Leon County 4-H Awards Banquet recognizes excellence

Leon County 4-H Courage to Change Award Winner: Jacob Rodell. Contributed photo This past year was filled with many new and exciting things for every 4-H member. Those who were returning members were already aware of the many opportunities for learning, recreation, and enjoyment that 4-H has to offer. New members became familiar with the activities available and took advantage of them. Friday, July 16, 2010, at 7:00 PM, over 150 in attendance celebrated the success of the 2009-2010 year at the Leon County 4-H Awards Banquet held at the First Baptist Church, Centerville.

The Rookie of the Year is the highest award that a first year 4-H member can receive in Leon County. Each year, a Rookie of the year is chosen at the community club level and then one individual is chosen as the county Rookie of the Year Award Winner. You may only receive the County Rookie of the Year Award once. The following were recognized: Buffalo 4-H Rookie of the year Award, Marshal Jonas; The Leon 4-H Club Rookie of the year Award, Chelsea Harter. The Leon County Rookie of the year Award, Marshal Jonas of the Buffalo 4-H Club.

Leon County 4-H Gold Star Winners: David Roach, Kelcey Cockrell, Taylor McGill. Contributed photo The Bronze Star is the highest award that a Junior 4-H member can receive in Leon County. Each year, a Bronze Star is chosen at the community club level and then one individual is chosen as the county Bronze Star Award Winner. You may only receive the County Bronze Star Award once. The following were recognized: Buffalo 4-H Bronze Star Award, Natalie Freeman; Centerville 4-H Bronze Star Award, Emma Apitzsch; Normangee 4-H Bronze Star Award, Jordan Ruffeno; Leon 4-H Club Bronze Star Award, Chelsea Harter; Oakwood 4-H Bronze Star Award, Charlee Cockerell. The Leon County Bronze Star Award, Charlee Cockerell of the Oakwood 4-H Club.

Leon County 4-H Rookie of The Year: Marshal Jonas and Chelsea Harter. Contributed photo The Silver Star is the highest award that an Intermediate 4-H member can receive in Leon County. Each year, a Silver Star is chosen at the community club level and then one individual is chosen as the county Silver Star Award Winner. You may only receive the County Silver Star Award once. The following were recognized: Buffalo 4-H Silver Star Award, Clayton McGill; Centerville 4-H Silver Star Award, Cody Oden; Normangee 4-H Silver Star Award, Justin Ruffeno. The Leon County 4-H Silver Star Award, Clayton McGill of the Buffalo 4-H Club.

The Gold Star Award is the highest county level achievement award made available through Texas 4-H. It will be awarded only once in a member's 4-H career. Counties have award quotas based on the number of senior 4-H members. The award is presented to the most deserving young people without regard to gender. The following are minimum requirements that must be met: The member must be at least 15 years of age as of August 31 of the current year of the award and must have completed at least 3 years in 4-H, including the current year. The member must submit an awards program record book in the year he or she is to be considered for the award. The member must have completed projects in three different project areas, have submitted appropriate records on the projects, and have participated in one or more activities in at least three of the following areas: Method demonstration/4-H presentation contests, Projects, Citizenship activities, Project exhibits, Leadership labs, and Public relations (speeches, poster displays, radio, TV, newspapers).

Leon County 4-H Silver Star Winners: Cody Oden, Justin Ruffeno, Clayton McGill. Contributed photo This year Leon County has three Gold Star Winners! They are David Roach of Buffalo 4-H, Kelcey Cockerell of Oakwood 4-H, and Taylor McGill of Buffalo 4-H.

Leon County 4-H Elaine Starnes Leadership Award Winner: Ryan McCarty and The Elaine Starnes Family. Contributed photo The purpose of the Friend of 4-H Award is to recognize individuals, businesses, organizations, agencies, or other institutions who have provided significant support to the Leon County 4-H program. Nominations were made by each community 4-H Club in Leon County and narrowed to those who provide sustained and significant support to the 4-H program success in Leon County. The following supporters received the Friend of 4-H Award this year: Dean Player, Richard Scoggin, Jack Thomason, Cathey Nichols, Jay Winn, Jerry Burger, Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Ewing, Jerry Klawinsky, and Elbert Roberts.

