Better BaC’s repeats as tops in Community Pride honors
The Better BaC’s 4-H Club won the Otoe County 4-H Community Pride Award for the ninth consecutive year.
The award was presented Sunday, Nov. 1, at the annual 4-H Achievement Celebration at the Kimmel Event Center, Syracuse.
Better BaC’s has 14 leaders and 27 members. Projects included: held a drawing to raise money to cement the hog barn (the club members raised more than $500 in the fundraiser), sent Christmas cards to injured soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and sent Easter care packages to soldiers serving in Afghanistan.
NV Helping Hands took second place. The club was third in 2008. It has eight leaders and 10 members.
Projects included: received a $500 Nebraska Investment Finance Authority grant to purchase four recycling barrels to collect plastic bottles during the Otoe County Fair; contributed canned goods and personal hygiene products to the Osage Food Pantry, and picked up trash for the Adopt-a-Highway program twice during the year.
Perky Pals took third place. The club was second in 2008. It has five leaders and 15 members.
Projects included: contributed school supplies to the St. Mary’s Community Hospital school supply drive; assisted Youth and Adults in Action with trash pickup following the Arbor Day and AppleJack parades and shared neighborly cakes for Bake and Take and made May Day baskets for families and teachers.
Receiving Nebraska 4-H Clubs of Excellence awards were: 4-H Mustangs, Better BaC’s, Faithful Following All Stars, NV Helping Hands, North Branch Rancheros, Perky Pals, Southeast Workers, Town & Country Cousins and Wyoming Feeders.
County 4-H’ers recognized for membership
There were 115 Otoe County 4-H’ers honored for 11, seven, four and two years membership at the 4-H Achievement Celebration.
11 years: Quinn Beecham, Madison Cameron, Rachel Clymer, Brandon Essink, Ethan Everett, Nathan Foster, Alex Heng, Jacob Knutson, Jackie Kreifels, Daniel Moles, Emily Moss, Stephanie Rodgers, Blaise Scheef, Mackenzie Scheef, Jessica Shefferd and Hillary Stubbendick.
Seven years: Michael Aksamit, Aaron Aldana, Nicholas Allen, Joseph Bennier, Tyler Berner, Dessi Blacketer, Jacob Burr, Justin Clem, Hannah Dierking, Dalton Dozier, Kaylee Easter, Russell Gott, Emily Harsin, Haley Harsin, Mariah McWilliams, Joshua Peterson, Michael Purcell, Ashlyn Schmidt, Adrienne Shay, Shaley Stephenson, Heather Teten, Skyler Teten, Ryan Teten and Savannah Zimmer.
Four years: Sarah Antes, Kallie Bartling, Autumn Breazile, Alex Breazile, Shelby Burr, Conner Cameron, Sarah Damme, Carly Frazee, Ben Goracke, Kaylee Hartman, Terra Hartman, Trevor Hillman, Austin Jensen, Anna Kastens, Bryce Katen, Courtney Klaasmeyer, Audrey Lausterer, Morgan Leefers, Lauren Lionberger, Hannah Lionberger, Mitchell McWilliams, Kaylee Meyer, Sierra Meyers, Chloe Moore, Logan Mueller, Trey Mueller, Rachael Nordhues, Patrick O’Neil, Emma Porter, Melissa Reuter, Conner Schomerus, Nate Snyder, Adlyn Stubbendeck, Riley Stubbendeck, Nicole Swiercek, Riley Teten, Victoria Welch, Olivia Welch, Sierra Woolsey Wood and Shyanne Zander.
Two years: Caitlyn Carlson, Candice Carlson, Meredith Clark, Brizett Cole, Kaycee Driever, Joshua Fishpaw, Landon Foster, Daymon Francois, Allie Gerking, Anna Gigstad, Aprille Johnson, Lily Kastens, Cassie Katen, Dakota Lane, Nolan Lausterer, Renee Marcotte, Emily Marcotte, Aaron Mead, Madison Mueller, Colton Nichols, Keegan Pope, Grant Powers, Megan Reuter, James Robison, Megan Royal, Chantelle Schulz, Jenna Siefken, Brooke Snyder, Alex Thomsen, Luke Thomsen, Colton Tompkins, Megan Wallman, Alice Wentz, Madeline Werner and Livia Wilhelm.
County 4-H leaders recognized for leadership
There were 41 Otoe County 4-H leaders recognized for 10, five and two years leadership Sunday, Nov. 1, at the annual 4-H Achievement Celebration at the Kimmel Event Center, Syracuse.
10 years: Mary Clark, Kristie Dierking, Gina Essink, Brenda Jensen, Lon Jensen, Russel Moss, John Peterson, Allyson Thoms, Jeffrey Thoms and Marvin Wood.
Five years: Glenda Beckman, David Bennier, Cecilia Dilley, Mark Easter, Tanya Gott, Dave Heng, Susanna Porter, Chuck Porter, Kevin Rohlfs, Patty Schram, Cindy Snyder, Claude Strope, Gay Strope and Sean Throckmorton.
