Kendall County 4-H honors youth at 2018 Awards Night

Note: The annual Kendall County 4-H Achievement Night news will be published in multiple segments. Please look for more youth awards and volunteer recognition in next week’s issue.

Kendall County 4-H honored youth members across the county for their project achievement, citizenship and leadership at the 2018 4-H Achievement Night on Friday, Nov. 16 at Plano High School.

“This year’s event celebrated accomplishments in the 2017-18 program year,” said Kim Eisnaugle, Kendall County 4-H Youth Development program coordinator. “We are grateful for the supportive groups who help us recognize 4-H members’ efforts each year.”

Local 4-H members received special honors from the county or state 4-H program, or through awards provided by the local or state 4-H Foundations, local businesses, organizations and families.

Experience Awards

4-H members may complete the Experience Level Recognition form at the end of each program year. Members check off the experiences they achieved during the year in the four dimensions: participation, community service, leadership and project learning. There are also areas for club, county, multi-county, state and national experiences.

“Illinois 4-H challenges youth to try new things, experiment in project areas they may enjoy, and explore opportunities around the state and country,” said Eisnaugle. “The 4-H Experience Award recognizes youth who excel in that challenge.”

Five Kendall County 4-H members were honored at the Celebrating Excellence award reception Oct. 20 in Champaign. They are Ethan Heidrich and Julian Heidrich, both of Oswego, and Lydia Oker of Sandwich, all for emerald level in leadership, and Emily Reppy and Sydney Reppy, both of Yorkville, for emerald status in project work.

For the 2017-18 4-H year, Kendall County 4-H members also earned gold, silver or bronze status:

Gold medal winners: Brayden Caraynoff-Huber of Minooka, Jessica Carlson of Plano, Lilianna Casbarian of Montgomery, Lizzy Franzen of Somonauk, Jordan Goebel of Sandwich, Abi Munar of Plano, Annie Ralston of Yorkville and Madilyn Wietting of Joliet.

Silver medal winners: Leah Burscheid of Sandwich, Alexa Del Toro of Plano, Rachel Dickson of Bristol, Brooke Hite of Minooka, Regan Iorfida of Montgomery, Jessica Nelson of Plano, Maura O'Brien of Minooka, Ava Rittgers of Yorkville, Sarah Roberts of Plano, Kassandra Speerly of Newark, Elizabeth Vickery of Bristol, Nathanael Vickery of Bristol, Abigail Way of Plano, Brady Wietting of Joliet, Kailynn Wietting of Joliet, and Angeleah Wyncoop of Plano.

Bronze medal winners: Madisyn Glenn of Oswego and Lauren Roberts of Plano.

Special Awards

Emily Reppyof Seward Kids and Critters 4-H Club received $200 for the Smith Leadership Award, given in memory of J. George and Ann Smith. She also earned the A. Stephen Paydon Memorial Leadership Award. She received $100 and it is sponsored by Diane Becker, Martha Pranga, Anita Drinkall and Linda Muehling. In addition, she received the Doser Family Memorial Award, which is based on excellence in visual arts or horticulture, for at least three years. She received a plaque and $50. It is sponsored by the Doser and Schnitz families.

Sydney Reppy of Seward Kids and Critters 4-H Club received the Thelma J. Paydon Memorial Award and $100. It is sponsored by Diane Becker, Martha Pranga, Anita Drinkall and Linda Muehling. She also earned the Clara Miller Memorial Achievement Award from the Kendall County 4-H Foundation, and received $50 and a plaque.

The Marbry Gabel Home Economics Award was awarded to Lydia Oker of Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club. Sponsored by Mardel and Gary Robinson, it recognizes a top 4-H member enrolled at least four years in at least two of these projects: foods, clothing, child development, health and interior design. The winner receives $100.

Kailynn Wietting of Denim and Dust 4-H Club earned the Horse Award from Renegades, Rebels and Rogues 4-H Club. She received $50.

William Davis of Newark (Millbrook Mighty Ones) took home the McEachern-Biffi Intercultural Award, sponsored by Joan McEachern, for outstanding project work and cultural studies. He received $50 and a plaque.

The Rushton Memorial Citizenship Award, sponsored by Ruth Satorius, was earned by Lydia Oker and by Julian Heidrich (Barn and Beyond 4-H Club). They each received a citizenship pin for all-around citizenship in 4-H, at school and in their community.

The Nelson Memorial Agricultural Award was given to Lydia Oker for outstanding work in animal science. She received $50 and a plaque, both sponsored by the Kendall County 4-H Foundation.

The Kendall County Association for Home and Community Education (HCE) Foods Award was awarded to Kassandra Speerly, who received a “Taste of Home” Betty Crocker Cookbook. The HCE Clothing Award was given to Annie Ralston, who received a set of sewing shears and supplies. The group also provided a felt banner for 4-H pins to each 4-H members in the first year of the foods or clothing projects.

