4-H awards presented Saturday

Hot Springs County 4-H held their annual Achievement Night Saturday at the Hot Springs County Fairgrounds. Several awards were handed out and attendees were treated to ice cream.

Gold 4-H members recognized include Arin Adams, Remi Adams, Cooper Agar, Rylee Agar, Taylor Agar, Ann Allen, Cody Bomengen, Luke Dickey, Seth Dickey, Silas Dickey, Tymber Eckley, Logan Farrell, Shyanne Jones, Wiley Jones, Alec Martinez, Cameron Martinez, Hallie Martinez, Mac McCumber, Maile McCumber, Owen McCumber, Chase Moeller, Lauren Muench, Dyllan Myers, Talyah Myers, Tanner Myers, Julia Needham, Ruth Needham, Hayden Overfield, Lexi Overfield, Bridger Peil, Hoyt Peil, Blakely Postma, Hannah Ward, James Ward, Will Ward, Ellis Webber, Soren Webber, James Whitt and Stasha Whitt.

Silver members recognized include Zoe Adams, Jillian Christensen, Ava Dafoe, Logan Dafoe, Robert Dafoe, Emma Dean, Riley Dean, Kamryn Farrell, Logan Farrell, Skye Griffin, Nate King, Chloee Owsley, Jayssie Owsley, Talon Owsley and Kaycee Stothart.

Project awards (in order of finish)

Archery: Jr. Hoyt Peil, Cameron Martinez and Soren Webber; Int. Bridger Peil, Ellis Webber and tie between Mac McCumber and Alec Martinez; Sr. Hayden Overfield, Lexi Overfield and Owen McCumber

Beef (breeding): Int. Tymber Eckley, Taylor Agar and Rylee Agar; Sr. Lexi Overfield

Beef (market): Jr. Hoyt Peil, Logan Farrell and Soren Webber; Int. Tymber Eckley, Bridger Peil and Ellis Webber; Sr. Tie between Hayden Overfield and Luke Dickey, Chase Moeller and Will Ward

Cake Decorating: Sr. Hallie Martinez

Crocheting: Int. Dyllan Myers

Dogs: Int. Remi Adams

Fabric and Fashion: Jr. Hannah Ward, Ann Allen and Julia Needham; Int. Ruth Needham

Food and Nutrition: Jr. Cameron Martinez and Hannah Ward; Int. Alec Martinez, Silas Dickey and Mac McCumber; Sr. Luke Dickey and Hallie Martinez

Goats: Int. Remi Adams and Chloee Owsley

Leathercraft: Jr. Cameron Martinez; Int. Alec Martinez

Horses: Jr. Blakeley Postma and Talon Owsley; Int. Tymber Eckley, Maile McCumber and Kamryn Farrell; Sr. Lexi Overfield, Zoe Adams and Arin Adams

Muzzleloader: Int. Silas Dickey; Sr. Lexi Overfield and Hayden Overfield

Photography: Jr. Cameron Martinez; Int. Remi Adams and Talyah Myers; Sr. Lauren Muench

Pistol: Int. Mac McCumber; Sr. Owen McCumber

Poultry: Int. Mac McCumber

Quilting: Int. Alec Martinez

Rabbits: Jr. Skye Griffin

Rifle: Jr. Cameron Martinez and Tanner Myers; Int. Mac McCumber, Seth Dickey and Dyllan Myers

Robotics: Int. Seth Dickey

Sheep (breeding): Jr. Cooper Agar; Int. Tymber Eckley and Rylee Agar

Sheep (market): Jr. Ann Allen, Cameron Martinez and Cooper Agar; Int. Tymber Eckley, Alec Martinez, tie between Silas Dickey and Seth Dickey

Shotgun: Int. Mac McCumber; Sr. Hayden Overfield, Lexi Overfield and Owen McCumber

Swine: Jr. Hoyt Peil, Ann Allen and Blakeley Postma; Int. Bridger Peil, Tymber Eckley and Mac McCumber; Sr. Chase Moeller, Owen McCumber and Zoe Adams

Visual: Sr. Lauren Muench

Wildlife: Int. Alec Martinez

Woodworking: Jr. Cameron Martinez; Int. Alec Martinez

Gwynn Sisters Award is sponsored by Dorothy Milek. Edith Anderson, Nettie Harding, Alma Hayes, Nina Gloyd McCumber and Marjorie Stump, who were involved for many years in 4-H, agriculture, and home economist areas. They served in many areas, from 4-H Club Leaders; to Home Economists; to Extension Club Officers. They were all very active in their communities combining hard work, quality work, and humor into their daily lives. This award is presented to a 4-H member involved in combinations of home economics, gardening and/or agriculture types of projects. The Gwynn Sisters Award is typically presented to a 4-H'er who excels in home economic types of projects &/or a variety of projects for a well rounded 4-H experience. This year's winner is Alec Martinez. Other nominees were Cameron Martinez, Mac McCumber.

