NEWS RELEASE – Written BY Anne Scheel

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS EXTENSION – Bureau, LaSalle, Marshall, Putnam Unit

Local Youth Receive 4-H Awards

University of Illinois Extension Marshall-Putnam honored 4-H’ers from throughout Marshall and Putnam counties to celebrate a year of hard work, leadership, and dedication to personal growth on Sunday, November 3, 2019.  Marshall-Putnam 4-H would like to thank Henry Presbyterian Church for allowing us to have our award ceremony at their church.

The award level is determined by how many experiences the member completes in each dimension. The four dimensions are participation, community service, leadership and project learning Project Achievement winners receive a bronze medal, Service Achievement winners receive a silver medal, and Leadership Achievement receive a gold medal. 

Bronze Clover Award: youth complete at least 1 experience in each of the four dimensions.

Silver Clover Award: youth complete at least 2 experiences in each of the four dimensions; at least 2 of those experiences must be at the County level or beyond.

Gold Clover Award: youth complete 4 experiences in each of the four dimensions; at least 2 of those experiences must be BEYOND the County level. 

The Marshall-Putnam 4-H members who earned the Bronze Achievement award are:

Connor Anderson-Henry Guys & Gals, Mikenna Boyd-PC Progressors, Molly Boyd-PC Progressors, Cadence Breckenridge-Lostant Leaders, Jacob Brown-PC Progressors, Alan Haskins-Henry Guys & Gals, Sarah Johnson-PC Progressors, Phoebe Kammer-Lostant Leaders, Piper Kammer-Lostant Leaders, Jackson Knisley-Henry Guys & Gals, Lillian Lindstrom-Saratoga Leadaways, Waylon Lindstrom-Saratoga Leadaways, Benjamin Meachum-Saratoga Leadaways, Kaitlyn Palm-Bennington Go-Getters, Lucas Palm-Bennington Go-Getters, Taylor Rowe-Henry Guys & Gals, Kaitlyn Schaer-Steuben Rangers, Kiryn Schaer-Steuben Rangers, Kendra Story-PC Progressors.

The Marshall-Putnam 4-H members who earned the Silver Achievement award are:

Catherine Bond-Steuben Rangers, Salina Breckenridge-Lostant Leaders, Elijah Brown-PC Progressors, Isabella Brown-PC Progressors, Sophia  Brown-PC Progressors, Marley DeWolfe-PC Progressors, Colton Ehnis-Bell Plain Hustlers, Eliza Ehnis- Bell Plain Hustlers, Brady Palm- Bennington Go-Getters, Nick Mattern -PC Progressors, Samantha Nauman -Henry Guys & Gals, Ayden Serrine-PC Progressors, Cohen Urbanowski -Lostant Leaders, Annabel Vincent-Lostant Leaders.

 The Marshall-Putnam 4-H members who earned the Gold Achievement award are:

Olivia Brown-PC Progressors, Ryan Carlson-Henry Guys & Gals, Kade Gensini-PC Progressors, Cassie Johnson-PC Progressors, Athena Lindstrom-Saratoga Leadaways, Cassidy Palm-Bennington Go-Getters.

 The Marshall-Putnam 4-H members who earned the Effort award are:

Grace Anderson-Henry Guys & Gals, Anna McGlasson-Steuben Rangers, Lilly Breckenridge-Lostant Leaders, Jackson Miller-Lostant Leaders, Paige Kammer-Lostant Leaders.    

Junior Leaders were also recognized.  Club leaders select the members who stepped up during the year to mentor younger youth and help in the club setting.

Connor Anderson-Henry Guys & Gals, Molly Boyd-PC Progressors, Salina Breckenridge -Lostant Leaders, Olivia Brown   -PC Progressors, Ryan Carlson- Henry Guys & Gals, Jonathan Downey-Saratoga Leadaways, Jenna Eilts- L-W Achievers, Isabella Gaspardo           -Henry Guys & Gals, Heidi Harrison-Saratoga Leadaways, Tristen Harrison-Saratoga Leadaways, Alan Haskins-Henry Guys & Gals, Justin Janssen-Wenona Highlighters, Laura Jaquet-Wenona Highlighters, Luke Jaquet-Wenona Highlighters, Cassie Johnson- PC Progressors, Jack Knisley -Henry Guys & Gals, Elizabeth Knuckey-Henry Guys & Gals, Jerrica Kull-L-W Achievers, Athena Lindstrom-Saratoga Leadaways, Nick Mattern-PC Progressors, Collin Morris-Wenona Highlighters, Nate Morris-Wenona Highlighters, Eli Postula-PC Progressors, Cami Pucek-Wenona Highlighters, Paul Ryan-Wenona Highlighters, Michaelene Testin-Wenona Highlighters, Gracie Vinyard-Bell Plain Hustlers, Christina Wier-Steuben Rangers, Michaela Wier-Steuben Ranges, Isaac Wujek-PC Progressors.

In addition to the Experience awards, there were also special awards and honors that were presented. Each club is supposed to turn in their secretary books for judging. One secretary receives the honor of Outstanding Secretary for the year.  This year’s outstanding secretary is Michaela Wier of the Steuben Rangers. Her name is on a plaque in the Marshall-Putnam Extension office.

Record books are a very important part of 4-H. It gives the members an opportunity to reflect on their yearly work and helps develop written skills for all the records they will need to keep in their life. The junior Best Kept Record Book winner is Samantha Nauman of Henry Guys & Gals.  Our judge had a very difficult time choosing only one senior level winner. The senior Best Kept Record Book winner is Michaela Wier of Steuben Rangers.

4-H would not be possible without the hard work of our volunteers and leaders.  Those recognized for milestone years are Bill and Brady Imel-one year, Beth Palm-five years, Lori Toepper-twenty years and Dick Hahn thirty-five years.

The Spirit Stick is a favorite of the members.  Each club presents a skit or sings songs to show their 4-H spirit. Creativity and group involvement is the key to winning the Spirit Stick. It was a tough competition with original songs, costumes, and a game show. This year’s winner is Lostant Leaders with their reenactment of a club meeting.

The evening ended with refreshments from our host clubs, Henry Guys and Gals and Saratoga Leadaways.

Congratulations to all the Marshall-Putnam 4-H members.

The Mission of University of Illinois Extension is to provide practical education you can trust to help people, businesses and communities solve problems, develop skills and build a better future. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. Visit our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/blmp/

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