By Janet Pfromm

4-H Coordinator

Achievement Day didn’t start out too promising but as time drew near, the clouds parted and the sunshine came out! Thank you to all who attended the annual 4-H awards ceremony at Cook’s Park in Greene on Sunday, Oct. 2. Food, friends, and fellowship kept most of us warm as we gathered to recognize those members, clubs, and volunteers who are such key pieces in our organization. For those who did not attend, here’s what you missed:

Club Secretary Recognition: Lindsay Franklin, Teen Council; Susan Graham, Valley Busters; Wyatt Austin, Livestock Club; Emma Ives, Guilford Carry-On; Nathan Turrell, Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers

Club News Reporter Recognition: Devon Ireland, Guilford Carry-On

Public Presentation Recognition for the clubs that had at least 75% of their membership participate in the annual public speaking contest. Recipients were Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers and Guildford Carry-On.

Recognizing the hard work that goes into promoting the 4-H Program, the Promotional Club Awards, reward those clubs that create 4-H awareness in their communities. Congratulations to Guilford Carry-On and Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers, who was also awarded the Top Promotional Club award as well.

Club awards also carried into other areas. The Al and Thelma Evans Top County Fair Club Award is awarded to the club with the most in-depth participation at the Chenango County Fair. The award is in memory of long time 4-H supporters Albert and Thelma Evans who gave so much to the 4-H program. The 2010-2011 recipient is Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers, who also received the Harry L. Case Top Club Award for the club that exhibited the most exhibits at the Chenango County Fair.

Community service continues to be a 4-H cornerstone and this year’s activities illustrate how well the 4-H program is doing in helping our members to become thoughtful, considerate citizens. The Charles and Palma Goodwin Community Service Awards highlight those clubs that participate in community service projects. The following clubs received recognition for their work: Teen Council, Guildford Carry-On, Valley Busters, and Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers, who were also named Community Service Club of the Year.

Meeting all of the requirements for club work, the following clubs were awarded Club Champion status within the Chenango County 4-H Program: Teen Council, Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers, Guilford Carry-On, Livestock Club, Valley Busters, and The Leafy Green Clovers.

Junior Champion Awards, recognizing the top juniors in the Chenango County 4-H Program, with each recipient receiving a $100 campership to the 4-H camp of their choice: Morgan Carpenter, Independent Membership, and Katelyn Brandt, Livestock Club. Katelyn was also recognized as the top junior member for the 2010-2011 program year and was awarded the Julie K. Blanchard Junior Achievement Award.

County Medals are nationally recognized awards that are awarded to those youth that excel in all of the different project areas that 4-H offers. The following members received these awards:

Emma Ives: Clothing & Textiles, Fashion Revue, Healthy Lifestyles, Foods, Horticulture, Public Speaking, Leadership, Achievement

Courtney Lewis: Clothing & Textiles, Fashion Revue, Leadership, Public Speaking, Healthy Lifestyles, Community Service

Micaela Brandt: Clothing & Textiles, Fashion Revue, Agriculture, Poultry, Goats, Judging, Achievement

Justin Wade: Community Service, Citizenship, Public Speaking, Achievement

Katelyn Brandt: Clothing & Textiles, Fashion Revue

Samantha Stilson: Public Speaking, Healthy Lifestyles, Leadership

Peter Robinson: Foods & Nutrition, Horticulture, Citizenship, Dairy

Shelby Benjamin: Horticulture, Photography

Noah Ives: Dairy Judging, Citizenship, Teen Leadership

Jacob Brandt: Sheep, Goats, Achievement

Taylor Wolf: Public Speaking, Citizenship, Community Service, Achievement, Horse, Leadership

Morgan Carpenter: Beef, Pet Care, Poultry

Katlin Smith: Dairy Judging, Community Service

Scott Smith: Dairy Judging, Teen Leadership, Community Service

Joe Smith: Dairy Judging, Community Service

Lorraine Buser: Horse

Gunnar Giordani: Horse

Hailey Brace: Horse

Ryan McGowan: Horse

Nathan Turrell: Horse, Beef, Poultry, Sheep, Swine, Public Speaking, Agriculture, Community Service, Achievement, Leadership

Our 4-H teens are also recognized for their hard work with Awards Trips. Partially sponsored by the Chenango County 4-H Leaders’ Association, the following teens who will be representing Chenango County 4-H on the following educational trips:

Justin Wade and Nathan Turrell who will be attending the Agri-Business Career Conference at SUNY Cobleskill to learn about opportunities in agriculture and agri-business.

Peter Robinson and Jacob Brandt who will be attending the Capital Days trip to Albany to observe our state government process, meet their local legislators, and tour the government complex.

