The Benton County 4-H Ambassadors held their Candy Cane Event a couple Mondays ago during their holiday break from school, bringing together laughter, friendly competition, and holiday cheer. The night gave ambassadors the opportunity to connect, build friendships, and enjoy hands-on games—along with plenty of memorable Saran Wrap fun.

Ambassadors rotated through a variety of candy cane–themed challenges throughout the evening, adding a playful spirit of competition. One of the most anticipated moments was the crowning of the Ambie Cane Champion. This year’s title went to Eli Rademacher of Sauk Rapids, who earned the honor of taking home the Angel Cane trophy and having his name added to its history.

“I really enjoyed the games and the friendly competition,” Rademacher said. “Events like this help us get to know each other better and even give us ideas for activities we can use at camps.”

Close behind were Olive Thiessen of Foley, who impressed the group with her steady balance and careful control during the candy cane cup challenges, along with Ava Kolbinger and River Ferkinhoff, who rounded out the top finishers with determination and enthusiasm.

One of the highlights of the night was unwrapping two giant Saran Wrap balls packed with prizes—while wearing oven mitts, of course. The laughter continued when the empty wrap balls were later transformed into playful “snowballs,” keeping the energy high well into the evening.

“Candy Cane Night was exciting and a lot of fun,” said Ava Kolbinger, a 10th grader from Becker. “Activities like this really help with team building and give us a chance to meet new people and strengthen friendships.”

Seventh-grader Kendall Micholski of Foley shared that one game stood out above the rest. 

“My favorite activity was the marshmallow chopstick challenge,” she said. “It was tricky, made everyone laugh, and was a great way to connect with others.”

As the night wrapped up, ambassadors left with full hearts, big smiles, and fresh ideas for the year ahead. The Ambassador Candy Cane Night once again proved to be a sweet start to a new year,  focused on leadership, teamwork, and connection within Benton County 4-H.