OREGON, Ill. - Ogle County’s top 4-H members and clubs were honored for outstanding achievement at a special program held Sunday, November 17, in the Byron Civic Theatre.

Top county honors went to 4-H teens Aylivia Danekas, Polo, and Nicholas Cassens, Byron. Danekas, Pine Creek Valley 4-H Club, and Cassens, By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club, were the recipients of the Co-op Watch Awards sponsored by Ogle County Farm Bureau and its affiliates.  Watches are awarded yearly to the two 4-H’ers with the most impressive records of long-term leadership and service at the club level and beyond.

Bruce Gehrke, Byron, received a $50 cash award sponsored by the Ogle County 4-H Foundation.  The Foundation Award is presented annually to a single 4-H’er who has shown leadership skills and a willingness to help with 4-H activities. It has also served as a positive example to younger members.

Four youths were challenged to greater leadership and service as the “I Dare You” Leadership Award recipients. New owners of William Danforth’s inspiring book, “I Dare You,” these youth were selected based on their previous leadership, citizenship, and project work. Winners included: Alayna Doane, Mighty Clovers 4-H Club; Colton Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club; Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree 4-H Club; and Addison Yordy, Leaf River Busy Beavers 4-H Club.

Other special award winners included:

Outstanding Club President                      

Aylivia Danekas, Pine Creek Valley                  

Kaden Lingbeck, Leaf River Soaring Eagles        

Outstanding Club Vice-President

Courtney Bushman, Pine Creek Valley

Grant Johnson, Leaf River Soaring Eagles                                                                                    

Outstanding Club Secretaries                     

Haven Marks, Summerhill Huskies                   

David Wehler, Leaf River Soaring Eagles

Outstanding Club Treasurers

Isabelle Blumhoff, Pine Creek Valley            

Kaeden Motszko, Leaf River Soaring Eagles

Outstanding Club Historians                     

Aubrey Kusnierz, Mighty Clovers                        

Kaden Lingbeck, Leaf River Soaring Eagles 

Outstanding Club Reporter

Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree                                                                   

Ogle County Club Recreation Chairperson
Kayden Barndt, Pine Creek Valley

Outstanding Club Junior Leaders
Aylivia Danekas, Pine Creek Valley

Electricity Achievement Award
Cora Herring, Hub Hickory Nuts

Illinois Holstein-Friesian Association Award
Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree

Several awards were distributed to community clubs throughout the county for outstanding community service, educational programming, and promotional efforts. Additionally, one club’s leadership team was recognized for their outstanding efforts to work together to effectively meet the needs of and coordinate the work of their club. Congratulations go to all the following club winners:

Window Display Promotion Award
1st Place – By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club (Byron)

2nd Place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club (Leaf River)

3rd Place – Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Monroe Center)

 Ogle County 4-H Club-of-the-Year
1st Place – Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club (Oregon)

2nd Place – Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Stillman Valley)

3rd Place – Ogle County Clovers 4-H Club (Rochelle)

Top Leader Team Award
Carefree 4-H Club (Oregon): Amanda Harbaugh, Annette Martin, and Wacey Sassaman

Alumni Award
Sara Blume

Hall of Fame
Annette Martin

4-H is an informal youth education program of University of Illinois Extension. For more information or to get involved, call 815/732-2191 or visit us online at https://extension.illinois.edu/bdo.  This is the best time of year to join!  

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in programming, contact the Ogle County Extension office at 815-732-2191. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.

PHOTO: Co-op watch award winner Aylivia Danekas with presenter Stan Eden.