Robert Weaver wins the Sandy Wardell Award

Robert Weaver, 19, of the Prime Cuts 4-H club was named the winner of the 2020 Sandy Wardell Outstanding Jr. Leader Award on Saturday, Sept. 26 at the 4-H Miscellaneous Project Awards Program at the Tuscarawas County Fair.

The award has been given each year for nearly 40 years in memory of Sandy Wardell to a 4-H member from Tuscarawas County who emulates the qualities of a leader.

Weaver is a 10-year member of 4-H and has taken a variety of projects over the years including bee keeping, rifle and, for the last several years, market hog. He served as a 4-H camp counselor and was a junior fair board member for the past five years.

A graduate of Dover High School and Buckeye Career Center, Weaver is employed by Simpson’s Heating and Cooling.

“He is honestly one of the first ones to ask, ‘What do you need me to do,’ and he’s usually one of the last ones to leave the fairgrounds, and he makes sure we’ve finished everything up,” said Kiersten Heckel of OSU Tuscarawas Extension, who presented the award. “He always takes upon himself to make the best better by seeking out improvement projects.”

In 2019 Weaver was an integral part of the refurbishment of the junior fair board office.

“He has spent many hours painting, assisting with putting on the new roof, staining the deck and working on the air-conditioner unit,” Heckel said.

The other junior fair board members look to Weaver as a leader and a positive role model.

“Robert is always there to help, and he is a true go-getter,” Heckel said.

Weaver was appreciative of the award. His allergies were acting up, so he was late getting to the award program.

“I wondered why they needed me here so bad,” Weaver said. “I have absolutely loved 4-H ever since I was 9. As soon as I could do older youth, I wanted to be a camp counselor and on junior fair board. I just really love the fair; that’s why I’m here to make it go as good as it possibly can. I like to make things look nice, so I was always messing with something in the junior fair board office or cleaning something up or fixing something or trying to just make it look better.”

His future plans are to join the market livestock committee and continue helping at the fair.

Emma Leggett of the Boots and Chutes 4-H club was named the recipient of the 2020 4-H Committee Scholarship.

Leggett’s essay for the scholarship was read to the crowd. Leggett wrote how 4-H influenced her life, making her a better leader and teaching her responsibility. She said the program changed her future.

“Prior to joining 4-H, my plans were to move down south, go to college and become a marine biologist. My plan now is to attend ATI the first two years and the Ohio State University for the rest to earn a bachelor’s degree in animal science and specialize in beef and swine nutrition,” Leggett wrote. “After earning this degree, I may decide to further my education at veterinary school at Ohio State for a doctorate degree.”

Leggett expressed her desire to continue working in county fairs by serving as judge at hog shows.

“Without being involved in 4-H, my hopes and desires would be completely different from what they are now, but I cannot imagine doing anything different with my life,” Leggett said.

The Miscellaneous Project Awards serve to recognize members who come in first in their project in the county. Awards went to the following clubs and members:

Above and Beyond: Allison Kendle, Club Leadership 1 and AKC Canine Good Citizen Advanced; Adeline Kendle, Leadership Road Trip; Baylee Roe, Cake Decorating — Junior; Mackenna Armstrong, Getting Started in Art — Junior and Self-determined — Junior; and Fiona Armstrong, Getting Started in Art — Senior.

Angel Valley: Sybil Cronebaugh, Snack Attack, and Reed Cronebaugh, Magic of Electricity.

Atwood Lakers: Meghan Kieffer, Self-determined — Senior and Insect Adventures 2; Angelina Heredia, Am I Ready to Work; Elizabeth Cox, Your First Home Away from Home; Makenzie Wilson, Scrapbooking — Junior; Kala Kirtley, The Writer in You — Junior; and Adrianna Cox, The Writer in You — Senior and How Does Your Garden Grow.

Brandywine: Tracy Zurfley, 4-H Around the Globe and Let’s Start Cooking — Senior; Caitlin Maust, Vet 3 on the Cutting Edge; Makayla Sitzlar, Keeping Fit; Max Cooley, Science Fun with Kitchen Chemistry; and Michael Sitzlar, Warm It Up: Level 2.

Boots N Bling: Cora Dotts, AKC Canine Good Citizen.

Crooked Run: Jessica Schwartz, Terrific Tops, and Justine Hershberger, Clothing for Your Career.

Country Wild Childs: Andria Lab, Accessories for Teens; Callan Karrenbauer, Quilting the Best Better and Shooting Sports — Muzzleloader; Robert Bowers, Measuring Up; and Gable Karrenbauer, Focus on Photography: Level 1.

4-H Hares: Claire Giesey, Sew for Others.

4-H Junior Achievers: Allison Carlisle, Beekeeping.

4-H Pioneers: Lydia Raber, AKC Canine Good Citizen and Vet 1 from Airedales to Zebras; Madison Burkholder, Cats II — Climbing Up; Rachel Brick, Pet Rabbit Intermediate; Marhin Chismar, Seeing Through Graphic Design; and Jackson Rice, Grill Master.

St. John’s 4-H’ers: Hallie Lint, Self-determined — Junior; Ella Mallernee, Family History Treasure Hunt; Belle Fockler, Global Gourmet; Morgan Huston, Racing the Clock to Awesome Meals; and Alyssa Reniker, Cake Decorating — Senior.

Heels Down: Mallory Miller, All About Dogs, and Michael Miller, Intermediate Fishing.

Stillwater Korn Kids: Madyson Stutzman, Pocket Pets.

Ropin’ Ropers: Kaylyn Castello, Rabbit — Beginner.

Happy Harvesters: Wyema Porter, Alcohol and Drug Abuse.

T-County Critters: Tommi Clift, Sew Fun, and Tyler Ross, Everyday Food and Fitness.

Strasburg Country: Gabrielle Burgess, Let’s Start Cooking Junior; Jabez Vlacovsky, Making the Cut; and Samantha Liggett, Safe Use of Guns.

Town and Country: Madison Degan, Let’s Bake Quick Breads.

Ragersville Kountry Buddies: Logan Lorenz, Science Fun with Dairy Foods, and Erin Meek, You Can Quilt.

Tusky Valley Farmers: Rileigh Peffer, Scrapbooking — Senior; Hank Lute, Investigating Electricity; and Jazlyn Brown, Basic Archery.

Sticks and Stones: Jonathan Huston, Science Fun with Physics, and Anna Huston, Controlling the Image: Level 2.

Stone Creek Peas and Carrots: Zane Swaldo, Rockets Away.

Ridge Valley Winners: Frasher Gray, Entering Electronics.

Prime Cuts: Cassandra Baker, Geology: Can You Dig It, and Julia Weaver, Ohio Birds.

Top of the Line: Lexi Newbold, Grow Your Own Vegetables.

New Cumberland Hotshots: Mercedez Cooper, Shooting Sports — Pistol.