4-H’ers Recognized for Achievements

The annual Grant County 4-H recognition event took place Sunday, November 6. Members received awards for their contributions to the program this past year.

Five youth successfully completed their 4-H careers and graduated from the program. Recognized for this achievement were: Brianna Schreurs, daughter of Stuart and Karen Schreurs; Rebekah Tuchscherer, daughter of Dale and Ann Tuchscherer; McKenzie Mertens, daughter of Darin and Lesa Mertens; Zachary Sousa, son of Joe and Karen Sousa; and Kiera Leddy, daughter of Donnie and Krecia Leddy.

Every year Grant County 4-H Leaders award scholarships to youth enrolled as full-time students continuing their education. The scholarship is limited to one per student over the course of their college education. This year’s Grant County 4-H Leaders scholarship recipients are Brianna Schreurs of the Junior Busy Bees 4-H Club, McKenzie Mertens of the Young Explorers 4-H Club, and Cara Berkner of the Madison Jr Livestock 4-H Club.

Each year individuals, businesses, or organizations are also recognized for their contributions to the program. “We are blessed when a family participates in the 4-H program, their children graduate from the 4-H program, and they continue to offer a lending hand year after year,” stated Sara Koepke, local 4-H Youth Advisor. The first Friend of 4-H award went to the Mike Dockter family and Jordan Dockter. “The Dockter family can always be found helping – from moving panels to assisting youth in the ring during Achievement Days- they are ready. To top it off, they help guide youth into new project areas.”

The second Friend of 4-H award was presented to the Kevin and Suzanne Souza family and Haley and Ryan Anderson. “One word to describe these people is ‘mentoring’,” said Koepke. “They have guided five Grant County 4-H members in preparing animals for our Achievement Days. Their mentorship has inspired our youth to set a goal of starting their own operation sometime in the future. They have encouraged members to be spokesmen for the industry and provided positive messages to our community.”

Several individual awards were presented to top members in Grant County. This year marked the tenth anniversary of the Outstanding Beginner award. “This award is based on the record book along with other criteria and graciously sponsored by Donnie and Krecia Leddy,” said Koepke. Cailey Sime of the Junior Busy Bees Club was named Outstanding Beginner.

The Diane Frevert Memorial award was started in 1995 and is given to the top 4-H member 12 years old and under – one for a girl and one for a boy. Earning the award were Cassidy Schwagel and William Karels. “Cassidy created wonderful memories ranging from community service projects to showing her animals. She plans to show dairy cows next year. William takes pride in his community service projects, such as teaching youth about healthy living and bike safety. He looks forward to completing his electricity project.”

The Kay Wolff Youth-In-Action Memorial Award was presented to Hope Karels. Wolff was a leader of Stateline Dairy and Livestock and a promoter of various youth programs.

The Family Consumer Science, Personal Development, Agriculture, Achievement and Key Awards are a step beyond the project medals and represent an added degree of overall achievement in an area of 4-H. The recipients must be 14 years old, have received at least three project pins, and show leadership involvement in their annual report. Kylee Mogen and Rebekah Tuchscherer received the county achievement award medal.

Kadon Leddy was given the Schmig’s Simmental Genetics award. The award is sponsored by Dennis Schmig and is given to an outstanding 4-H member involved in the beef or dairy project.

The Grant County Top Horseman award is presented to a junior and senior 4-H’er. “They must submit their 4-H record book to be eligible and a point system is used based on county and state horse show participation, 4-H rodeo, Youth-in-Action activities, and leadership activities,” explained Koepke. This year’s Junior Top Horseman award went to Brooke Schwagel and Bailey Storm was named the Senior Top Horseman.

In 1995, the family of Arlene Dockter established a memorial award in honor of Arlene, who was a long-time 4-H leader in Grant County. Claire Mischel was presented with the award in the Senior Western Stock Seat.

Each year, 4-H Shooting Sports is offered to non-4-H and 4-H members. This past year, 46 youth participated in either or both archery and BB gun disciplines. In the shooting sports, 31 youth competed at State 4-H Shooting Sports in Fort Pierre in April.

Volunteers John Schwagel, Chris Mursu, and Twila Mursu presented the top beginner award to Casside Seezs. The top junior award was given to Shaylee Pekelder and Mariah Madsen. The top senior award went to Noah Steinlicht.

