Nickie Harding
4H Youth Development Agent
On Sunday, November 6 Douglas County 4-H recognized the outstanding achievements of Douglas County 4-H members and volunteers. Throughout the year 4-H’ers have attended workshops, camps, competitions, and 4-H activities gaining valuable life skills. As 4-H’ers participate, whether in-person or virtually, they broaden their horizons and bring Douglas County fresh ideas that have an impact on our community. 4-H provides young people with leadership, communication, self-discipline, and other important life skills for their future.
Each year 4-H members are honored for outstanding project work by the completion and submission of the Kansas Project Report Form. The Kansas Project Report Form is a tool used by 4-H’ers to learn how to set 4-H project goals, create a plan to accomplish those goals, and evaluate their goals at the end of the 4-H year. 4-H’ers participate and gain knowledge through multiple learning experiences, provide leadership at the local, county, and state levels, and give back to their communities in multiple ways through their 4-H projects each year.
Project Report Forms are divided into three age groups, juniors, ages 7-9; intermediates, 10-13; and seniors, 14 and older. County Champions and blue award winners are chosen within each age group for each project. 76 Project Report Forms were completed for the 2021-2022 4-H year by members from the Clinton Eagles, Eudora, Four Leaf Clover, Jayhawk, Kanwaka, Lone Star, Meadowlark, and Palmyra 4-H Clubs.
Along with individual project report form awards, state achievement pin awards were also announced. These pins are earned by participating in specific events and activities within the 4-H program at the club, county, regional, state, and national levels.
We also like to recognize work completed by our community clubs. Each club can complete a written 4-H summary report documenting the work that they have accomplished throughout the 4-H year. The purpose of the Douglas County 4-H Summary Report is to assist 4-H Clubs in planning and evaluating their yearly club program. It provides an opportunity for club members and leaders to work together to recognize their accomplishments and progress. Based on work completed, purple, blue, red, and white seals are awarded. Clubs receiving Purple Seals are, Clinton Eagles, Eudora, Four Leaf Clover, Jayhawk, Kanwaka, Lone Star, Meadowlark, and Vinland Valley 4-H Clubs. The Palmyra 4-H Club received a Blue Seal.
The Kansas Key Award is bestowed upon 4-H members ages sixteen and older who have completed four or more years of 4-H work and have been enrolled in leadership for four or more years in the State of Kansas. The 2021-2022 recipients of the Key awards are: Maison Flory and Melee Folks from the Lone Star 4-H Club and Claire Mullen from the Jayhawk 4-H Club.
Special awards are also announced at the conclusion of each 4-H year. Hayden Slough of the Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club received the Citizenship Award. Hayden Slough and Ian Rhea of the Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club received the Leadership Award and Callum Leslie of the Kanwaka 4-H Club received the 4-H Spirit Award.
4-H Community Leaders, Project Leaders, and Volunteers are an essential part of the 4-H program. Our leaders put in countless hours to ensure each of our members has a great 4-H experience. Whether it’s sending emails, making phone calls, or organizing a meeting, these volunteers go above and beyond. Receiving the Dea Lieber Outstanding Adult Volunteer award was Margaret Dick from the Kanwaka 4-H Club. The Dorothy Akin Leadership award was awarded to Trish Dowd Kelne from the Meadowlark 4-H Club and the Florine Alexander Leadership award recipient was Matthew Fishburn from the Clinton Eagles 4-H Club. Barbwire Barbeque received our Friend 4-H Award and the John Leslie received our 4-H Family of the Year award.
The 4-H Achievement Celebration would not be possible without the support of the Douglas County 4-H Foundation, Douglas County 4-H Council, Farm Credit Services, and RCB Bank. Each year 4-H volunteers give hundreds of thousands of hours helping youth be the best they can be. Many of the activities which take place on the club and county levels take countless hours to plan and give our youth opportunities to succeed in project work. The Douglas County 4-H program would not be a success without the leadership of all these people who enhance and enrich the lives of our 4-H’ers. Thank you to all our 4-H families, volunteers, and supporters who continue to help us make the best better.
