Grant County 4-H Members and Volunteers Honored

Grant County 4-H members and volunteers were honored for their outstanding accomplishments on Sunday, November 7. The annual event was held at the Milbank High School.

Bailey Schwagel received the Kay Wolff Youth-in-Action award, which goes to a member based on their participation in Youth-in-Action activities at a local, state, and national level. Bailey also won the Top Horseman Award, which recognized her involvement in the 4-H Horse Project. 

Emily Van Hoorn was this year’s recipient of The Tanner Schwagel Sportsmanship Memorial Award. The award is sponsored by Tanner’s parents, John and Hilary Schwagel, and recognizes those who demonstrate great character and sportsmanship. 

Colten Giesen received the 4-H Livestock Award. The award is sponsored by Semex Genetic and Greg and Andrea Bohn to honor a 4-H member for their involvement with animals and agriculture. 

Tucker Giesen was the recipient of the Pat Seehafer Memorial Award based on his hard work, responsibility, and bond with his horses.

This year’s Friends of 4-H award winners were Dick Schwandt and the Milbank Fire and Rescue Department for their continued support and willingness to lend an extra hand to the local program.

Two 4-H volunteer leaders — Angie Bowen and Wayne Meyer — were each  honored for five years of service.  
Mackenzie Mueller was selected for the Outstanding Beginner Award sponsored by Donnie and Krecia Leddy. The award recognizes a youth between 8 and 10 years old who has made significant accomplishments in the given year.

Hunter Reede and Bailey Schwagel were each recipients of the Diane Frevert Award which is presented to the 4-H junior boy and girl for their 4-H record book accuracy. 
The Grant County 4-H Leaders Scholarship Award supports a 4-H member as they leave for college. This year’s recipient was Allison Leddy.
Grant County 4-H graduates in 2021 were Matthew Christensen, Colten Giesen, Allison Leddy, Lindsey Mertens, Logan Meyer, and Elizabeth Smith. In addition, the program recognized the family of Tanner Schwagel as a graduating 4-H member.

Other awards included:
Cloverbuds: Elsie Anderson, Paxten Anderson, Adalynn Bohn, Elliana Bump, Zachary Bump, Oliver Folk, Oscar Folk, Kolsyn Gortmaker, Heidi Halbert, Thomas Hicks, Anakin King, Renner Kram, Kehaulani Lunsford, Braden Mueller, Hudson Mueller, Elsie Peterson, Baylor Peterson, Anna Rubey, Casen Rubey, Emersyn Schwagel, Bennett Schwandt, Stetson Sumner, and Addison Van Lith.
Members were recognized for their participation, achievement, and project awards.
Dane Anderson, Gold pin and Premium award; Gunnar Anderson, Bronze pin and Premium award; Kenzey Anderson, Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Taylor Anderson, Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Bryton Blauert, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Dylan Bohn, Photography pin, Premium award; Tenley Bohn, Bronze pin, Goat pin, Premium award; Kylene Bowen, Premium award, Youth in Action award.

Matthew Christensen, 10 year pin, Dog pin, Foods and Nutrition pin, Community Service pin, Hobbies and Collections pin, Premium award; Laura Eilers, Shooting Sports pin; Shantel Eilers, Sheep pin; Colten Giesen, Beef pin, Premium award; Tucker Giesen, Premium award; Justus Gortmaker, Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Kalli Grong, Five year pin, Premium award; Kendra Grong, Bronze pin, Premium award; Darin Hagen, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Hannah Halbert, Premium award. 

Hope Karels, Horticulture pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; William Karels, 10 year pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Zane Kilde, Community Service pin; Abbigail Larson, One year pin, Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Sage’ Lawrence, Premium award; Korbin Leddy, 10 year pin, Wildlife & Fisheries pin; Achilles Lunsford, One year pin, Bronze pin, Premium award; Katana Lunsford, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Aubree Madsen, One year pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award.

Jackson Marko, One year pin, Premium award; Megan Marko, Gold pin, Foods and Nutrition pin, Premium award; Garrett Mertens, Swine pin; Logan Meyer, 10 year pin; Marion Mischel, Premium award; Joshua Moen, 1 year pin, Bronze pin; Katelynn Moen, 1 year pin, Bronze pin; Cooper Mueller, 1 year pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Devon Mueller, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Mackenzie Mueller, Rabbit pin, Visual Arts pin, Community Service pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Macy Mueller, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Owen Neeley, Premium award.

Bailey Nolting, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Bergen Nolting, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Jace Peiker, 1 year pin, Premium award; Devin Pekelder, Poultry pin, Community Service pin, Youth in Action award; Lily Pekelder, Gold pin, Poultry pin, Community Service pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Ryder Peterson Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Ariana Prisinger, 1 year pin, Bronze pin; Elyse Reede, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Hunter Reede, Premium award, Youth in Action award. 

Tye Schaffer, Silver pin, Premium award; Bailey Schwagel, Gold pin, Horse pin, Visual Arts pin, Premium award; Brooke Schwagel, Premium award; Cassidy Schwagel, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Kylynn Schwandt, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Mattison Scott, 5 year pin, Gold pin, Premium award; Casside Seezs, Aerospace & Rocketry pin, Visual Arts pin, Citizenship pin, Poultry pin, Veterinary Science pin, Premium award; Brock Sime, Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Cailey Sime, Citizenship pin, Home Environment pin, Photography pin, Rabbit pin, Shooting Sports pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award. 

Isaac Sousa, 10 year pin, Gold pin, Beef pin; Peyton Sumner, Silver pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Noah Thompson, Silver pin; Nadia Thue, Premium award; Tarah Thyne, Silver pin, Premium award; Kyra Tostenson, Youth in Action award; Micah Tostenson, 5 year pin, Youth in Action award; Emily VanHoorn, Beef pin; Kinley VanHoorn, Poultry pin, Premium award; Macie Van Lith, Food & Nutrition pin, Visual Arts pin, Premium award; Madelyn Van Lith, 1 year pin, Bronze pin, Premium award, Youth in Action award; Marnie Van Lith, Premium award; Mia Van Lith, Home Environment pin, Premium award; Cody Wiik, 5 year pin, Premium award; Connor Wiik, Premium award; Hailey Zinter, Premium award; Kaci Zinter, Bronze pin, Premium award.

The Family Consumer Science, Personal Development, Agriculture, Achievement, and Key Awards are a step beyond the project medals and represent an extra degree of overall achievement in one area of 4-H work. The recipients must be 14 years old, have received at least three project pins, and show leadership involvement in their annual report.Recipients included:Cailey Sime of the Junior Busy Bees 4-H Club received her Agriculture Project Medal. Hope Karels of the Junior Busy Bees 4-H Club received her Family and Consumer Sciences and Personal Development Project Medals.  Casside Seezs of the Northern Lights 4-H Club received her Agriculture Project and County Achievement Medals. William Karels of the Junior Busy Bees 4-H Club and Korbin Leddy of the Madison Jr. Livestock 4-H Club each received their South Dakota 4-H Key Awards.

Photos: #1- Korbin Leddy, Cailey Sime, William Karels, Hope Karels and Casside Seezs. #2- Mackenzie Mueller,Emily VanHoorn, Tanner Schwagel and Bailey Schwagel. #3 Tucker Giesen, Bailey Schwagel, Colten Giesen,Cassidy Schwagel. #4 Wayne Meyer, Angie Bowen, Dick Schwandt. #5 Colten Giesen, Logan Meyer, Elizabeth Smith and Hilary Schwagel.