The Grant County 4-H Shooting Sports Spirit Award recognizes a youth who attends practices, shows enthusiasm for the project area, and improves at the sport. This year’s recipient for BB gun, air pistol, and air rifle was Cassidy Schwagel.

Archery volunteers, David Cizaldo, Denny Amberg, Bill Weller, and Jason Karels gave the top archery beginner award to Hope Karels. William Karels earned the top junior archery award and Katie Mogen was named the top senior. The Grant County 4-H Spirit Award for archery went to Danielle Kasuske.

During Achievement Days each club is judged daily by volunteers on the herdsmanship of their animals. Clubs presented with the Herdsmanship awards were: Beef – Young Explorers; Dairy – Shooting Stars; Dairy Goats – Young Farmers; Meat Goats – Young Explorers; Poultry – Young Explorers and Young Farmers; Rabbit – Junior Busy Bees and Kountry Kids; Sheep – Kountry Kids; and Swine – Madison Jr. Livestock.

The 4-H Cloverbud program exists as a distinctive component within the 4-H youth development program. It is designed as a non-formal approach to developing the confidence, social skills, decision making abilities, subject matter knowledge, and physical skills of youth ages 5-8. Six new Cloverbuds were presented a certificate. They were:Mason Locke, Macy Mueller, Devin Pekelder, Lily Pekelder, Taylor Anderson, and Micah Tostenson. Cloverbuds who have been part of the program for more than one year include Tayton Reede, Bailey Schwagel and Bradyn Wienk.

Grand champion and showmanship awards were presented to youth who earned top honors in their livestock divisions. Award winners were: Kadon Leddy, champion breeding beef, champion market beef; Sage Lawrence, champion cat, beginner dairy goat shomanship, junior dairy goat showmanship; Cara Berkner, champion kitten, champion chicken, senior dog showmanship; Kendra Schweer, champion dairy heifer, senior dairy showmanship; Jersey Peschong, champion dairy cow; Allison Leddy, champion market meat goat; Dylan Bohn, champion breeding meat goat, champion meat goat rate-of-gain; Rebekah Tuchscherer, champion waterfowl; Sydney Zenk, champion rabbit; Taylor Dragt, champion breeding ewe, champion breeding ram, senior sheep showmanship; Jasmine Smith, champion market lamb, champion sheep rate-of-gain; Kiera Leddy, champion swine; Isaac Sousa, champion beef rate-of-gain; Garrett Mertens, beginner beef showmanship, beginner swine showmanship; Korbin Leddy, junior beef showmanship; Karlee Mertens, senior beef showmanship; Brooke Schwagel, beginner cat showmanship, beginner horse showmanship, beginner poultry showmanship, beginner rabbit showmanship; Cassidy Schwagel, junior cat showmanship, junior horse showmanship, junior rabbit showmanship; Noah Steinlicht, senior cat showmanship; Kaden Schweer, beginner dairy showmanship; Colten Giesen, junior dairy showmanship; Mason Locke, beginner dog showmanship; Korbin Leddy, junior dog showmanship, junior meat goat showmanship; Bailey Storm, senior horse showmanship; Cailey Sime, beginner meat goat showmanship; Tanner Schwagel, junior poultry showmanship; Callie Bolin, senior rabbit showmanship; Noah Thompson, beginner sheep showmanship; Daniel Thiele, junior sheep showmanship; Lindsey Mertens, junior swine showmanship; Katie VanderWal, senior swine showmanship, round robin showmanship winner, and William Mischel, showman of excellence winner.

Wrapping up the awards were youth who received project pins and premium monies for their ribbon placings for their static exhibits during Achievement Days as well as various other service pins and awards. Awards were:
Ethan Adolph, 1st year pin, premium award; Devon Balling, silver award, fashion revue youth in action, community service pin, premium award; Jimmie Berkner, 10 year pin, leadership pin, premium award; Cara Berkner, 10 year pin, goat pin, welding pin, premium award; Tatum Berry, bronze award, premium award; Dylan Bohn, consumer decision making judging youth in action, premium award; Callie Bolin, fashion revue youth in action, premium award; Kylene Bowen, dairy judging youth in action, premium award; Matthew Christensen, bronze award, premium award; Taylor Dragt, premium award; Laura Eilers, 1st year pin, premium award; Colten Giesen, gold award, dairy judging youth in action, premium award; Tucker Giesen, 1st year pin, premium award; Cooper Hupke, 1st year pin, premium award; Hailey Hupke, bronze award, premium award; Sarah Jarman, premium award.

