Hancock County 4-H members were recognized for their yearlong project achievements at the annual Hancock County 4-H Achievement Program on Tuesday, Oct. 3, at the Hancock County Extension Office in Carthage. For 4-H members, the annual achievement program brings to a close a full year of work in a project area. Records are typically completed in the fall, which gives youth the opportunity to detail and summarize their 4-H project experience, while allowing them to reflect and make plans for the upcoming project year.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge, led by Hancock County 4-H Federation members, Cloverbuds who submitted 4-H records were recognized. Those recognized were Lauralyn Caron, Lynnley Corzatt, Isaac Dixon, Kinley Ritter, Gabriel Whitaker, Jed Whitaker, and Joey Wilhelm. Cloverbuds is a 4-H exploratory program for youth ages 5-7, which promotes healthy positive youth development and is a springboard into the traditional 4-H program.

Following Cloverbuds, individual project award applicants were recognized. The individual project award application asks 4-H members to reflect on their experience, identify successes and challenges in their project area, and offer suggestions for future plans in the project area.

Applicants receiving project award pins included: Danielle Beeler- Beef, Foods and Nutrition, Photography; Nick Beeler- Beef, Dogs, Entomology, Foods and Nutrition, Swine, Woodworking, Visual Arts; Lilyana Bliss- Animal Science, Child Development, Entomology, Family Heritage, Leadership, Swine, Visual Arts; Avalee Caron- Beef, Visual Arts; Anna Dixon- Clothing, Foods and Nutrition, Visual Arts; Emily Dixon- Communications, Intercultural; Darby Edmunds- Visual Arts; Elizabeth Hubbard- Rabbit; Maci Huls- Horses; Parker Jacquot- Visual Arts; Quinn Jacquot- Visual Arts; Lily Lionberger- Child Development, Floriculture, Photography, Visual Arts; Alexis Lucie- Photography, Veterinary Science, Visual Arts; Courtney Lucie- Photography, Visual Arts; Sierra Lucie- Child Development, Communications, Leadership, Photography, Visual Arts; Levi Martens- Visual Arts; Moriah Martens- Foods & Nutrition; Selah Martens- Foods & Nutrition; Kaleb Mohr- Aerospace, Crops, Dogs, Horticulture, Sheep; Emma Morey- Floriculture, Foods and Nutrition; Josiah Morey- Entomology, Foods and Nutrition, Visual Arts; Isabella Newton- Intercultural; Karlee Rampley- Visual Arts; Ezekiel Whitaker- Computer Science; Emily Wilhelm- Visual Arts.

Outstanding project awards were presented in the following areas: Beef – Avalee Caron; Child Development – Lilyana Bliss; Entomology – Lilyana Bliss; Foods and Nutrition – Anna Dixon, Moriah Martens, Selah Martens; Photography – Courtney Lucie, Sierra Lucie; Visual Arts – Darby Edmunds, Alexis Lucie, Courtney Lucie, Sierra Lucie, and Emily Wilhelm.

4-H members who were recognized for completing livestock records for the 2022-2023 year included Danielle Beeler, Nick Beeler, Avalee Caron, Kaleb Mohr, and Emily Wilhelm. Nick Beeler and Emily Wilhelm were selected to receive Outstanding Livestock Record awards.

Following livestock record recognition, 4-H members who submitted their permanent records were recognized. In permanent records, members document their leadership, service, growth, involvement in school, church, community, and 4-H.

The following 4-H members were recognized for submitting permanent records: Danielle Beeler, Nick Beeler, Lilyana Bliss, Avalee Caron, Nolan Corzatt, Anna Dixon, Emily Dixon, Mariah Dixon, Darby Edmunds, Elizabeth Hubbard, Maci Huls, Zander Huls, Parker Jacquot, Quinn Jacquot, Lily Lionberger, Alexis Lucie, Courtney Lucie, Sierra Lucie, Aaron Martens, Eden Martens, Levi Martens, Moriah Martens, Selah Martens, Addison McClellan, Kylie McClellan, Kaleb Mohr, Emma Morey, Josiah Morey, Karlee Rampley, Ezekial Whitaker, and Emily Wilhelm. Outstanding permanent record awards were presented to Nolan Corzatt, Levi Martens and Danielle Beeler.

The 4-H Experience Award offers recognition for members who participate in activities and events and are awarded based on age and level of experience. Kaleb Mohr received the Bronze Experience Award, Danielle Beeler, Nick Beeler, and Josiah Morey received Silver Experience Awards, and Emma Morey received the Gold Experience Award.

Hancock County 4-H Federation is comprised of junior high and high school members from throughout the county who commit to serving their fellow 4-H members through leadership, citizenship and service. The 2022-23 Federation members include: Danielle Beeler, Logan Bollin, Carter Hitz, Luke Jacquot, Olivia Johnson, Kase Kohlmorgan, Joshua Lionberger, Josiah Lionberger, Lily Lionberger, Alexis Lucie, Courtney Lucie, Sierra Lucie, Emma Nelson, Alivia Rose, Lainey Sullivan, and Emma Whitaker.

Following the recognition of 4-H Federation members, several special awards were presented, including Outstanding 4-H Club Treasurer to Connor Roskamp, Outstanding 4-H Club Secretary to Emma Morey, and Ten Year Record Completion to Sierra Lucie.

The final award at the 2023 Hancock County 4-H Achievement Program was the Dannen Latherow Merit Award. This award is given in memory of Dannen Latherow, 4-H member of the HHHH (Happy, Handy, Healthy, Helpers) Club, who was tragically killed in an accident in 1999. Among Dannen’s favorite 4-H experiences was showing Angus cattle at the 4-H fair each year. In Dannen’s memory, the Hancock County Farm Bureau donates a trophy each year to a livestock exhibitor who displays exemplary conduct, sportsmanship and generosity at the fair, along with keeping a clean exhibit area. This year’s recipient of the Dannen Latherow Livestock Merit trophy was Emma Whitaker.

Following the announcement of the Dannen Latherow Merit trophy winner, Hancock County 4-H club leaders received recognition for their service during the past 4-H year. Leaders for 2022-23 include: Ryan Jacquot and Lauren Koehler, Basco Firecrackers; Karen Bisby, Teresa Guymon, and Cinda Brodie, Burnside Rising Stars; James and Holly Whitaker, Chili Rising Suns; Bill and Brigit Hollis, Hamilton Busy Beavers; Jeff and Natalie Lionberger, LaHarpe 4-Leaf Clovers; Karen Beeler, Cindy Roskamp, and Chris Wollbrink, Lincoln Land; Michelle Merritt, Project Pals; Jordan and Shelby Rauch, Livestock Judging SPIN Club; and Bob and Shellee Fecht, Shooting Sports SPIN Club.

The Hancock County 4-H Achievement Program signifies completion of the 2022-23 4-H year. The 2023-24 4-H year is now underway, and members are encouraged to reach out to club leaders for a meeting schedule for the upcoming program year.

For more information about the Hancock County 4-H program, call 217-357-2150 or email Madeline Davis [email protected].