MANSFIELD — The Richland County 4-H program had its annual 4-H Honor Program on Sunday, Nov. 10.
Recognition was given to 4-H members, adult volunteers and “friends” of the Richland County 4-H program. The top 4-H member honors were given to Member-of-the-Year recipients: Carson Secriskey, Kaley Bowman, Abigail Secriskey and Anderson Roll.
The Outstanding Service to 4-H Awards, given to 4-H advisors on the basis of excellence in 4-H volunteer leadership on the club and/or county level, were presented to: Jessica Albert, Alicia Fulk and Nichole Foulks.
Meritorious Service to 4-H awards, given to special friends (non-member and non-advisor) of the 4-H program were presented to: Sue Kisling and Marla Reynolds.
Four teenage leaders were recognized with the Outstanding Junior Leader Award for outstanding leadership and service to the county 4-H program.
Honorees included: Two of these teen leaders were recognized with the Junior Leader Merit Award as the top teen leaders in the county for exceptional leadership and service. The honorees were: Sofi Johnson, A.J. Roll, Sarah Smith, and Abigail Secriskey. Junior Leader Merit Award winners were Sofi Johnson and Sarah Smith.
The Camp Counselor Recreational Leadership Award is presented to a select group of 4-H camp counselors who have demonstrated outstanding recreational leadership during the county 4-H camping programs. These counselors have motivated campers and gone the extra mile to get campers involved in various forms of recreation and social development.
Six honorees were recognized for this achievement in 2024: Liam Kuhn, Abby Snyder, Zoe Kuhn, Jack Stephens, Micah Miller and Jack Stover.
The 4-H members receiving recognition for outstanding officer books/scrapbooks included:
PRESIDENT
GOLD: Abigail Secriskey (Roaming Rovers 4-H)
Honorable Mention: Kaley Bowman (Wild-n-Free 4-H) and Vanna Burns (Ring Raiders 4-H).
VICE-PRESIDENT
GOLD: Tanner Beer (Roaming Rovers 4-H).
Honorable Mention: Cailey Fairchild (Bibs & Boots 4-H)
TREASURER
GOLD: Carson Secriskey
Honorable Mention: Mary Thompson (New Edition 4-H) and Katie Crider (Ring Raiders 4-H)
SECRETARY
GOLD: Sarah Smith (Roaming Rovers 4-H).
Honorable Mention: Courtney Howarth (Bibs & Boots 4-H) and Corbin Eldridge (Ring Raiders).
HEALTH AND SAFETY
GOLD: Westen Rehberg (Roaming Rovers 4-H).
RECREATION LEADER
GOLD: Charlie Yoakum and Owen Dolezal (Bibs & Boots 4-H)
HISTORIAN/NEWS REPORTER
GOLD: Brooklyn Gilger (New Edition 4-H)
Honorable Mention: Persephone von Ehrenkrook (Roaming Rovers 4-H)
All 4-H clubs have the opportunity to attain the gold, silver banner or bronze banner award distinction based on officer reports, project completion, member attendance, public speaking participation, health and community service activities, parent/family involvement, member/advisor training and community awareness/promotion.
The Gold Banner Club award was given to the Roaming Rovers (Shelby) 4-H Club. Silver Banner Award was presented to the Bibs & Boots (Shelby) 4-H Club.