Hope Karels, bronze award, consumer decision making judging, dairy judging, fashion revue & public presentation, special foods youth in action, premium award; William Karels, 5 year pin, consumer decision making judging, dairy judging, fashion revue & public presentation, special foods youth in action, citizenship pin, communications pin, food presentation pin, health pin, home environment pin, shooting sports pin, premium award; Sage Lawrence, silver award, cat pin, dog pin, goat pin, horticulture pin, photography pin, rabbit pin, visual arts pin, premium award; Allison Leddy, 5 year pin, livestock judging youth in action, premium award; Kadon Leddy, livestock judging youth in action, consumer education pin, premium award; Korbin Leddy, 5 year pin, livestock judging youth in action, citizenship pin, consumer education pin, premium award; Kiera Leddy, premium award.

Mason Locke, premium award; Sage Locke, premium award; Elias Magilke, citizenship pin; Garrett Mertens, bronze award, livestock judging youth in action; Karlee Mertens, premium award; Lindsey Mertens, 5 year pin; Tanner Mertens, 5 year pin, livestock judging youth in action, premium award; Logan Meyer, consumer decision making judging youth in action, music pin, premium award; Claire Mischel, gold award; Marion Mischel, premium award; Kathryn Mogen, 5 year pin, premium award; Kylee Mogen, premium award, public presentation youth in action; Devon Mueller, 1st year pin, premium award; Macy Mueller, premium award; Noah Mursu, shooting sports pin, premium award; Owen Neeley, silver award, wood science pin, food presentation pin, premium award; Alex Pekelder, 1st year pin, premium award; Lily Pekelder, premium award; Myles Pekelder, 1st year pin, premium award.

Jersey Peschong, premium award; Abigail Pillatzki, 1st year pin, premium award; Allison Pillatzki, community service pin, premium award; Jessica Pillatzki, silver award, premium award; Josh Pillatzki, silver award, premium award; Nathan Pillatzki, bronze award, premium award; Tracy Pillatzki, 5 year pin, community service pin, premium award; Elyse Reede, bronze award, consumer decision making judging & fashion revue youth in action, premium award; Hunter Reede, 1st year pin, premium award; Tayton Reede, premium award; Kasi Schlueter, gold award; Brianna Schreurs, leadership pin, premium award; Shaylee Schuchard, 1st year pin, premium award; Bailey Schwagel, premium award; Brooke Schwagel, bronze award, consumer decision making judging youth in action; Cassidy Schwagel, gold award, consumer decision making judging youth in action, premium award; Tanner Schwagel, premium award.

Kaden Schweer, 1st year pin; Kendra Schweer, premium award; Jennifer Seehafer, premium award; Casside Seezs, silver award, horse pin, shooting sports pin, food preservation pin, premium award; Cailey Sime, silver award, consumer decision making judging, special foods & fashion revue youth in action, community service pin, premium award; Jasmine Smith, dairy judging youth in action, premium award; Isaac Sousa, 5 year pin, horse pin, premium award; Noah Steinlicht, consumer decision making judging youth in action, premium award; Bailey Storm, 10 year pin, gold award, horse pin, premium award; Lydia Street, bronze award, fashion revue youth in action, premium award; Averi Sweezey, 1st year pin, premium award.
Angel Talsma, 1st year pin; Jordan Thiele, 10 year pin; Nadia Thue, 1st year pin, premium award; Aimee Thyne, 10 year pin; Rebekah Tuchscherer, leadership pin, premium award; Marnie Van Lith, 1st year pin, premium award; Mai Van Lith, bronze award, livestock judging youth in action, premium award; Katie VanderWal, gold award; Ava Wienk, silver award, community service pin, premium award; Bradyn Wienk, premium award; Connor Wiik, bronze award, premium award; Sydney Zenk, gold award, clothing pin, horticulture pin, photography pin, rabbit pin, visual arts pin, premium award; Hailey Zinter, bronze pin, fashion revue youth in action, premium award.