A couple Sundays ago, members of Wright Co. 4-H gathered at Rockford Town Hall to celebrate the end of the year with their annual member and volunteer recognition banquet.

 

Northern Peak 4-H club leader Randy Wagner was recognized for being on the outgoing 2017 – 2018 advisory board as well as the incoming 2018 – 2019 advisory board.

 

“I got involved with the County Advisory Council to help promote 4-H in the community and to encourage the members to get involved in activities outside of the club,” said Wagner. “I have enjoyed watching members grow in their confidence and abilities as the year progresses.”

 

Both Northern Peak and Kicking Clovers 4-H clubs received Roots Awards for attaining 100% retention of first year members from 2017 to 2018.

 

Members of all Wright Co. 4-H clubs were recognized for reaching milestones. In Northern Peak Maxwell O’Konek, Rayshawn Shanklyn, Emily Studenski and Charles Studenski received discs for their one-year memberships, and Elijah O’Konek, Isaac Wagner and Josephine Wagner received discs for five years.

 

In Kicking Clovers, Jade O’Riley received a disc for her five-year membership, Kallee Fisher for her eight years and Kallie Sylvester 10 years.

 

Northern Peak member Eli Groth received a second place Project Award in the junior crafts category and was named runner-up in the junior food and nutrition category.

 

Participation awards were given for members who participated in this year’s State Fair. Kicking Clovers member Kallie Sylvester participated in the State Horse Show and at the fair, Northern Peak member Isaac Wagner received a blue ribbon in the food preservation category for his dill pickles.

 

Wagner also participated in the Junior Poultry Bowl; his team placed first at both regionals and state.

 

Northern Peak member Josie Wagner’s team won a purple ribbon in the State Rube Goldberg Challenge, which is to create a contraption using everyday items in a whimsical and complicated way to interact as a series of chain-reaction steps to accomplish a simple task. This year’s challenge was to plant and water a seed. 

 

At the State Fair, Wagner received blue ribbons for her triple chocolate cookies in the food and nutrition category and white egg laying chickens. Her chickens made it into the top six pens brought back for the final group. One of her goals is to compete at the State Fair with her chickens again.

 

“It was fun to see the different methods to accomplish the task of planting a seed and watering it,” said Wagner. “It was also a fun experience being at the State Fair; the amount of people watching the judging was incredible!”

 

Wagner also participated in the Senior Poultry Bowl, but wasn’t able to compete due to conflicts.

 

The Citizen-Tribune received the Clover Coverage Award, given for the best local media coverage of 4-H activities and achievements. The articles featured in the newspaper brought awareness and attention to 4-H, which helped local groups gain new membership.

 

This year was the 100th anniversary of 4-H in Wright Co. Research has shown that young people in 4-H are nearly four times as likely to contribute to their communities and twice as likely to engage in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programs during after school time.

 

For more information on 4-H in Wright Co., visit www3.extension.umn.edu/local/wright/4-h.