Recognition event

The Brookings County 4-H Recognition Event was held Nov.13, at the Brookings County Resource Center.

Brookings County 4-H members celebrated a successful 2017-2018 4-H year with the Annual 4-H Recognition Event on Nov.13. The Recognition Event is an opportunity to reflect on all of the accomplishments during the past 4-H year; additionally, it is a time to recognize 4-H members, adult leaders, parents and 4-H supporters for their outstanding achievement, support, and volunteer efforts throughout the year.

4-H members were selected for awards based on their accomplishments and growth, which they recorded in their 4-H journal. These are annual reports of a member’s 4-H activities, project reports, financial reports for livestock, annual goals and successes, photos and newspaper clippings.

Through their journals, 4-H members are learning many life skills, such as: the value of record keeping, critical decision making and planning for their future in the form of journaling which will ultimately be reflected in a career resume and job opportunities. The journals also offer an opportunity for the 4-H member to reflect on the progress of their goals, and learn from mistakes they have made. This method teaches members about personal responsibility, and the role they play in their own successes.  This is a partial list of winners. 

Project Awards are presented to recognize excellence and growth in specific project areas or community service:

Music Award:  David Pickard, Brookings

Wood Award: Cheyenne VanderWal, Bruce 

Creative & Expressive Arts Award: Alicia Vander Wal, Volga

Companion Animal Award: Micah Overbo, Volga

Dog Award: Lane Thompson, Elkton

Rabbit Award: Cheyenne VanderWal, Bruce

Goat Award: Lane Thompson, Elkton

Poultry Award: Josie Nold, Brookings

Swine Award: Carson Wosje, Volga

Neil Sebring Horse Memorial Award:  Josie Nold, Brookings

Junior Beef Award: Riley Rasmussen, Elkton

Senior Beef Award: Tyler Rasmussen, Elkton

Junior Livestock Feeder Project: Paige Foster, Brookings

Senior Livestock Feeder Project: Tyler Rasmussen, Elkton

Horticulture Award: Cherish Stern, Bruce

Overall Project Awards are presented based on a member’s accomplishments over a number of years in the respective 4-H project areas. 

Overall Junior Family & Consumer Science Award: Brinleigh Mack, Brookings

Overall Senior Family & Consumer Science Award: Cherish Stern, Bruce

Outstanding Junior Record Book Awards: Elizabeth Shultz, Bruce; Dylan Singrey, Arlington

Outstanding Junior Livestock Record Award: Elizabeth Shultz, Bruce

Outstanding Senior Livestock Record Award: Lynn Foster, Brookings

Outstanding Senior Agriculture Record Award: Marie Robbins, Aurora

Young Citizen Awards: Brayton Mack, Brookings; Lauren Taylor, Volga

Future Farmer of Tomorrow Award: Lane Thompson, Elkton

Future Homemaker of Tomorrow Award: Marie Robbins, Aurora

Junior Community Service Award: Kyan Overbo, Volga

Senior Community Service Award: Kaitlin Ruden, Bruce

Club Awards are presented to 4-H clubs, to recognize their incredible works and effort they put forth throughout the year. These awards are sponsored by the Brookings County Community & Family Extension Leaders.

The Club Youth-In-Action Award was awarded to the Bruce Honey Bees 4-H Club for earning more points per member in the Youth-In-Action activities.

The Community Service and 4-H Promotion Award is based on club members and leaders promoting 4-H by playing an active positive role in their communities and participating in community service projects. This year two clubs, the Little Leprechauns and West Sioux II, won 4-H Club awards.

Leader Years of Service Pins:

First Year Leaders: Victoria Holmes, Brookings; Darci IntVeld, Bruce; Mary Nold, Brookings

Fifth Year Leaders: Shannon Rasmussen, Elkton

10th Year Leaders: Mandi Christensen, Badger

15th Year Leader: Julie Petersen, White

20th Year Leader: Deb Ford, Bruce; Terry Wendt, Brookings

In recognition of her upcoming retirement, Susan Vander Wal received an award for 25 years of service as a 4-H staff member. 

The 2018 Friend of 4-H Award:

This award recognizes a supportive and accommodating individual who has supported and dedicated countless hours to Brookings County 4-H. The 2018 Friend of 4-H, Brad Ruden of Bruce, SD, has been a dedicated 4-H professional, volunteer, coach, and parent for more than 25 year. Brad’s never-ending friendship to Brookings County 4-H is greatly appreciated by the program’s staff, volunteers and families.

The awards presented at the Recognition Event, were made possible by several  sponsors including:

Brookings County Community & Family Extension Leaders, Brookings County Farmers Union, Brookings County Farm Bureau, Brookings Home Economists in Home & Community, Brookings County Republicans, Brookings County Leader’s Association, Brookings County Extension Office, East Central Cattlemen’s Auxillary/Association, Fishback Financial, Sioux Valley Energy, Agri Tech, ITC, Medary Acres Greenhouse, Midwest Dairy Association, South Dakota Soybean Association,  Brookings County Leader’s Association, Fischer Poultry, Ellingson Farms, Bobbi Shultz and Daktronics, Karel Williams, Jim and Louise Coull, Pat Moe and  Norris Patrick