Courtney Lewis and Emma Ives who will be attending the Career Exploration Trip to Vermont to learn more about different career options in the home economics field.

Rounding out the youth awards at Achievement Day were the Leadership and Achievement Awards for those teens who perform outstanding project work, attain overall accomplishments, and demonstrate leadership qualities and abilities though out one’s 4-H career. Receiving the Otis A. Thompson Leadership Award was Noah Ives while Micaela Brandt received the Frank E. Skinner Leadership Award. Receiving the Warren E. Eaton Achievement Award was Nathan Turrell while Emma Ives received the J.C. Estelow Achievement Award.

Just like our 4-H members work towards yearly certificates and pins, we present certificates and pins to our volunteers who have reached milestone years in their 4-H volunteering experience. We are proud to present 34 Milestone Awards this year. Your energy and dedication is tremendous and we are inspired by the work you do.

First Year – Bronze Clover

Brian Graham – Valley Busters

Kristi Gorrell – Unadilla Valley Cloverbuds

Samuel Walrod - Valley Busters

Kristen Rumovicz – Unadilla Valley Cloverbuds

Kathy Austin – Livestock Club

Lori Ericksen – Teen Council

Robin Mizrahi – Livestock Club

Linda Franklin – Teen Council

Kenneth Formato – Oxford After-School

Rebecca Daubert – Guilford Carry-On

Benjamin Hinman – Oxford After-School

Lori Hoyt – Guilford Carry-On

Alyssa Mundy – Oxford After-School

Joshua Crawford – Aunt Pat Brook

BJ Ross – Oxford After-School

Nicole VanSteenburg – Aunt Pat Brook

Ashley Tewksbury – Oxford After-School

Karen Hoffman – Independent Study

Mary Montenegro – Independent Study

Meg Parfitt – Independent Study

Wendy Dee Lambert – Independent Study

Sandy Jones – Independent Study

Joe and Cookie Shepard – Independent Study

Philip Myers – Independent Study

Fifth Year

Deb Nowalk – Independent Study

Erin and Steven Graham – Valley Busters

Christine Kalin – Valley Busters

Shawn Chase – Teen Council

Penne Wolf – Hidden Ponds Horse Lovers

Tenth Year

Donna Burton – Independent Study

Cindy Brace – Can-Do Equestrians

Twenty Year

Jody Chase – Teen Council

Outstanding Volunteer Awards were awarded based upon nominations from those involved with the 4-H program. Congratulations to the following people for their hard work and dedication:

4-H Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to an individual who has given 10 years or less of dedicated service to the Chenango County 4-H program. This volunteer can always be found behind the scenes making sure everything runs smoothly when it comes show time. Her knowledge of computers and her patience with people is second to none. Thank you for everything you do to make our 4-H Horse Program successful. Congratulations and thank you to our Volunteer of 2011, Brenda McGowan, Can-Do Equestrians!

4-H Lifetime Volunteer Award is presented to an individual who has given more than 10 years of dedicated volunteer service to the Chenango County 4-H Program. Our lifetime volunteer of the year is someone who recognizes our members for their exceptional work during the county fair in the Case Building. Building upon a legacy of 4-H volunteerism given to her from her parents, Barton and Charlotte, this volunteer continues to help “make the best better” in Chenango County and further the complexity and quality of domestic projects in our program. From her volunteerism in the community and her dedication as a 4-H supporter, a long overdue thank you is in order for our 2011 lifetime Volunteer of the year, Karlee Myers, Smyrna, NY.

4-H Alumni Award is presented to a 4-H Alumnus who has given back to the Chenango County 4-H Program through volunteer, monetary, and/or skilled labor support. There aren’t enough words to describe the enormous contribution 4-H alumni make to our program and this year’s award winner is no exception. From opening the barn doors in the summer for dairy judging contests, to supporting one of the largest 4-H clubs in the county, to always having time to talk farming and cows whenever he sees you, this 4-H alum exemplifies the qualities that the 4-H program hopes to instill in all of its members. Thank you Oscar Robinson for supporting and continuing to be a part of Chenango County 4-H!

Friend of 4-H Award is presented to an individual, group or business that has supported the Chenango County 4-H Program through their contribution of time, materials, service, and or monetary support. Chenango County 4-H has never looked more stylish thanks in large part to one local business. Whether it be head gear or those “make your eyes cross” tye-dyed shirts, Chenango County 4-H is sure to be noticed. Thank you Joe Herrick, Joe’s Shirt Shack, for all of your continuous support, we look forward to a wonderful friendship in the future.