Members of 4-H from across Benton County gathered at the First United Methodist Church fellowship hall on November 3 for the annual Recognition Banquet and Awards.
After a banquet provided by 4-H members, University of Missouri Extension staff Amie Breshears and Angie Shepard presided over the awards ceremony.
Benton County Council president Amelia Roberts spoke to the gathering about her year as a Missouri Agriculture Innovator. Roberts made presentations at the Heit’s Point 4-H Camp as well as at the Boonslick Library to educate children about the importance of food safety and the need to “Protect the Plate” from parasites.
Roberts also spoke about her experience at Missouri 4-H Congress held on the MU campus in Columbia. She encouraged other 4-Hers to apply for Congress.
Council secretary Alyssa Boyd spoke to the gathering about her experience at the 4-H Teen Conference held in Columbia. All Arounder member Lexi Wynn also spoke about her experience at the Teen Conference.
Awards were presented to the top Benton County 4-H members. Outstanding Clover Kid was presented to Michael Popp of the Lake Creek Lamplighters 4-H Club. Outstanding Junior 4-Her was presented to Alaina Camirand of the Lake Creek Lamplighters and Outstanding Senior 4-Her was presented to Amelia Roberts of the All Arounders 4-H Club. Outstanding Volunteer was presented to Jennifer Honea of the Homesteaders 4-H Club.
Missouri gives the Gold Seal as the highest rank for a 4-H Club followed by the Silver and then the Bronze Seal. This past year all three Benton County Clubs met the standards for the Gold Seal for 2023-2024: The All Arounders, Lake Creek Lamplighters and Turkey Creek Homesteaders successfully met the requirements for a Gold Seal.
All three clubs also met the Youth Service to Communities Recognition Award: All Arounders, Lake Creek Lamplighters and Turkey Creek Homesteaders all received the highest award, the Purple Seal.
The National 4-H Window Displays were judged by three individuals and were placed as follows; Turkey Creek Homesteaders, first place; All Arounders, second place; Lake Creek Lamplighters, third place.
Awards were presented to Kolton Phillips for State livestock Judging contest; Amelia Roberts for State 4-H Congress; Alyssa Boyd and Alexis Wynn for 4-H Teen Conference; Gus Harper and Charlotte Harper for Move Across Missouri. Gus Harper was the Overall County individual winner. Henry Adler, Connor Roberts, Marshall Harms, Jesse Hash, Grant Kuffman, and Jarrett Phillips all were presented awards for participating in 4-H Camp at Heit’s Point.
Benton County Achievement Day participants included: Henry Adler, Gus Harper, Amelia Roberts and Charlotte Harper, all in the specialty demonstration
“Cooking with Honey”. Gus received third place at the Missouri State Fair contest. Charlotte received first place in the junior division and Amelia received first place in the senior division.
Alaina Camirand gave a general demonstration on “Daily Haircare for Beef Heifers” and a speech on “Why Farming is Important”.
Ryleigh Ives and Kadence Mason received awards for participating in Show Me Wares at the Missouri State Fair.
Awards were presented to Clover Kids who completed their year as a 4-Her: Hunter Camirand, Emma Chamberlin, Braeden Krueger, Michael Popp, Quincy Spinar, Kyler Tinney and Macoy Tinney.
Awards were presented for 4-Hers who completed their projects.
Lake Creek Lamplighters receiving awards included: Serena Bahrenburg, cake decorating and welding; Emilee Barker, rabbits; Alaina Camirand, arts and crafts, beef, cake decorating and livestock judging; Easton Chamberlin, beef and woodworking; Emma Chamberlin, Clovers Kids, arts and crafts and poultry; R. J. Hampton-Schultz, country cured bacon, woodworking, welding; Rhett Harms, arts and crafts, breads, foods, beef, country cured bacon; Charlotte harper, arts and crafts, country cured bacon, photography; Gus harper, arts and crafts, bicycle, country cured bacon.
Elizabeth Heimsoth, floriculture and rabbits; Kayden Howard, arts and crafts and country cured bacon; Mabry Ives, arts and crafts; Ryleigh Ives, cake decorating; Kaelyn Keith, country cured ham.
Wyatt Keith, country cured ham; Presley Keuper, beef; Kadence Mason, poultry; Kendall McLemore, country cured bacon, welding, woodworking; Jarrett Phillips, beef, country cured bacon, livestock judging, horseback riding, photography, welding, woodworking; Kolton Phillips, beef, country cured bacon, livestock judging, photography, horseback riding;
Michael Popp, clover kids, arts and crafts and poultry; Abegayle Roark, arts and crafts, country cured bacon, rabbits, woodworking; Elizabeth Saltsgaver, horse-riding; Lucas Schultz, country cured bacon, welding, woodworking; Weston Smith, poultry, rabbits; Quincy Spinar, clover kids, pee wee bucket calf; Jace Tinney, beef; Leighton Tinney, beef; Kelsey Viebrock, beef; Khloe Viebrock, beef; Ethan Ward, woodworking and quilting; and Shylin Ward, woodworking and quilting.
Those 4-H members from All Arounders who completed their projects included:
Henry Adler, breads, goats, photography, poultry, boiling water canning and arts and crafts; Alyssa Boyd, breads; Jesse Hash, goats; Amelia Roberts, arts and crafts, breads, goats, photography, rabbits, boiling water canning, crochet; Connor Roberts, breads, goats, rabbits, photography, arts and crafts, and boiling water canning; Alexis Wynn, foods and boiling water canning.
Turkey Creek Homesteaders who completed projects included:
Asher Fields, gardening, poultry, rabbits, and woodworking; Titus Fields, Floriculture, gardening, rabbits and science; Veronika Fields, floriculture, gardening, poultry and rabbits; Karina Honea, arts and crafts, goats, floriculture, foods, photography, poultry, rabbits; Klarissa Honea, arts and crafts, goats, floriculture, foods, photography, poultry, rabbits; Clara Valentine, arts and crafts and poultry; LilyAnn Valentine, arts and crafts and foods.
Volunteers were recognized for their work with the various clubs: Amanda Adler, Stan Adler, Mercedes Balke, Thomas Barker, Amber Campbell, Kari Chamberlin, William Chamberlin, Beth Crouch, Candice Fields, Brian harms, Jenny Harms, Joni Harper, Travis harper, Kristie Jonson, Randy Keith, Sarah Keith, Kristen Krueger, Stephanie Ledbetter, Stephanie Louiselle, Brian McLemore, Sara McLemore, Jermy Phillips, Ashlyn Richardson, Gary Roberts, Jill Strozewski, Christina Ward and Sarah Wynn.
Club leaders recognized included: Anita Campbell, All Arounders 4-H Club; Jennifer Honea and Joe Valentine, Homesteaders 4-H Club and Sandra Roark, Angie Camirand, Katie Phillips and Angela Viebrock, Lake Creek Lamplighters 4-H Club.
The 2024-2025 Benton County 4-H Council officers were sworn in at the awards banquet. Those officers include: Connor Roberts, president; Kady Mason, vice president; Alyssa Boyd, secretary, Jennifer Honea, treasurer, Amelia Roberts, reporter, Henry Adler, photographer, Charlotte Harper, parliamentarian.
