The Illinois 4-H Foundation provided $29,000 in college scholarships and awarded another $20,000 in national conference travel scholarships to 4-H members honored at a ceremony held Oct. 5 in Champaign. The annual celebration recognized over 100 of the top participants in the state’s most successful youth development program. Carroll, Lee and Whiteside counties had three 4-H members receive awards this year at the state ceremony.
The foundation awards scholarships to teens who concentrate efforts in animal science projects. These winners included local 4-H member Payton Erbsen, Carroll County.
Twenty-four young adults were also recognized as winners in one of five divisions of the State 4-H Award. Each winner may choose either a $1,000 scholarship or a trip to National 4-H Congress in Atlanta. Local winners were Abigail Stichter of Whiteside County in communications division, Payton Erbsen of Carroll County and Amie Case of Lee County in project mastery.
“Our awardees embody the true spirit of 4-H, having made a difference not only in their communities, but also Illinois and the nation,” said Lisa Diaz, University of Illinois Extension assistant dean and director of Illinois 4-H. “We are proud of the dedication, service, and fortitude of the young men and women who have developed through our 4-H programs.”
Payton Erbsen, Carroll County
In 10 years, Payton has expanded his Holstein dairy herd from one calf to 29 cows and 13 heifers. His championships are many, including grand and reserve grand champion at the Illinois Junior Holstein Show. He competed on the state’s National 4-H Dairy Judging and Dairy Quiz Bowl teams. Payton plans to study dairy science and agronomy at Kaskaskia College to improve the agriculture industry.
“The years of being raised around cattle have paid off in many ways. Because of 4-H and the many opportunities in the ring and being in front of community organizations representing 4-H, I have gained life skills to better serve the agriculture industry and future 4-H members.”
Amie Case, Lee County
Amie is a talented quilter and uses that craft learned in 4-H to create memorable keepsakes for her family and community. For example, she used her grandfather’s shirts as material for pillows and quilts for family keepsakes. She teaches others to sew. As a county Ambassador, she spreads the 4-H word to others. Amie plans to study nursing at Saint Ambrose University, with goals to be a traveling nurse and get a nurse practitioner license.
“4-H is a family that comes together to teach one another different skills. It allows for kids to become adults who now know how to cook and sew on their own.”
Abigail Stichter, Whiteside County
Abigail says her greatest joy is using her hands for larger service. Those hands have served food to the homeless, made gifts for veterans, gathered supplies for pet shelters, crafted kits for children’s hospitals, prepared birthday and Christmas party kits for food pantry families, and collected donations for the library. She delivers wreaths to longtime 4-H supporters at Christmas. She said service will always be her best 4-H highlight. Abigail aspires to become a trauma physician at a rural hospital after medical school.
“4-H means lasting friendships. 4-H stands for long-standing family values. I appreciate that entire families can get involved together, and adults provide mentoring, guidance, and knowledge in an accepting and positive, yet challenging, environment. 4-H means opportunities. Every 4-Her can find their own fit, and getting involved only opens more doors of challenge, leadership, responsibility, and skill development. 4-H represents tradition, dedication to the development of communities and a solid foundation of skills needed to be successful in life.”