The annual 4-H Achievement Program was held Sunday, November 10, at the Lewistown Community High School auditorium.  Over 100 young people were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in the 4-H program.

The "I Dare You" book award, which is presented to 4-Hers showing outstanding leadership, scholarship, physical fitness, and character, was presented to Max Johnson.   

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 Johnson of the Logan Leaders 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 Carlee Brown 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 Aliyah Janssen of the Avondale 4-H Club.  Receiving High Honors in this category were Emma Green of Smithfield Up and Coming; Ella Eathington and Luke Shelby of Fairview Huskies; Lexi Joplin of Logan Leaders; Jozey Koile, Jace Martin, and Myleigh Strode of Country Kids; 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 Hank Ford, Emma Gorsuch, Mia Holthaus, Abby Kemp, Malachi Kendrick, Halee Krieger, Jace Martin, Jacob Moulton, Charlee Pittman, Lillie Ray, Daniel Riggins, James Riggins, Michael Shaw, Landry Smith, Sara Stufflebeam, and Hannah Tindall

Over 300 project-related honors were presented.  The Outstanding Beginning Sewing and Textiles Member Awards went to Lucinda Deppermann, Jessica Johnson, Abigail Kemp, Eliana Rodeffer, Olin Runyan, and Caroline Spangler.  The Electricity Achievement Award went to Dalen Bradford.

In the livestock projects, one outstanding member was chosen for each species and presented with a plaque.  The winner for Best of Beef was Emma Eathington; Best of Horse, Carlee Brown; Best of Rabbit, Braydon DeCounter; Best of Sheep, Chloe Nelson; Best of Poultry, Cole Ricker; Best of Swine, Braydon DeCounter; and Best of Goat, Isabella Cooper.  The Best Head of Five Cattle award was presented to the Fairview Huskies 4-H Club. 

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 winner of this award is Lexi Joplin.

In the non-livestock projects, outstanding members were honored as follows:  Best of Sewing and Textiles – Caroline Spangler; Best of Communications and Business – Maddy Lettow; Best of Crops and Horticulture – Braydon DeCounter; Best of Family Life – Max Johnson; Best of Foods – Sam Riggins; Best of Mechanical Sciences – Kyle Spangler; Best of Natural Resources – Max Johnson; Best of Small Animals – Makenna Johnson; and Best of The Arts – Hannah Stevenson.

The County Community Service Award is given to the club doing the most work in the area of community involvement and service.  The 2019 recipient of this award is the Smithfield Up and Coming 4-H Club.  Honorable Mention went to the Busy Bees, Checkrow Volunteers, and the Fairview Huskies 4-H Clubs.

4-H members receiving project awards included Callie Andreas, Carlee Belless, Dalen Bradford, Washita Bradford, Emmaline Brobston, Carlee Brown, Isabella Cooper, Victoria Cooper, Braydon DeCounter, Eli DeCounter, Emma Eathington, Bradlee Ellis, Lydia Fouts, Emma Green, Brooke Hampton, Katelyn Hampton, Kendra Hartstirn, Halee Hendel, Morgan Hendel, Taylor Hendel, Will Hensley, Mia Holthaus, Aliyah Janssen, Ben Janssen, Jaclyn Janssen, Thomas Janssen, Jessica Johnson, Makenna Johnson, Max Johnson, Lexi Joplin, Isabelle Kemp, Jozey Koile, Declan Kotewa, Mallory Kotewa, Halee Krieger, Maddy Lettow, Jace Martin, Luke McEwen, Wes McEwen, Luke Miller, Jacob Moulton, Chloe Nelson, Will Nelson, Charlee Pittman, Aubrianna Putman, Tanner Putman, Cole Ricker, Sam Riggins, David Roberts, Ilese Rodeffer, Michael Shaw, Blake Shelby, Noah Shelby, Landry Smith, Caroline Spangler, Jenna Spangler, Kyle Spangler, Nathan Spangler, Abigail Stevenson, Hannah Stevenson, Joseph Stevenson, Cameron Stone, Myleigh Strode, Tegan Strode, Sara Stufflebeam, Hannah Tindall, Julia Tourtillott, and Morgan Tracey.

 In addition to receiving awards at the Achievement Program, the following older 4-H members earned the opportunity for their award applications to be sent on to state judging – Emma Eathington, Katelyn Hampton, Halee Hendel, Will Hensley, Jaclyn Janssen, Thomas Janssen, Max Johnson, Will Nelson, and Jenna Spangler.

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.  The afternoon ended with a musical slide show of 4-H year highlights, followed by refreshments.

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.