Wayne County 4-H honors standout members, volunteers at annual 'Recognizing Our Stars' banquet

“Recognizing Our Stars” was the theme for Wayne County 4-H’s annual recognition banquet Nov. 13 at the Wayne County Fair Event Center.

One of the stars was Madison Wade, winner of the Excellence in 4-H Award, the program’s highest honor for a youth member. To be eligible for this award, a youth must be nominated by a 4-H volunteer; demonstrate excellence in leadership, 4-H projects and activities; and show continued growth and interest in 4-H.

A 4-Her for 11 years, Wade has been a role model for younger members by encouraging their involvement in 4-H activities and demonstrating what it’s like to balance 4-H responsibilities with other commitments, according to her 4-H adviser Abigail Clark. The Dalton-Kidron Big 4 adviser wrote in her nomination letter that Wade was a proven leader in Junior Leaders, junior fair board, awareness teams, junior fair royal court, the Outstanding Market Exhibitor Program and statewide leadership conferences.

Wade is attending Tennessee Tech University Honors College.

The 4-H Meritorious Service Award was presented to Melinda Hill, who retired in April after 37 years as the Ohio State University Extension family and consumer sciences educator in Wayne County. This award is the most prestigious honor presented to a 4-H volunteer or supporter.

In her role as FCS educator, Hill contributed to the 4-H program in many ways, wrote Rhonda Oser in her nomination letter. She led volunteer training sessions and guided 4-H educators over the years.

“She also was involved in the behind-the-scenes office activities that helped the 4-H program run smoothly,” said Oser, Country Strong 4-H club adviser and member of the beef and 4-H advisory committees.

County award medals were presented for the following project areas: Clothing & Textiles, Bradlee Wirt, beginner, and Rylee Wirt, advanced; Companion Animals, Jenna Zimmerly; Dairy, Caroline Raber; Goat, Emmalee Connelly; and Swine, Caitlynn Zimmerman.

Volunteers in attendance awarded for 40 or more years of service were Priscilla Sprang, 56 years; Sharon Emler, 54; David Emler, 52; David Zech, Miriam Zech and David Stahl, 48; Kimberly Mumaw and Linda Prochazka, 45; Barbara Guthrie, 43; Fredrick Shiffer, 41; and Nancy Shiffer and Priscilla Gresser, 40.

Also present to receive their volunteer service pins were Amy Graber, Gene Mumaw, Tanya Marty and Brenda Oser, 35; Mark Oser, 30; Cheryl Gordon and Beth Shisler, 25; Dawna Beery, Michele Holcomb, Amanda Raber, Abigail Rossiter and Sara Zimmerly, 15; Vickie Roseler, 10; Paige Coblentz, Jill Lemon, Carrie Nussbaum, Melody Plessinger, Ashely Porter, Kara Shilling, Julia Wallace and Keenan Wolf, five; and Amy Banaga, Mariel Dean, Nicole Hoff and Heather Stoll, first.

Outstanding Exhibitor awards are given to youth who go above and beyond with their livestock projects, both in and out of the show ring. Scores are based on an outstanding exhibitor exam, project record book, showmanship placing and breed or market class placings.

Overall winners in each species and age division were as follows:

—Market Beef: Champion, Samantha Haley; reserve champion, Charles Haley; senior first, Kya Csapo; senior second, Mallory Kendle; senior third, Raelana Moore; intermediate first, Maverick Kendle; junior first, Javen Jentes; and junior second, Judd Pitts.

—Beef Breeding: Champion, Owen Bailey; reserve champion, Madison Wade; senior first, Noah Stoll; senior second, Eleanor Davis; senior third, Kate Johnson; intermediate first, Eliza Davis; and intermediate second, Hannah Stoll.

—Dairy: Champion, Carissa Pittman; reserve champion, Caroline Raber; senior first, Mallory Kendle; senior second, Lexie Palker; senior third, Jake Howman; intermediate first, Avery Ostarchvic; intermediate second, Brielle Burchett; intermediate third, Matthew Taylor; junior first, Jud Pitts; junior second, Natalie Shold; and junior third, Joseph Sloan.

—Dog: Champion, Sarah Hagan; reserve champion, Presley Hoff; intermediate first, Margo Johnson; and junior first, Caroline Raber.

—Market Goat: Champion, Emma Connelly; reserve champion, Brynlee Bolinger; senior first, Makenna Connelly; senior second, Olivia Warren; senior third, Addyson Connelly; intermediate first, Lydia Sylvestri; intermediate second, Matthew Taylor; intermediate third, Riley Mullet; junior first, Reagan Mullet; junior second, Jud Pitts; and junior third, Javen Jentes.

—Goat Breeding: Champion, Brynlee Bolinger; reserve champion, Lydia Sylvestri; senior first, Olivia Warren; senior second, Anna Silvestri; senior third, Noah Stoll; intermediate first, Riley Mullet; intermediate second, Hannah Stoll; junior first, Sara Hagan; junior second, Kenna Edington; and junior third, Reagan Mullet.

—Horse: Champion, Marlee Freeman; reserve champion, Samantha Yost; senior first, Jaelynn Warren; intermediate first, Thea Steiner; intermediate second, Maisyn Petersheim; intermediate third, Amanda Stands; junior first, Emily Bowling; and junior second, Elizabeth Pyers.

—Poultry: Champion, Megan Tenney; reserve champion, Brielle Boston; senior first, Julianna Plessinger; senior second, Madison Wade; senior third, Brianna Boston; intermediate first, Elena Plessinger; intermediate second, Lydia Silvestri; junior first, Colton Plessinger; and junior second, Jud Pitts.

—Sheep Breeding: Champion, Brynlee Bolinger; reserve champion, Kendra Rehm; senior first, Brynn Shearer; senior second, Eleanor Davis; intermediate first, Elena Plessinger; intermediate second, Brock Shearer; and intermediate third, Mallory Johnson.

—Market Lamb: Champion, Brynlee Bolinger; reserve champion, Kendra Rehm; senior first, Brynn Shearer; senior second, Makenna Connelly; senior third, Owen Bailey; intermediate first, Brock Shearer; intermediate second, Mallory Johnson; intermediate third, Elena Plessinger; and junior first, Elizabeth Pope.

—Swine: Champion, Caroline Raber; reserve champion, Makenna Connelly; senior first, Emmalee Connelly; senior second, Emma West; senior third, Addyson Connelly; intermediate first, Lena Kline; intermediate second, Caleb Mairs; intermediate third, Eliza Davis; junior first, Corbin Burchett; junior second, Grayson Burchett; and junior third, Brayden Mairs.

—Market Rabbit: Champion, Kendra Rehm; reserve champion, Payton Hoff; senior first, Jenna Zimmerly; senior second, Megan Tenney; intermediate first, Adrianna Bowling; intermediate second, Lena Kline; intermediate third, Logan Shold; junior first, Zackary Schrock; junior second, Presley Hoff; and junior third, Jason Schrock.

Wayne County Granges sponsored the four-year, eight-year and last-year pins presented to 4-H members.

Star Club Awards went to Canaan Country Cousins, Clinton Lads ‘N” Lassies, Country Critters, Country Strong, Cream of the Crop, Dalton-Big 4, Smithie Whiz Kids and Wayne County Trailblazers.