CUSTER COUNTY – The 2023 Custer County 4-H Recognition Program took place on Sunday, November 19 at the Custer County Fairgrounds.
“I Pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health to better living, for my club, my community, my county, and my world.”
The 4-H Motto: “To Make The Best Better” The motto encourages each member to do their best and improve the next time so their “best” becomes “better.”
Results of the 4-H Council Election were announced following a virtual election:
District 1 – Northeast: J.D. Keefe
District 2 – NorthCentral: Luke Smith
District 3 – Northwest: Jen Schmidt
District 4 – East Central: Matt Peterson
District 5 – Central: Sarah Bartak
District 6 – West Central: Peter Pelster
District 7 – Southeast: Michelle Nelson
District 8 – South Central: Jake Rosentreader
District 9 – Southwest: Jeff Witthuhn
Youth Girls Repsenentative: Alex Berghorst
Youth Boys Representative: Emmet Grint
Leaders, 4-H members, and volunteers were thanked and applauded for their hard work and awards were also distributed. Members were recognized for their years in the 4-H program. Volunteers were also recognized for their years of service.
2 Year Leaders: Mark Lorenz, Janet Neaterous, Darla Nichols, Karla Nichols, and Louie Ropers
5-Year Leaders: Anson Bumgarner, Jacy Kramer, J.D. Keefe, Orville Vincent and William Wiiest
10-Year Leaders: Douglas Bazyn, Christy Berghorst, Colleen Peterson, and Shannon Rehbein
15-Year Leaders: Colleen Zaptin
25-Year Leaders: Kelly Saner, and Marla Stallbaumer
30-Year Leaders: Peggy Carda, Carol Croghan, and Theresa Wiiest
The following 4-H’ers received awards:
Champion All-Around Exhibitor: Maysa Jones
Champion 4-H Clothing Exhibitor: Izabella Shields
Champion 4-H Home Environment Exhibitor: Faith Rehbein
Best All-Around 4-H Home Economics Exhibitor: Faith Rehbein
Champion 4-H Foods Exhibitor: Addy Stump
Most Improved 4-H Shooter: Ashlyn Wardyn
Top 4-H Shooter: Coy Wardyn
Top 4-H .22 Shooter: Riata Remund
4-H Beef Hardluck Award: Kade Smith
HARDLUCK: Kade’s steer, Hank, died of unknown causes. He was super gentle and Kade was fond of him. This was his first year so you could about imagine a little boy being super upset when he found him dead. Luckily, there was a backup steer that he could have. Elvis became Kade’s. Kade loved him too, and Elvis worked well for Kade. Together they had a great fair. Kade would have enjoyed showing Hank and wished he had. Kade is a member of the Middle Loup 4-H Club.
4-H Hardluck Award: Jacob Cheek
HARDLUCK: Jacob’s dog Lilly went missing 1-1/2 to 2 weeks before the county 4-H dog show. They still have not found her and do not know what happened to her. Lilly was Jacob’s Advanced Graduate Novice and Showmanship dog. Jacob has been showing Lilly since he started 4-H dogs. Even with her missing, he came to practice with his second dog, Charlie. He continued to work with Charlie and support the other 4-Hers in the club. All year, he’s been a big help with setting up agility equipment and putting it back in the trailer. Lilly and Jacob worked hard to get into Advanced Graduate Novice. It’s one of the more advanced classes and this would have been her last year to show due to both of their ages. She was greatly missed by the whole club.
Governor’s Agricultural Exlenece Award: Dog Gone Fun Club
Leadership Medals: Lyndsie McAuliff
Swine Medal: Avery Harder
Beef Medal: Maysa Jones
Clothing Medal: Maysa Jones
Angus Breed Money for Registered Breeding Heifers: Breken Rynearson, Kali Nelson, Kaycee Nelson, Maysa Jones, and Breken Rynearson
Market Steers: Addison Dalrymple, Kali Nelson, Elliot Spanel, Brexton Ostrand, Olivia Ostrand, Taryn Blakeman
Hereford Breed Money for Registered Breeding Heifers: Mahaya Jones, Abby Stallbaumer, Kaygan Witthun, Mahaya Jones, Kaycee Nelson
Market Steers: Kaycee Nelson, Emma Stallbaumer, Addison Stump, Avery Ostrand, Kaygan Witthun
Charolais Breed Money for Market Steers: Regan Babcock, Cordale Christen, Kirby Viter, Jenna Bartak, Paisley Seda
Market Heifers: Taylin Tobias
Registered Breeding Heifers: Paisley Seda
Simmental Breed Money for Registered Breeding Heifers: Riggin Flies, Alli Smith
Market Steers: Kade Smith, Riggin Flies, Maci Smith, Charli Pandorf, Rex Grint
Shorthorn Breed Money for Market Steers: Tripp Oxford, Lainey Palmer, Maggie Peterson, Emersyn Palmer
Commercial Breeding Heifers: Addison Stump, Miles Babcock, Jaylin Young, Rileigh Beran
Club with the largest percentage of entries in the 4-H Public Speaking Contest: Burr Oak 4-H Club (Leader: Charmayne Popp; Members Participating: Lillian Gregoski and Lucy Martin)
Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence Awards:
Four Valleys 4-H Club
Great Connections 4-H Club
Diamond Clover Awards:
Level 1-Amethyst: Ty Valdez
Level 2-Aquamarine: Leah Cox
Level 3-Ruby: Izabella Shields, Aryn Ross
Level 5-Emerald:: Mahaya Jones, Lyndsie McAuliff
Carol Croghan was awarded the Outstanding 4-H Leader Award.
The Friend of 4-H Award is given to individuals/businesses who continue to make great contributions to the Custer County 4-H Program. Two recipients were selected for 2023: Kinsy Ryan and Wayne Slingsby and Family.
The Joyce Clark Memorial Community Service Award was founded in August 2017 after Joyce Clark Passed away. The club that gets the award must live up to the 4-H Pledge by putting their “hands to larger service”, for their club, their community, the country, and the world. The Joyce Clark Memorial Award went to Tail Twisters 4-H Club and Western Riders 4-H Club.
The Leo C. Cooksley Memorial Award was awarded to Katie Olson.
Before the closing statements, Kyla Olson spoke about how the council decided on one more recipient for the Friends of the 4-H award. Colleen Peterson was given the award with a special gift to thank her for the many hours she put in.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Colleen Peterson, 4-H Aide
Nebraska Extension in Custer County
Phone: (308) 872-6831