There were 45 youth honored as recipients of the county’s 58 county medal awards. These awards are given for outstanding project and/or activity achievement. The 2024 recipients and the category(ies) won:
Mariah Barciz – Foods & Nutrition
Marissa Barciz – Gardening & Horticulture
Bryson Bays – Sheep
Shelby Bays – Sheep
Tanner Beer – Poultry
Anna Blanton – Rabbits
Beau Blanton – Poultry
Kaley Bowman – Foods & Nutrition, Family Life, Achievement
Makenna Burkhart – Photography
Vanna Burns – Alpaca
Carson Cook – Swine
Reece Cook – Sheep
Tynley Cook – Goats
Katie Crider – Alpaca
Deborah Crouch – Public Speaking
Laura Dick – Agriculture
Lily Eckenwiler – Health
Bry Francis – Veterinary Science
Ryder Frech – Beef
Sean Funk – Personal Development
Brooklyn Gilger – Foods & Nutrition
Lillian Heydinger – Rabbits
Alivia Hicks – Poultry
Sofi Johnson – Safety/Safety Education, Leadership, Achievement
Weston Lacey – STEM
Liam McVey – Goats
Lelia Meyers – Pet Care
Kinleigh Nickell – Natural Resources
Westen Rehberg – Public Speaking, Poultry
Gracie Rodman – Health
AJ Roll – Leadership
Fin Rowlands – Veterinary Science, Achievement
Katelyn Schiffer – Rabbits
Abigail Secriskey – Public Speaking, Achievement, Leadership
Carson Secriskey – Wood Science, Citizenship, Achievement
Amery Sexton – Foods & Nutrition
Charleigh Sherman – Dog Care & Training, Citizenship
Hayden Skropits – Personal Development, Horse
Sarah Smith – Safety/Safety Education, Leadership
Chloe Stigall – Clothing & Textiles
Payton Stover – Horse
Evan Stuart – Safety/Safety Education
Mary Thompson – Goats
Sarah Turner – Family Life
Aurelian von Ehrenkrook – Natural Resources/Shooting Sports
The 4-H members in attendance were given recognition for completion of their 4-H project year. The Richland County 4-H Committee presented membership pins to youth with ten or more years of membership:
10-year 4-H members: Aubrey Holly, Kyleigh Biglin, Selah Ogle, Payton Stover, Hadley Williams, Madeline Miller, Micah Miller, Taylor Wolf, Raya Walter, Courtney Howarth, Sadie Howarth, Caroline Martin, Haiden Newmeyer, Camryn Gowitzka, Jack Cotter, Charlotte Niese, Sam Fairchild, Logan Hoffman, Allie Shrader, Sarah Smith, Sawyer Eshelman, Reece Cook, Lillian McClain, Abigail Secriskey, Carson Secriskey
11-year 4-H members: Allyson Arnold, Wade Bolin, Braden Boyer, Madison Boyer, Caleigh Cook, Morgan Cook, Dakota Craner, Isaiah Crouch, Samantha Darling, Cailey Fairchild, Kassie Kleman, Maggie Lantz, Mandee Lantz, Michaela Lantz, Adalie Miller, Audra Music, Molly Parks, Gracie Rodman, Abigail Smith, Abigail Snyder, Makenzie Spoerr, Linzy Weyhmeller
12-year 4-H members: Ryleigh Newsome, Macey Parks, Julia Sickmiller, Jack Stover
13-year 4-H members: Leah Blay, Karsyn Blust, Cadence Fairchild, Mikaela Guegold, Sofia Johnson, Ashley Markley, Kelsey Snyder
14-year 4-H members: Allyson Cook, Deborah Crouch, Caroline Tilton
Adult volunteers were recognized for their years of service to the 4-H program. Special awards were given to advisors with 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 or more years of service.
Five years of volunteer service: Cristy Crider, Crystal Eldridge, Sumer Newsome.
Ten years of volunteer service: Natasha Hummel, Christine Lynch, Andrew Parks, Chad Reynolds, Amy Skropits, Mike Spoerr, Kelcie Chance.
Fifteen years of volunteer service: Hannah Crouch, Sue Cook, Andrea Hart, Stephanie Lewis.
Twenty years of volunteer service: Eileen Eisenhauer, Stephanie Gulley, Monica Robinson.
Twenty-five years of volunteer service: Pat Janisch.
Thirty or more years of service: Carole Kirkpatrick (30), Cathy Gardner (40 years), Diana Kelley (41 years).
Sofi Johnson and Deborah Crouch, retiring 4-H members, served as Mistresses of Ceremonies. Sponsors for the 2024 Honor Program included: BlueScope, OSU Extension – Richland County, Mansfield Noon Optimist Club, Kisling Educational Fund, Villard Educational Grant Fund, Fritos Lay Company (Wooster) and the Richland County 4-H Committee.