The Monkemeyer Memorial First-Year Achievement Award was earned by Brady Wietting of Denim and Dust 4-H Club. He received a 4-H scrapbook.

Secretary of the Year went to Brooke Hite from Seward Kids & Critters 4-H Club for excellent attendance records and meeting minutes. She received a 4-H notebook set from the Kendall County 4-H Foundation.

The Treasurer of the Year Award, sponsored by Heartland Bank & Trust, went to Leah Burscheid of Little Rockets 4-H Club. She received a calculator. The award is based on neatness, completeness, and accuracy of the club treasury book.

Records Awards

Individuals Who Earned Pins: Brayden Caraynoff-Huber, Alexa Del Toro, Lizzy Franzen, Madisyn Glenn, Jacqueline Harvey, Sofie Heidrich, Brooke Hite, Macy Krempski, Emily Manning, Abi Munar, Kylie Maratea, Lydia Oker, Annie Ralston, Sydney Reppy, Lauren Roberts, Sarah Roberts, Kassandra Speerly, Ty Steffen, Toby Steffen, Augie Staudacher, Nathanael Vickery, Abigail Way, Cole Wheeler, Hayden Wheeler, Molly Wheeler, Kailynn Wietting, and Madilyn Wietting.

Individuals Who Completed Records: Leah Burscheid, Grant Bohr, Kristen Bohr, Branden Bohr, Maddie Canada, Rachel Dickson, Jordan Goebel, Regan Iorfida, Emma Konicek, Katelin Konicek, Maggie Konicek, Lucas Kwiatkowski, Nathaniel Kwiatkowski, Elaine Manning, John Murray, Keira Maratea, Chance Ness, Naomi Ramirez, Elizabeth Vickery, Brady Wietting, Angeleah Wyncoop, Serafina Wyncoop, and Theophilus Wyncoop.

Additional Youth Recognition

First-year Members: (by club) Barn & Beyond – Tug Staudacher; Boots, Blue Jeans & Bows – Alivia Kellogg, Natalie Nelson, Sophia Rodriguez, and Hannah Severson; Denim & Dust – Brady Wietting; Growing Kids 4-H – Anthony Kaltenecker, Devyn Strike, Zane Strike, and McKenna Wood; Kendall County Country Kids – Madisyn Bertellotti, Joshua Austin Brown, William Gebhart, Addison Kerley, Sage Mahler, Vyvienn O'Connell, Craig Spicher, and Hayden Wheeler; LaMenu Modelle – Madeline Canada, Annabella Lovero, and Naomi Ramirez; Lisbon Town & Country – Leann Monsess, Nathan Swenson, and Zachary Zabel; Little Rockets – Faustina Krysciak, Therese Krysciak, Lucas Miller, and Chris Schweitzer; Manes & Reins – Kelsey Breen; Millbrook Mighty Ones – Rian Hawley; Nothin' But Country – Clayton Anderson, Easton Kempiak, and Rachel Testin; Outbacker Kids – Ava Galban, Mateo Galban, and Madeline Willford; Renegades, Rebels & Rogues – Benjamin Auten, Emma Auten, and Jonathan Auten; Rockin KCs – Nathan Adams, Angelina Barone, Emily Bell, Lindsey Fowler, Teegan Gonyea, Hayden Kirkby, Nathan Persico, and Jocelyn Setina; Spanglish – Lynze Jeffries and Serafina Wyncoop; and Stagecoach Trailblazers – Keira Maratea, Kylie Maratea, Emmalyn Nelson, Kiley Tchebotarev, and Nathanael Vickery.

4-H Teen Federation Members: Jessica Carlson, Madeline Cumbey, William Davis, Julian Heidrich, Emma Konicek, Evie Martin, James Martin, Marcus Motchnik, Lydia Oker, Zach Perkins, Emily Reppy, Sydney Reppy, Ava Rittgers and Ally Rott.

4-H Teen Science Ambassadors: Alyssa Altman, Brayden Caraynoff-Huber, Carter Cumby, Madeline Cumbey, William Davis, Phillip De Garcia, Julian Heidrich, Sofie Heidrich, Thomas Kaufman, Marcus Motchnik, John Murray, Emily Reppy, Sydney Reppy, Alana Sanford, Marcus Sanford, Aimee Snyder, Colby Strohl, Tyler Strohl, Riley Tyron, Angeleah Wyncoop, Corwin Wyncoop, and Zoe Wareman.

For more 2018 4-H Achievement Night news, check additional issues of Record Newspapers, and for more information about 4-H in Kendall County, visit go.illinois.edu/info4hdkk.