Lucerne Valley Community Effort Award is sponsored by Dorothy Milek and is given to honor the people of the Lucerne Valley who have contributed to the greater good of their community and county. Members who reside from the Wakley Subdivision north to mile marker 961 are considered residents of Lucerne Valley. This year's winner is Lexi Overfield. Other nominees were James Ward, Hoyt Peil, Alec Martinez and Ann Allen.

Matt Blakesley Memorial Award is given in memory of Matt Blakesley. Matt was a third generation 4-Her who began showing sheep at the early age of 2. His grandmother, mother, and father were all 4-H leaders. He received a degree in Ag Communication and Animal Science. He fought a valiant fight with Meningeal Hodgkin's disease and died at the young age of 32. This year's winner is Cooper Agar. Luke Dickey was also nominated.

Don and Glenna Tippets Memorial Award: Don and Glenna Tippets lived in Hot Springs County for a number of years. Don Tippets was the Hot Springs County Ag Agent for 21 years, retiring in 1969. He was known to have an especially good rapport with youngsters and touched the lives of most of the youth in Hot Springs County during his years of service. The legacy of Don's positive impact on 4-H youth continues with this award given every year in his honor. Traditionally, this award is presented to a Hot Springs County 4-H member who has been active in community pride projects, either as an individual &/or as part of a group. This year's winner is Bridger Peil. Other nominees were Zoe Adams, Arin Adams and Hayden Overfield.

Hard Luck Story: This award is one the 4-H hopes they don't have to present. This is based on the Hard Luck Story written by a 4-H member involving a project disaster. For example, the death of a project animal or the wood working shop burning with the project inside, etc., qualifies for the award. The Hard Luck Award acknowledges the unforeseen, unfortunate, and unanticipated events that can, and do, occur in life including the lives of 4-H members. This year's winner is Tymber Eckley. Ann Adams was also nominated.

Central Bank and Trust Leadership Award: Central Bank and Trust is proud to partner with the 4-H program. They want to recognize those members that have demonstrated examples of leadership. Making the best better starts with the smallest efforts to be a leader, maybe sharing a smile, opening a door for someone, helping another member with a project, passing out necessary materials, or leading a meeting, we need to work to be prepared to be leaders in our community and country. The following 4-Hers gave examples of their leadership efforts in the past year. Jr: Tie for 1st, Hoyt Peil and Soren Webber; Int.: Ellis Webber and Bridger Peil; Sr.: Lexi Overfield and Hayden Overfield.

Best First Year Record Book: Blakeley Postma. Other nominees were Skye Griffin, Jillian Christensen, Talon Owsley and Tanner Myers.

Overall Best Junior Record Book: Hoyt Peil . Other nominees were Blakeley Postma, Soren Webber and Cameron Martinez.

Overall Best Intermediate Record Book: Bridger Peil . Other nominees were Alec Martinez, Remi Adams, Tymber Eckley, Ellis Webber, Rylee Agar and Taylor Agar.

Overall Best Senior Record Book: Lexi Overfield. Other nominees were Hayden Overfield, Arin Adams and Zoe Adams.

Rate of Gain Market Beef: Hayden Overfield 3.79 lbs./day, Paisley Logan 3.73 lbs./day and Logan Dafoe 3.66 lbs./day

Rate of Gain Market Swine: Cody Bomengen 2.14 lbs./day, Brayden Jones 2.12 lbs./day and Brayden Jones 2.05 lbs./day

Rate of Gain Market Sheep: Logan Dafoe .88 lbs./day, Owen McCumber .86 lbs./day and Robert Dafoe .83 lbs./day

Rate of Gain Market Goat: Remi Adams .49 lbs./day, Arin Adams .42 lbs./day and Chloee Owsley .38 lbs./day

This year Pinnacle Bank was honored as the Friend of 4-H. They have been a supporter of 4-H for many years. They have provided the meal for the Jr. Livestock Auction, the main course for Achievement night and many other things that are too numerous to mention.

Heath Overfield was named as the 4-H Leader of the Year. Comments about Overfield included "He stepped up this past year. If anyone needed help with their project, or a ride or just some encouraging words, he was the man. Heath is one of a kind. He always has a smile and a laugh, and says good job."