YORKVILLE, Ill. – Each year, Kendall County 4-H members earn several scholarships and awards for their project work, leadership, and community service through the 4-H program. The 2020 recipients were honored through virtual recognition, in place of the annual in-person 4-H Achievement Night celebration.

“All of these 4-H members demonstrate the true spirit of 4-H, using their heads, hearts, hands and health to create a better world,” said Kendall County 4-H Program Coordinator Kim Eisnaugle. “We are proud of these young people, and we are honored that our communities recognize their efforts and support them.”

The 2020 scholarship and award honorees included:

• Brayden Caraynoff-Huber of Minooka 4-H + 1H – He earned the $1000 Marilyn & Herman Hanouw Memorial Scholarship from the Kendall County 4-H Foundation; the Clara Miller Memorial Achievement Award from the Kendall County 4-H Foundation; the A. Stephen Paydon Memorial Leadership Award, sponsored by Diane Becker, Martha Pranga, Anita Drinkall and Linda Muehling; and the McEachern-Biffi Intercultural Award, sponsored by Joan McEachern, for outstanding project work and cultural studies.
• Lizzy Franzen of Barn and Beyond 4-H Club – She earned the Johanna Vandermeer Memorial Home Economics Scholarship for $1000, given by the Vandermeer Family.
• Lydia Oker of the Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club – the $1000 Sylvia Gabel-Pletcher Memorial Scholarship, sponsored Terry Gabel and Pat Norr, for overall merit, need and achievement; the Rushton Memorial Citizenship Award, sponsored by Mrs. Ruth Satorius, for all-around citizenship in 4-H, at school and in the community; and the Doser Family Memorial Award, sponsored by the Doser Family, for achievement in visual arts and/or horticulture.
• Emily Reppy from Seward Kids & Critters – She was awarded the $500 Kendall County 4-H Recreation Fund Scholarship from the Kendall County 4-H Foundation.
• Sydney Reppy from Seward Kids & Critters – She earned the Rebhorn Memorial Scholarship of $500 given by the Kendall County 4-H Foundation and Rebhorn Family.

Additional 4-H award winners included:

• The Monkemeyer Memorial First-Year Achievement Award was earned by Eli Swenson of Lisbon Town & Country for excellence and participation.
• Secretary of the Year went to Madisyn Glenn of Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club for excellent attendance records and meeting minutes. It is sponsored by the Kendall County 4-H Foundation.
• The Treasurer of the Year Award, sponsored by Heartland Bank & Trust, went to Zachary Zabel of Lisbon Town & Country. The award is based on neatness, completeness, and accuracy of the club treasury book.
• The Beef Award given by the Kendall-Grundy Beef Association and the Kendall County 4-H Foundation went to Brooklyn Wallin of the Dream Catchers 4-H Club.
• Landon Pennington of Lisbon Town and Country earned three agricultural awards: the Kendall County Pork Producers Swine Award; the Knutson Memorial Livestock Award, which is given by the Kendall County 4-H Foundation and the Jerry Knutson Family; and the Nelson Memorial Agriculture Award.

Experience Awards

At the end of each 4-H program year, 4-H members may complete the Experience Level Recognition form. Members document the experiences they accomplished during the year in the four dimensions: participation, community service, leadership, and project learning. There also are areas for club, county, multi-county, state and national experiences.

“Illinois 4-H challenges youth to try new things, experiment in project areas they may enjoy, and explore opportunities around the state and country,” said Eisnaugle.

For the 2019-2020 4-H year, Kendall County 4-H members earned gold, silver, or bronze status, or submitted to the state office for emerald or diamond status.

• Emerald award: Brayden Caraynoff-Huber of Minooka, Julian Heidrich and Sofie Heidrich of Oswego, Lydia Oker of Sandwich, and Emily Reppy and Sydney Reppy of Yorkville.
• Diamond award:  Abigail Munar of Plano.
• Gold award: Maura O’Brien of Minooka and Ava Rittgers of Yorkville.
• Silver award: Bailey Brummel of Sandwich, Leah Burscheid of Sandwich, Landon Pennington of Yorkville, Abigail Quast of Minooka, and Brooklyn Wallin of Newark.
• Bronze award: Zoey Burscheid of Sandwich, Kerri and Rachel Dickson of Bristol, Madisyn Glenn of Oswego, and Elizabeth and Nathanael Vickery of Bristol.

Project Records

Individuals Who Earned Pins for Project Records: Bailey Brummel of Sandwich (foods pin), Leah Burscheid of Sandwich (interior design pin), Madisyn Glenn of Minooka (horticulture pin & poultry pin), Elizabeth Vickery of Yorkville (visual arts pin), Brooklyn Wallin of Newark (beef, clothing, foods and swine pins); Carter Westphal of Newark (swine pin), Lily Westphal of Newark (foods, photography, and swine pins), and Trevor Westphal of Newark (dog, photography, and swine pins).

Other Individuals Who Completed Project Records (may be working toward pins or already have earned pins in previous years): Zoey Burscheid of Sandwich, Brayden Caraynoff-Huber, Kerri and Rachel Dickson of Bristol, Landon Pennington of Yorkville, Annabelle Reeder of Yorkville, Lane Rohrer of Leland, Nathanael Vickery of Yorkville, and Anna Wennmacher of Plano.

