Holmes County 4-H honors clubs and youth for achievements at annual recognition banquet

Ask any parent and they will tell you the years they watched their children grow up in the Holmes County 4-H program seemed to go past quickly as the youth grew into adults.

Thus, the appropriately titled “Time Flies with 4-H” slogan perfectly summed up the annual Holmes County 4-H Volunteer Recognition Banquet, which took place at Harvest Ridge Nov. 20.

The evening included dinner, an awards program, and a celebration of community and youth development, honoring the many hands and hearts of volunteers who pour themselves into making the county’s 4-H program something special.

The Head Award went to the Killbuck Handy Helpers 4-H Club. This honor is bestowed upon the club that exemplifies the stimulation of learning.

The Killbuck Handy Helpers contacted the local Killbuck community in spring 2025 inquiring what services they could provide to benefit the community.

The club eventually planted and maintained flower gardens in the village. The club learned how to properly plant and care for the flora they placed around Killbuck while also learning about the importance fertilization, water, nutrients and sun play in the life of plants. One other important aspect they gleaned during the process was learning more about the identification of poison ivy.

The Heart Award was presented to the Nashville Jolly Farmers 4-H Club.

This award is exemplified through the generosity and giving to others as the club members develop personal growth and positive social skills.

This year the Nashville Jolly Farmers raised money through fundraisers, not only to support their program, but also to give back to the community.

They decided to donate to Holmes County Share-A-Christmas to ensure area children who may not get much for Christmas would receive a blessing through community generosity.

The Hands Award was doled out to the Lakeville Lakers 4-H Club.

This award is an all-hands-on-deck effort by clubs to reach out into their respective communities and to utilize the Lifeskills projects they invested in throughout the past year.

Every year 4-H youth receive kits that move them to pursue and develop new hobbies and skills. The Lakeville Lakers members dedicated themselves to exploring new options and opportunities through Lifeskills.

The Health Award was given to the Doughty Valley 4-H Club.

This honor is about making good decisions, healthy choices and staying safe. Doughty Valley members invited Karen Gotter of Holmes Soil & Water Conservation District to an evening event to learn about water safety. The event served as a reminder that everyone needs to be smart and take safety precautions when anywhere near a body of water.

The Clover Award was presented to Prairie Partners 4-H Club.

This award honors clubs that promote 4-H in unique ways. The Prairie Partners 4-H Club members went about the community spreading word about everything the club was learning and doing throughout the year, from participating in parades to collecting plastic water bottle caps, picking up trash along the highway and mulching flower beds along Holmes County Rails to Trails.

A committee of volunteers reviewed all entries and selected winners based off that information.

Tori Bell presented the 2025 Youth Award honors, a category that was littered with high-end achievers.

The Treasurer’s Award went to Roland Hendricks, the Secretary Award was presented to Olivia Brown, and Outstanding Junior Fair Board honors went to Shane Lorentz, Emily Wise and Ethan Wise.

In defining each of the junior fair board members’ importance, Bell said, “Emily went above and beyond this year, no matter how big or little the task. Whatever you asked of her, she was there. Ethan was very helpful and was always there to do what was needed. Ethan continues to inspire others and lift those around him. Shane has always been a steady leader and a wonderful example to all our younger members.”

Ohio State University Extension Holmes County 4-H educator Ella Lorentz announced the Outstanding Camp Counselor Award winners, which included Miles Mallasch, Jenna Sheldon and Courtney Crider.

“Over the past decade of working with teen leadership groups, I have learned that teens are going to naturally ebb and flow,” Lorentz said. “Every year we have strong teens, and I wonder how I’m ever going to replace them, but every year someone steps up and rises to the challenge.”

She said Mallasch turned the table during his interview to become a camp counselor and practically interviewed her. She said he exuded a calm confidence and fresh perspective, proving himself to be a perfect fit for 4-H Camp.

“He was a strong and steady leader,” Lorentz said.

She said Sheldon has been a steady and strong presence for several years, and from the moment she joined the counselor crew, she brought joy that was contagious, praising her organizational skills.

She said Sheldon worked at the extension office as an intern this summer and basically planned Clover Bud Camp.

“I selfishly cried at the end of the fair this year realizing that we had come to the conclusion of her teen leadership opportunities,” Lorentz said. “Who could possibly step into shoes like that?”

Which led Lorentz into her third and final recipient, Crider.

“She not only met my expectations, but she also exceeded them, and it kept the momentum growing in our camp program,” Lorentz said. “She continues to grow, lead and step into new responsibilities with confidence and maturity through selfless dedication.”

A new addition to the program this year was honoring the many youths who received 2025 Outstanding Exhibitor honors this past year. That lengthy list included plenty of youths who dedicated themselves to raising their animals in the best way possible and rewarded their showmanship skills in the ring, where the relationships and trust they built with their animals truly paid off.

“These youth didn’t just show their animals well in the ring; they went above and beyond and put extra effort in all year long,” Lorentz said. “These outstanding youth have the knowledge, experience and motivation that has earned them the top honor within their species.”

A total of 52 youth honors were presented, representing 20 different species exhibition categories.