Two years: Keith Bahr, Garry Gillespie Jr., Dionne Gioia, Donald Goracke, Craig Hemje, Janet Johnson, Jerry Kastens, Matthew Lamb, Marilyn Lane, Michael Leefers, Dean Martin, Janice Mueller, Laura Purcell, Lanny Rulla, Mark Trail, Jacqueline Wallman and Chris Wallman.
Otoe County 4-H’ers receive county, district honors
Otoe County 4-H’ers received county and district awards Sunday, Nov. 1, at the annual 4-H Achievement Celebration at the Kimmel Event Center, Syracuse.
OTOE COUNTY MEDAL WINNERS
Rabbit: Garret Talcott and Victoria Talcott. Beef: Garret Talcott. Swine: Garret Talcott. Horse: Austin Jensen. Meat Goat: Austin Jensen. Dairy Goat: Austin Jensen. Communications: Garret Talcott. Fashion Show: Millie Everett, Haley Harsin, Vanessa Knutson, Emily Marcotte, Renee Marcotte, Allison Mead, Becky Scheer, Victoria Talcott and Kylee Werner. Photography: Michael Purcell and Victoria Talcott.
Theatre Arts: Victoria Talcott. Clothing and Textiles: Garret Talcott and Arianna Shay. Consumer Management: Victoria Talcott. Entrepreneurship: Victoria Talcott. Heritage: Garret Talcott and Samantha Parde. Home Environment: Garret Talcott and Samantha Parde. Wildlife: Victoria Talcott. Food and Nutrition: Samantha Parde and Garret Talcott.
Health: Samantha Parde. Citizenship: Victoria Talcott. Leadership: Victoria Talcott. Horticulture: Garret Talcott. Aerospace: Victoria Talcott. Woodworking: Cody Jensen.
4-H horse
advancement levels
To advance to these levels, 4-H’ers have to pass a written test and a skills test on a horse.
Level 1, beginning horseman: Austin Jensen and Shyanne Zander. Level II, intermediate horseman: Dessi Blacketer and Heather Teten.
The Nebraska 4-H Diamond Clover Program
Kayla Arnold earned an amethyst medal for ages 8-9. Earning aquamarine medals for ages 10-11 were Brian Arnold and Jordan Shanks.
The program is designed to encourage 4-H youth to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will enable members to acquire the lifeskills necessary to lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens.
Award books winners who
advance to state competition
Animal science: John Essink.
Communication and expressive arts: Victoria Talcott. Consumer and family science: Victoria Talcott.
Healthy lifestyles: Victoria Talcott.
All received $50 U.S. savings bonds for their career portfolio advancing to state competition.
A 4-H’er can send only two career portfolios to state competition. Talcott will have to choose which two she will send on.
4-H Council Junior Division Clover Award
Jordan Shanks. The $50 Clover Dollars are to be used at any 4-H camp, conference or workshop or materials and is sponsored by the Otoe County 4-H Council.
4-H Council
Senior Division
Clover Award
Michael Purcell, John Essink and Brandon Essink. The $100 Clover Dollars are to be used at any 4-H camp, conference or workshop or materials and is sponsored by the Otoe County 4-H Council.
Other awards
Hard luck award: Austin Jensen. The $50 U.S. savings bond is sponsored by the 4-H Council. Jensen’s hard luck started when his best market and breeding goat got her collar stuck in the chain on the gait and she hung herself. Weeks later, he noticed two goats not acting well. He treated them immediately but both died.
I Dare You award: Rachel Clymer and Brizett Cole. The award is sponsored by the American Youth Foundation. Both received the “I Dare You” book.
Character Counts! award: Austin Jensen. He received a $50 U.S. savings bond from the Otoe County 4-H Council. He was nominated by Benjamin Rice.
Outstanding 4-H’ers
Daniel Moles, Cody Jensen and Jordan Shanks received the Outstanding Otoe County Senior, Intermediate and Junior 4-H’er, respectively.
They were honored Sunday, Nov. 1, at the annual 4-H Achievement Celebration at the Kimmel Event Center, Syracuse.
Moles, senior, received $200 sponsored by the Otoe County 4-H Council. To receive the award, he had to complete the 4-H Career Portfolio with accompanying story, which included his involvement in the 4-H program and activities and leadership experiences.
To receive the award, a 4-H’er must be at least 15 years of age by Jan. 1, must be a 4-H’er for at least five years and can win it only once.
Jensen, intermediate, received a $75 U.S. savings bond sponsored by the Otoe County 4-H Council. To receive the award, he had to complete the 4-H Career Portfolio with accompanying story, which included his involvement in the 4-H program and activities.
To receive the award, a 4-H’er must be 12-14 years of age by Jan. 1, must be a 4-H’er for at least four years and can win it only once.
Shanks, junior, received a $50 U.S. savings bond sponsored by the Otoe County 4-H Council. To receive the award, she had to complete the 4-H Career Portfolio with accompanying story, which included her involvement in the 4-H program and activities.
To receive the award, a 4-H’er must be 11 years of age or younger by Jan. 1, must be a 4-H’er for at least three years and can win it only once.
