The 4-H Achievement Open House was held Sunday, November 14, at the Extension Office in Lewistown. Approximately 75 young people were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in the 4-H program.

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. Emma Green of Smithfield Up and Coming 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 Jace Martin of Country Kids 4-H Club.

The Reporter of the Year Award goes to the club reporter who has prepared the best scrapbook of the club events. Receiving this award was a team of members from the Country Kids 4-H Club; Aria Simpson, Jace Martin, Tegan Martin, and Alexander Rankin. Receiving High Honors in the this category were Avondale 4-H Club and Smithfield Up and Coming 4-H Club.

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 Carsyn Braun, Collin Christy, Bo Ellis, Virgil Emory, Jack Fitzjarrald, Tegan Martin, Zack Miller, Kaden McGrew, Alexander Rankin, Avaleigh Vansaghi, and Luke Wetterauer.

In the livestock projects, one outstanding member was chosen for each species and presented with a plaque. The winner for Best of Beef was Cole Ricker; Best of Goat, Isabelle Kemp; Best of Horse, Halle Tindall; Best of Poultry, Cole Ricker; Best of Rabbit, Virgil Emory; Best of Sheep, Chloe Nelson; and Best of Swine, Collin Robbins. 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 was Jace Martin.

In the non-livestock projects, outstanding members were honored as follows:  Best of Communications and Business – Elizabeth Reed; Best of Crops and Horticulture – Makenna Johnson; Best of Family Life – Aliyah Janssen; Best of Foods – Washita Bradford; Best of Mechanical Sciences – Abigail Stevenson; Best of Natural Resources – Max Johnson; Best of Sewing and Textiles – Washita Bradford; Best of Small Animals – Cole Ricker; and Best of the Arts – Max Johnson.

The County Community Service Award is given to the club doing the most work in the area of community involvement and service. The 2021 recipient of this award is the Smithfield Up and Coming 4-H Club. Honorable Mention went to the Busy Bees and Country Kids 4-H Clubs.

The Club Health and Safety Award is given to the club doing the most work in health and safety. This year’s winner was Country Kids 4-H Club.

4-H members receiving project awards included Carlee Belless, Dalen Bradford, Washita Bradford, Collin Christy, Isabella Cooper, Victoria Cooper, Bradlee Ellis, Virgil Emory, Kate Fitzjarrald, Lydia Fouts, Emma Gorsuch, Kalvin Gorsuch, Emma Green, Brooke Hampton, Finley Hess, Harper Hess, Braylee Irwin, Aliyah Janssen, Benton Janssen, Hannah Johnson, Makenna Johnson, Max Johnson, Isabelle Kemp, Connor Kotewa, Declan Kotewa, Mallory Kotewa, Taylor Malott, Jace Martin, Tegan Martin, Brayton McCoy, Luke Miller, Zack Miller, Chloe Nelson, Ella Osborn, Zaya Peirce, Alexander Rankin, Elizabeth Reed, Cole Ricker, Collin Robbins, Brady Robinson, Mason Robinson, Addison Roddis, Aiden Roddis, Blake Shelby, Logan Shelby, Caroline Spangler, Nathan Spangler, Abigail Stevenson, Thomas Stevenson, Sara Stufflebeam, Ashley Tarochione, Alexiah Thompson, Halle Tindall, Hannah Tindall, Avaleigh Vansaghi, Alex Wetterauer, and Luke Wetterauer.

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.

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 Krista Gray at University of Illinois Extension, Fulton County Office, at 309-547-3711.

SOURCE: Krista Gray, Fulton 4-H program coordinator, kristakg@illinois.edu