Star Project Awards are given to those 4-H members who completed and submitted a Record book in their respective project area. Record books are judged by a panel of judges and ranked. The top ranking Record book is the Star Project Award Winner. 4-H Members recog- nized as Star Project Award Winners were: Star Junior Beef Award, Jordan Ruffeno; Star Junior Clothing & Textiles Award, Chelsea Harter; Star Junior Food and Nutrition Award, Charlee Cockerell; Star Junior Goat Award, Natalie Freeman; Star Intermediate Beef Award, Tobe Johnson; Star Intermediate Health Award, Abby Apitzsch; Star Intermediate Goat Award, Logan Freeman; Star Intermediate Poultry Award, Cody Oden; Star Intermediate Conservation of Natural Resources Award, Blake Mc- Carty; Star Intermediate Vet Science Award, Andy Johnson; Star Intermediate Swine Award, Clay McGill. Star Senior Conservation of Natural Resources, Caleb Wright; Star Senior Beef Award, Jacob Rodell; Star Senior Swine Award, Taylor McGill; Star Senior Goat Award, Kayla Ray; Star Senior Clothing & Textile Award, Cassie Ferguson; Star Senior Citizenship and Civic Education Award, David Roach.

Leon County 4-H Friends of 4H: Mr. and Mrs. Rodney Ewing, Mrs. Kathy Nichols, Dean Player. Contributed photo Leon County 4-H Bronze Star Winners: Emma Apitzsch, Jordan Reffino, Natlie Freeman, Chelsea Harter, Charlee Cockrell. Contributed photo The Leon County 4-H program continues to grow each year. Growth within the county is always great but it is exceptional when we see our members excelling beyond the boundaries of Leon County. This year, over 100 members of Leon County 4-H competed at a level above the county competition and are paving the way for future 4-H members in Leon County. This group was recognized and given an award for their efforts: Colton Adams, Melanie Barnett, William Barnett, Cade Beshears, Ross Beshears, Francisco del Bosque, Sarah Burchfield, Courtney Clark, Edmund Clark, Cade Cleveland, Cole Cleveland, Charlee Cockerell, Kelcey Cockerell, Bradie Crowley, Logan Cummings, Taylor Cummings, Justin DeBorde, Ben Dittmar, Ashlyn Duck, AJ Easterling, Alysta Feauto, Brielle Feauto, Jacob Fisheck, Jarrett Fisheck, Pete Lipsey, Tony Maldanado, Blake McCarty, Ryan McCarty, Clayton McGill, Taylor McGill, Bryan Moore, Morgan Mulson, Cody Oden, Dylan Pistone, Patrick Pringle, Shayne Pringle, Kayla Ray, David Roach, James Roach, Reagaon Robertson, Tyler Spillman, Taylot Sullivan, Bradford Tatum, Erin Trahan, Natalie Uptmore, Justin Vann, Aaron Wilson, Layne Wilson, Kaleb Wood, Nathaniel Young, Jeremy Flake, Jessica Flake, Seth Folsom, Logan Freeman, Natalie Freeman, Makayla Gillman, Leanna Gore, Hayley Hamilton, McKinzie Hamilton, Kaegan Hibbard, Savanna Howle, Jacob Hulsey, Sunnee Hulsey, Tawishia Hulsey, Andy Johnson, Gatlynn Johnson, Tobe Johnson, Macey Jonas, Marshal Jonas, Mason Jonas, Bradley Kelly, Sarah King, and Faith Lipsey.

New to the Leon County 4-H Banquet this year is a special recognition. It is our Courage to Change Award. This is in honor of Dick Wallrath. Wallrath, owner of Champion Ranch in Centerville, gave $1,420,000 in scholarships to Texas 4-H and FFA students this sum- The scholarships were given through the Dick Wallrath Educational Foundation, which will continue to give $10,000 to 142 students annually through an endowment funded by Wallrath. Wallrath believes in investing in Texas 4-H and FFA youth because they are taught lessons in character and morality. Chosen by the County 4-H Council peers, this award is given to the member who has most improved their leadership skills over the past year. This year's recipient has not only showed this quality but also gave his full dedication to the Leon County 4-H Program. This year's recipient of the Courage to Change Award was Jacob Rodell of the Buffalo 4-H.

Also new to the Leon County 4-H Banquet this year was a special recognition Leadership Award. This Award is in honor of Elaine Starnes and the leadership she conveyed during her time spent with 4-H program. Starnes played a big role in the leadership of food and nutrition and also for the fashion show. Once Starnes' children graduated she didn't stop there, she continued to be a leader and was always willing to lend a helping hand. Starnes volunteered to judge in various counties and also helped her grandson along the way. Starnes volunteered a total of 34 years of her time to help 4-H kids grow up and become great leaders. It is only appropriate that Leon County 4-H present this leadership award in her honor. Today we are presenting this award to a 4-H member who has shown this kind of leadership throughout the past year. This year's Elaine Starnes Leadership award recipient was Ryan McCarty of Centerville 4-H.

The evening concluded with recognizing 4-H club managers. Without 4-H club managers, 4-H would not exist. The following are instrumental club managers in Leon County: Jennifer McGill, Rachel Gonce, Robin Schafer, Ruth Spillman, Patty Winkler, Audra Watson, Becky Cockerell, Kim Wright, and Andrea Freeman.