CUSTER COUNTY–The Custer County 4-H Recognition Night was held virtually via zoom on Friday, November 19. The event is sponsored annually by the Nebraska State Bank and Trust Co. and Arrow Seed Co., Inc., in conjunction with the Nebraska Extension in Custer County.
“4-H members and volunteers work very hard all during the year on projects, on leadership activities, and so we have our 4-H Recognition Night at the end of every year to recognize those people. We recognize members for their years in the 4-H program. We recognize volunteers for their years of service. Then we have some special awards that 4-Hers apply for: their applications are judged and then they receive recognition for that,” Custer County 4-H Aide Colleen Peterson told KCNI/KBBN.
The 2021 Outstanding 4-H Leader Award was presented to Jen Dalrymple. Jen is serving as the organizational leaders of the Tail Twisters 4-H Club. This award is sponsored by the Custer County 4-H Council and the Nebraska 4-H Foundation.
The 2021 “Friend of 4-H” for business was awarded by the Custer County 4-H Council to Dave Birnie, KCNI/KBBN, for conducting interviews with 4-H’ers at the county fair and livestreaming various shows and events.
“We’ve had the pleasure of visiting every year all around the 4-H kids and the one thing we’ve enjoyed and I’ve enjoyed especially because I’ve probably spent the most amount of time out there is the kids. They are so polite, well-mannered young gentlemen and women and I think that’s one thing that has motivated me every year to go out because we get to talk to these wonderful kids that are so nice to be around, so respectable,” Birnie said.
Colleen Peterson, Extension Educator Troy Walz, and 4-H Council President Jeff Witthuhn surprised Dave Birnie on the Get Up and Go Breakfast Show to present him with a plaque as a thank you for his work with the 4-H program via interviews, radio coverage, and recent livestreaming.
The 2021 “Friend of 4-H” for individuals was awarded to Beryl & Tracy Popp. Beryl and Tracy have been a part of the 4-H program on various levels for many, many years.
The Joyce Clarke Memorial Community Service Award was presented to the Great Connections 4-H Club for their excellence in 4-H community service projects during the past year.
The Leo C. Cooksley Memorial Award was awarded to Karla and Darla Nichols for their leadership and citizenship contributions to the 4-H program.
Peterson said the Cooksley family decided to give out two awards this year and said the Nichols twins have contributed so much to the 4-H program.
“The Leo C. Cooksley Memorial Award is based on leadership and citizenship that young adults have shown during the county fair,” Peterson said. “They’ve just been instrumental in all of their 4-H projects and very willing to help.”
Two and five year members received membership pins. 4-H leaders received recognition for their 2, 5, 10, 15, 25, and 30 years of service.
The following 4-H’ers received awards:
Outstanding 4-H Member Karla Nichols
Champion All-Around Exhibitor Maysa Jones
Champion 4-H Clothing Exhibitor Maysa Jones
Champion 4-H Home Environment Exhibitor Karla Nichols
Best All-Around 4-H Home Economics Exhibitor Maysa Jones
Champion 4-H Foods Exhibitors Jaide Chandler
Most Improved 4-H Shooter Ryker Staab
Top 4-H Shooter Dylan Glendy
Top 4-H .22 Shooter Dylan Glendy
Rabbit Medal Faith Rehbein
4-H Beef Hardluck Award Bailey Christen
4-H Hardluck Award Alexander Goodner
Angus Breed Money: Kali Nelson, Maysa Jones, Breken Rynearson, Braxon Rynearson, Addison Dalrymple, Brexton Ostrand, Charli Pandorf
Hereford Breed Money: Kaycee Nelson, Mahaya Jones, Miles Babcock, Kaygan Witthuhn, Emma Stallbaumer, Maggie Peterson, Keelyn Shea
Charolais Breed Money: Brant Schmidt, Regan Babcock, Halie Racicky, Emmalee Bartak, Rylee Schmidt
Simmental Breed Money: Garrett Porter, Braxon Rynearson, Chase Racicky, Taylin Tobias,
Kaygan Witthuhn, Keelyn Shea, Emersyn Palmer
Shorthorn Breed Money: Kaedun Goodman, Tripp Oxford, Lainey Palmer, Lauryn Hardy, Miles Babcock
Club with the largest percentage of members in the 4-H Public Speaking Contest: Ansley Jr. Livestock 4-H Club
Nebraska 4-H Club of Excellence Awards: Four Valleys 4-H Club, Great Connections 4-H Club
Diamond Clover Awards: Brinley Bachman, Maci Waters, Raylee Bachman, Avery Harder, Maysa Jones, Estrella Neujahr, Alex Berghorst, Mahaya Jones, Faith Rehbein, Karla Nichols
Peterson said after the first of the year the 4-H council will begin organizing programs, open 4-H enrollment, and put out a list of projects and calendar of events.
FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Colleen Peterson, 4-H Aide
Nebraska Extension in Custer County
Phone: (308) 872-6831
