Awards presented at 80th annual banquet
The 80th annual Watonwan County 4-H Awards Banquet was held on Sunday, October 25, at the St. James VFW. The host clubs – Fieldon Rustlers, Golden Gleaners and Nifty Thrifty – elected to focus the banquet around a birthday theme.
According to Sue Craig, Watonwan County 4-H Program Coordinator, the annual awards program began by recognizing youth who had earned Achievement Awards. Members may apply for this award recognition in one or two projects of which they believe they excelled.
Following are awards results for Watonwan County 4-H Club members from Butterfield, Odin, Ormsby, Mountain Lake and Darfur, as released by Craig.
Outstanding Club
+ Gold (1st) – Speedway Builders.
+ Silver (2nd) – Fieldon Rustlers.
+ Bronze (3rd) – Golden Gleaners.
+ First-Year Members – Destiny Bolte, Ava Lepp, Isabelle Penner and Noah Wolle.
+ 10-Year Members – Nicole Goblirsch of the Darfur North Star and Lukas Pierson of the Speedway Builders.
+ Adult Volunteers of 1, 3, 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 years – Nancy Ringen of the Speedway Builders (Three-Year Adult Leader), Sarah Ammann of the Speedway Builders (Three-Year Adult Leader), Connie Goblirsch of the Darfur North Star (10-Year Adult Leader), Sheila Pierson of the Speedway Builders (10-Year Adult Leader) and Andy Pierson of the Speedway Builders (10-Year Adult Leader).
+ Clover Award (once-in-a-lifetime award recognizing work of the recipient in their club and at the county level) – Matt Koenig, Karl Koenig and Natalie Goblirsch of the Darfur North Star and Theo Evers, Aiden Penner, Ian Penner and Ryan Pierson for the Speedway Builders.
+ Outstanding Youth Leaders – Walker Regier and Nicole Goblirsch of the Darfur North Star; Gabby Nett, Michael Nett, Elizabeth Pankratz, Heather Pankratz, Lydia Sargent and Sara Craig of the Golden Gleaners and Ryan Blomgren, Liana Blomgren, Jorja Lepp and Lukas Pierson of the Speedway Builders.
+ Junior Youth Leaders – Mark Quiring and Sara Quiring of the Speedway Builders.
Special General Project Awards
+ Demonstrations – Senior, Cara Teigum; Junior, Sara Quiring and Beginner, Kiera Kirchner.
+ Crafts – Mark Quiring.
+ Safety – Lukas Pierson.
Individual Exhibitors in the Livestock Divisions
+ Rabbit – Destiny Bolte.
+ Poultry – Liana Blomgren.
+ Golden Barn Award (presented to the Specie that works best as a team) – Goat Project members.
Federation Officers for 2015-2016
+ President – Liana Blomgren.
+ Vice-President – Alissa Voyles.
+ Secretary – Cara Teigum.
+ Treasurer – Lukas Pierson.
+ Youth Representatives – Walker Regier and Kinzee Miest.
+ State Ambassador – Walker Regier.
+ 4-H Meritorious Service Award (initiated in 1962 by the County 4-H Leaders’ Federation for the purpose of recognizing individuals and families who make outstanding contributions to the Watonwan County 4-H program) – Bruce and Kim Clement.
