Osmond 4-H members and supporters receive awards
PIERCE — The Pierce County 4-H Achievement Day was held on Sunday, Oct. 18, at Christ Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall in Pierce. The 4-H youth and adults participated in bingo.
The program started with The Pledge of Allegiance and the 4-H Pledge being said. The first to be recognized were the 4-H Council members. All were thanked for their years of service, with special recognition for Joan Albers of Randolph, Cam Shelton of Hoskins and Kate Siebrandt of Pierce. These members will be going off of the council this year.
Following tha, the council honored Security Bank of Osmond with the Friend of 4-H Award. Security Bank has supported the Pierce County 4-H program through donations and program support during the fair.
Jennifer Thomsen of Pierce was awarded the Outstanding 4-H Alumni Award. This award is given to a Pierce County alumnus who comes back to 4-H as an adult volunteer and made an impact on the program. Jennifer is a Pierce County Shooting Sports leader, a horticulture superintendent, and she is always willing to help with any project the office may have.
Graduating 4-H members were recognized next. Jenna Albers, Rebecca Albrecht, Zachary Huwaldt, Dustin Jensen, Travis Jensen, Derrick Kolterman, Hayle Krienert, Baylie Shearer, and Mason Sindelar will be graduating in 2021.
Jenna, Rebecca, Zachary, Derrick, Baylie, and Mason were awarded an American Eagle Silver Coin by the Pierce County 4-H Council, for having been enrolled in 4-H for six or more years. This coin replaces the six, eight and 10-year membership pins. Clover Buds, first-year, fifth-year and 10th-year 4-H members were recognized for their years of participating in Pierce County 4-H. These members received certificates and their Clover Bud pencil or respective year pins.
Pierce County 4-H has a long list of leaders and volunteers that help make the Pierce County 4-H Program run smoothly. Volunteers who received special recognition were: one year — Traci Collison, Landon Koehler, Justin Koch, Jason Holan; five years — Kathy Tinker, Darlus McWilliams, Bailey Tinker; 10 years — Craig Flaming, Sarah Hilkemann, Judy Kruger, Marla Huwaldt, Jennifer Fritz, Kristine Wacker; 15 years — Audra Huwaldt, Terri Sudbeck; 20 years — Vickie Dejong, Sharon Johnson, Shari Kruger, Mark Oltjenbruns, Julie Oltjenbruns; 25 years — Chris Hilkemann, Margret Svitak; 30 years — Gloria Kudera; 35 years — Joan Korth, and 45 years — Sharon Lesser.
Four-H youth were also recognized for their work at the Nebraska State Fair, their achievements at the State Shooting Sports contests, their articles published in the Norfolk Daily News Special 4-H Edition, and their participation in the Catch-A-Calf program.
The following awards are given based on the Achievement Application. The Achievement Application provides youth a way to keep track of what they have participated in, given leadership to, and learned through 4-H. Completing the application and submitting it to the Extension Office allows 4-Hers to be recognized and compete for awards at the county and state level. County awards are voted upon by the 4-H Council.
Receiving awards for their 4-H Achievement Applications were: Brandon Thomsen of Pierce for STEM and Sara Thomsen of Pierce for Leadership. The 4-H Event Scholarship was awarded to Brandon Thomsen. The Event Scholarship is a $30 Scholarship sponsored by Security Bank, Midwest Bank of Plainview and Midwest Bank of Pierce, which can be used for 4-H Camps or Kids University Classes. The Day Camp Scholarship was awarded to Sara Thomsen. This Scholarship is for $25 sponsored by the Lower Elkhorn Natural Resources District, which can be used for any Kids University Class. The Outstanding 4-H Achievement Application was awarded to Brandon Thomsen.
Next, the Diamond Clover Awards were handed out. This program encourages 4-H youth to engage in a variety of programs, projects and activities that will enable youth to acquire skills and abilities that will prepare them for success in the future. The program consists of six levels that require a young person to plan and report a broad range of age-appropriate accomplishments. Completing their Diamond Clover plan and report and receiving their certificates and pins are Brandon Thomsen-Level 4 Sapphire Clover and Sara Thomsen-Level 5 Emerald Clover.
The final two awards are the Outstanding 4-H Exhibitor and the Outstanding 4-H Member. The Outstanding Exhibitor is decided by the number of ribbons that a youth receives at the Pierce County Fair. Purples are worth four points; Blues, three; Reds, two, and Whites, one. The 2020 Outstanding 4-H Exhibitor is Matthew Alderson of Osmond with 129 points.
The Outstanding 4-H Member award is decided through an application process and is then voted upon by the 4-H Council Meeting. The 2020 4-H Outstanding 4-H Members were Travis Jensen and Derrick Kolterman. They are always willing to step in and volunteer where needed. Both are role models to younger youth whom they have mentored. Travis and Derrick are both Outstanding 4-H Members.
The Pierce County 4-H Council and Extension office staff would like to extend a thank you to all trophy donors, leaders, volunteers, junior leaders and 4-H members for making the 2020 4-H year a great success. Pierce County had 171 4-H members enrolled with 832 projects exhibited at the Pierce County Fair.
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