First-year Members: (by club) Aces Squad – Colton, Cooper, and Kennedy Crouthamel, Agatha Elzerman, Ethan Fleming, Ben and Drew McKittrick, and Anne Marie Wolski; Barn and Beyond – Ephraim Fisher, Brendan Massey, Marcella Schultz, and Rhen Staudacher; Kendall County Country Kids – Brayden, Kellen, and Lexi Brummel, Clayton Christian, Ronnie Johnson, Sofia Okapal, and Ellie and Finley Winter; Lisbon Town and Country – Aria Sansone, Zadie Bleuer, Jaxson Getz, Elijah Swenson, and Madelyn Thomas; Little Rockets – Zoey Burscheid, Ximena Del Toro, and Anna Wennmacher; Millbrook Mighty Ones – Alexis Steininger, Ambrose, Joseph, and Peter Yonke; Minooka 4-H + 1 – H – Hannah, Josiah, and Noah Aguado, Madelynn Cozzi Abigail and Jackson Polcyn; Nothin’ But Country – Clair Anderson, and Natalie Walsh; Renegades, Rebels & Rogues – Leah Dern, and Sawyer Holston; Rockin’ KCs – Nataly Rivera; Stagecoach Trailblazers – Eunhan Park and Ryan Kuhn; and The Dream Catchers – KateLynn Richardson.

The Kendall County Association for Home and Community Education (HCE) provided a felt banner for 4-H pins to each 4-H member in the first year of the foods or clothing projects.  Those members (by club) are for Clothing: Marilyn and Kelsey Morel of Kendall County Country Kids; and for Foods: Clair Anderson of Nothin’ But Country; Abby and Emma Hohmann, and Katie Miller of The Dream Catchers.

2020 graduates: Lizzy Franzen of Barn and Beyond; Mason Kellogg of Boots, Blue Jeans & Bows; Elly Kuhn of Millbrook Mighty Ones; Evelyn Martin of Martin Family; Karoline Stewart of Barn & Beyond; Rachel Testin of Nothin’ But Country; Joseph Weissensel of Millbrook Mighty Ones; Kyle Westphal of Kendall County Country Kids; and Zach White of Kendall County Country Kids.

4-H Teen Federation Members: Jessica Carlson, Brayden Caraynoff-Huber, William Davis, Julian and Sofie Heidrich, Gianna and Marcus Motchnik, Lydia Oker, Emily Reppy, Sydney Reppy, and Ava Rittgers.

Club Recognition

• The Illinois 4-H Club/Group State Award Winners are Little Rockets 4-H Club and Seward Kids and Critters 4-H Club.
• The Award of Excellence Patch from the Illinois 4-H Program has been awarded to several clubs in Kendall County: Kendall County Country Kids; Little Rockets; Millbrook Mighty Ones; Minooka 4-H + 1H; Renegades, Rebels and Rogues; Seward Kids and Critters; Stagecoach Trailblazers and The Dream Catchers.
• The Progress Award Patch from the Illinois 4-H Program goes to clubs that meet or exceed 75 percent of their goals are eligible to receive a Club Progress Patch. Recipients include: Little Rockets; Millbrook Mighty Ones; Minooka 4-H + 1H; Stagecoach Trailblazers and The Dream Catchers.
• 4-H International Activity – The Illinois IFYE Association offers club certificates for clubs/groups who participate in intercultural activities. Clubs include: Seward Kids & Critters.

Community Recognition

In 2020, Kendall County 4-H celebrated its volunteers and supporters across the county, even if they could not gather together for the annual 4-H Achievement Night tradition.

“These passionate folks may lead community service projects or 4-H clubs, sponsor 4-H activities and awards, or advocate for 4-H in different ways,” said Kim Eisnaugle, Kendall County 4-H Program Coordinator. “Each year, we like to express our gratitude to all of these caring adults who make a difference in the lives of local youth and encourage them to try new things, dream, and achieve.”

Annual Awards

The 2020 Friend of 4-H Award honored Heartland Bank and Trust Company. “This countywide business supports 4-H in a variety of ways, encouraging our 4-H members to work hard and do their best throughout the year,” said Eisnaugle.

Heartland Bank and Trust Company sponsors the annual Treasurer of the Year Award, multiple 4-H show trophies, prizes for the 4-H Federation charity event and other activities, as well as Kendall County Fair events and grounds improvements.

The 2020 4-H Alumni Award went to Rosie Ralston, a local 4-H alumna, parent, volunteer, and Illinois Extension employee who is passionate about putting 4-H in the spotlight and providing great information to 4-H families. “She brings knowledge, enthusiasm, support, creative ideas, and positivity in all the work she does,” said Eisnaugle.

Kendall County 4-H also recognized Jodi Brummel for her 2020 Illinois 4-H Hall of Fame appointment. She was inducted with others from around the state in August during a virtual Illinois State Fair ceremony, and she received a commemorative medallion.

“Jodi is a dedicated volunteer who truly backs our youth and families,” said Eisnaugle. “She’s a dependable 4-H club leader and volunteer, and serves as president of the Kendall County Livestock Auction Committee and the Kendall County 4-H Foundation.”

Club Leaders

Dozens of 4-H volunteers in Kendall County lead 4-H clubs. They encourage and guide youth to help them discover what matters to them, set goals, foster a sense of belonging and independence, inspire a generous spirit, and master skills that will prepare them for their future.

In 2020, several 4-H volunteers reached milestone years of service. They include: 25 years – Mary Schobert of The Dream Catchers 4-H Club; 20 years – Joe Steffen of Kendall County Country Kids; 10 years – David Burk of LaMenu Modelle 4-H Club, Jessica Brigel of Renegades, Rebels, and Rogues, and Debbie Granat of Rockin’ KCs; and five years – Lori Kellogg of Boots, Blue Jeans, and Bows 4-H Club; Rhonda Oker of Millbrook Mighty Ones; Kylie Granat of Rockin’ KCs; Charlotte Wyncoop of Spanglish 4-H Club; and Carrie Vickery of Stagecoach Trailblazers.

“Our volunteers give their time and so much more back to the youth and community,” said Eisnaugle. “In all, they represent more than 560 years of service as 4-H volunteers, and our programs would not be successful without them. Thank you!”