grant Park LL SS) – Photography 1
Virginia Torres (Herscher Hustlers) – Fiber Arts, Sewing 1
Mariana Torres (Herscher Hustlers) – Sewing 1
Gwendolyn Torres (Herscher Hustlers) – Sewing 1
Isabelle Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Visual Arts: Paper and Glass/Plastic
Damian Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Creative Writing
Madaline Cote (St. George Dragons) – Visual Arts: Glass/Plastic
Outstanding Certificate
Madaline Cote (St. George Dragons) – Visual Arts: Paper, Chalk/Carbon/Pigment
Magaly Marin (St. George Dragons) – Fiber Arts
Isabella Barnas (Grant Park LL SS) – Creative Writing, Photography 2
Hope Thurston (Herscher Hustlers) – Computer Generated Art
Kaitlyn Costello (Momence Troopers) Fiber Arts
Elizabeth Whittington (Momence Troopers) – Sewing 1
Clara Chappel (Momence Troopers) Sewing, Scrapbooking, Photography, Interior Design
Madison Krone (Momence Troopers) – Sewing 1
Leslie Grider (Momence Troopers) – Chalk/Carbon/Pigment, Computer Generated Art
Leah Grider (Momence Troopers) - Sewing 2, & Chalk/Carbon/Pigment
Lara Grider (Momence Troopers) – Chalk/Carbon/Pigment, Computer Generated Art
Food Systems
Certificate of Merit
Fiona Walsh (Grant Park LL SS) – Cooking 201
Charlie Helwich (Grant Park LL SS) – Cooking 101
Damian Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Cooking 201
Outstanding Certificate
Abigail Roberts (Grant Park LL SS) – Cooking 101
Dirk Chappell (Grant Park LL SS) – Crops: Corn
Isabellas Barnas (Grant Park LL SS) – Cooking 101, Foods Innovation
Joaquin Marin (St. George Dragons) – Food Science
Aaron Ramirez (St. George Dragons) – Cooking 201
Clara Chappell (Momence Troopers) – Food Science, Cooking 201
Madison Krone (Momence Troopers) – Cooking 101
Lara Grider (Momence Troopers) – Cooking 101
Leah Grider (Momence Troopers) – Cooking 201
Leslie Grider (Momence Troopers) – Cooking 301
Cloverbud Honorable Mention:
Martin Helwich (Grant Park Spuds)
Brandon Sopko (Herscher Hustlers Cloverbuds)
Josie Dato (Herscher Hustlers Cloverbuds)
Gabby Dato (Herscher Hustlers Cloverbuds)
Corbin Ohrt (Herscher Hustlers Cloverbuds)
Easton Cox (Herscher Hustlers Cloverbuds)
Chase Meredith (Herscher Hustlers Cloverbuds)
Eric Moran (Momence Mini Troopers)
Hannah Krone (Momence Mini Troopers)
Oliver Whittington (Momence Mini Troopers)
Experience Awards
Bronze:
Aaron Ramirez (St. George Dragons)
Colton Hertz (Herscher Hustlers)
Silver:
Damian Ramirez (St. George Dragons)
Hope Thurston (Herscher Hustlers)
Deegan Thurston (Herscher Hustlers)
Elliott Cox (Herscher Hustlers)
Caisen Ohrt (Herscher Hustlers)
Landon Hertz (Herscher Hustlers)
Emily Voigt (Grant Park LL SS)
Madison Krone (Momence Troopers)
Elizabeth Whittington (Momence Troopers)
Gold:
Lara Grider (Momence Troopers)
Leah Grider (Momence Troopers)
Leslie Grider (Momence Troopers)
Emerald:
Clara Chappell—Project Learning (Momence Troopers)
Isabella Barnas—Project Learning (Grant Park LL SS)
Kaitlyn Costello—Project Learning (Momence Troopers)
Aidan Knobloch—Project Learning (Herscher Hustlers)
For more information about 4-H in your county, visit go.illinois.edu/About4HGKW
WRITER: Anthony Warmack, communications coordinator, Illinois Extension
SOURCE: Barbara Dubravec, 4-H program coordinator, Illinois Extension; Colleen Hoffman, office support assistant, Illinois Extension.
ABOUT ILLINOIS 4-H: Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension, administered through the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences. Through hands-on learning and life-changing experiences, Illinois 4-H prepares youth to be Beyond Ready — ready for college, career, military service, entrepreneurship, and more. Young people build confidence, leadership, and resilience as they explore interests from agriculture to computer science. Independent research and national surveys confirm the powerful outcomes of 4-H: participants are 40% more likely to pursue a college degree, twice as likely to obtain technical training, and two times more likely to serve in the military. With a legacy of cultivating leaders, Illinois 4-H continues to grow the next generation who are equipped to thrive in life and work today and beyond.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.