The 2016 Muskegon County 4-H Awards Ceremony was held on October 3, 2016 at the Muskegon Area Career Tech Center. Approximately 190 4-H members, volunteers and parents were in attendance. The night was spent recognizing 4-H members and volunteers for their accomplishments and years of service during the 2015-2016 4-H Club Year. Representative Holly Hughes, Senator Goeff Hansen, Muskegon County Clerk, Nancy Waters, and Muskegon County Commissioner Wilkins was in attendance as well.
2016 Awards Ceremony with Special Guests
Some of the awards presented were:
4-H Leader Years of Service Awards
1 Year of Service for 2015-2016
2016 Awards 1st Year Leaders
Dennis Arends – Nunica
Kim Beebe – Muskegon
Misty Carr – Norton Shores
Joan Conklin – Muskegon
Angie Fairbrother – Ravenna
Richard Fairbrother – Ravenna
Kelly Johnson – Cedar Springs
Patti Lantz – Muskegon
Renee Martin – Nunica
Pamela McCaleb – Grand Haven
Jill Norton – Spring Lake
Shelley Ostric – Spring Lake
Heidi Raap – Kent City
Amy Richards – Norton Shores
Stacey Skilling – Ravenna
Matthew Wert – Grant
5 Years of Service
Matthew Block – Ravenna
Chris Clark – Fruitport
Christy Deal – Spring Lake
Christine Franzon – Whitehall
Rhonda Gregory – Muskegon
Amanda Peebles – Ravenna
15 Years of Service
Jenny Erffmeyer – Ravenna
45 Years of Service
Margret Kingsbury – Conklin
2016 Awards Margret Kingsbury – 45 years of service
4-H Project Medal Awards
4-H county medals are given to 4-H members who have greatly improved their skills in a particular project or projects or whose project involvement has been significant and successful. Up to 2 medals from each 4-H project area are awarded each year.
2016 4-H Project Medal Awards
Achievement
Alexis Foreman – Nunica
Riley Foreman – Nunica
Agriculture
Trevor Block – Ravenna
Ian Waldecker – Conklin
Beef
Brynn Kantola – Ravenna
Jessica Zahm – Marne
Cat
Sydney Bleich – Fruitport
Jessica Horne – Fruitport
Cavy
Ronni Gregory – Muskegon
Kaylyn Skuse-Freye – Whitehall
Dairy
Katelyn Stevens – Ravenna
Ian Waldecker – Conklin
Dogs
Anthony English – Ravenna
Madilyn English – Ravenna
Foods and Nutrition
Joleen Cejmer – Muskegon
Hannah Stevens – Ravenna
Goats
Kelley Chase – Conklin
Cassie Perrin – Coopersville
Horse
Stefanie Beckley – Spring Lake
Tessa Rush – Spring Lake
Judging
Cassie Perrin – Coopersville
Kathleen Zahm – Marne
Leadership
Joleen Cejmer – Muskegon
Katelyn Stevens – Ravenna
Llama/Alpaca
Makenna Bitely – Twin Lake
Kaylyn Skuse-Freye – Whitehall
Personal Development
Stefanie Beckley – Spring Lake
Cammie Clark – Fruitport
Rabbits
Abagail Hichue – Muskegon
Megan Norton – Spring Lake
Sheep
Cassie Perrin – Coopersville
Natalie Perrin – Coopersville
Shooting Sports
Kaeden Bitely – Twin Lake
Ty Maycroft – Ravenna
Swine
Cammie Clark – Fruitport
Kristen Moyer – Ravenna
Visual Arts
Joleen Cejmer – Muskegon
Ronni Gregory – Muskegon
Wood Science
Justin Hichue – Muskegon
Aged Out 4-H Members
This group of 4-H members has finished their 4-H journey. It is my hope that the skills they have acquired in 4-H will remain with them throughout their life. Thank you for being excellent role models for the younger 4-H members in this county and I wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.
Brooke Whipple
Cheyenne Latsch
Clara Carr
Joleen Cejmer
Katelyn Stevens
Madaline Knight
Nitosha Radosa
Rachel Dodde
Rebecca Goodno
Rosa Moody
Sarah Conklin
Thomas Rozema
2016 Muskegon County 4-H Awards
The 2016 Muskegon County 4-H Leaders Council Community Service Award belongs to the Busy Bees 4-H Club.
2016 Awards Community Service Award – Busy Bees
Some of their community service projects included donating 6 cases of water for delivery to those in need in Flint, a community garden at the Covenant Community Church, helped serve breakfast at the First Congregational Church, and assisted with the Food Truck at the Covenant Community Church. The Busy Bees 4-H Club strives to help others in their community. This shows the 4-H members the value and need for service to others. The Busy Bees 4-H Club meets in Muskegon.
The 2016 Horse Sportsmanship Award goes to Tessa Rush.
2016 Awards Horse Sportsmanship Award
The Horse Sportsmanship Award goes to a 4-H member who exemplifies outstanding sportsmanship during the 2015-2016 4-H Club Year. Tessa is from Spring Lake.
The 2016 Marion Judd 4-H Award goes to Bobby Wagenborg.
2016 Awards Marion Judd Award
The Marion Judd 4-H Award was established by the Muskegon County 4-H Leaders Council in memory of Mrs. Marion Judd, who served as a 4-H club leader for over 40 years. Mrs. Judd took special pride in recognizing those 4-H members who showed the greatest personal growth and improvement in their 4-H projects and activities. Bobby is from Coopersville.
The 2016 Friend of 4-H Award belongs to SAF Holland.
2016 Awards Friend of 4-H Award
The Friend of 4-H Award is awarded to an individual who has provided significant contributions and assistance to 4-H programming and is not presently enrolled as a 4-H leader. The Charity Committee at SAF Holland made the decision to give their earning from the company picnic to the Muskegon County 4-H Make the Match Endowment Fund. On June 21, SAF Holland’s company picnic held numerous events to raise money for the 4-H Endowment Fund. A display table of information regarding 4-H was available for the employees to understand the mission and vision of 4-H. SAF-Holland raised $1000 and a check was presented to Muskegon County 4-H at the opening ceremonies of the Muskegon County Fair. Thank you SAF Holland for believing in the future of the Muskegon County 4-H Program and helping to sustain 4-H in this county.
The 2016 Muskegon County 4-H Leader of the Year is Rhonda Gregory. Rhonda was a devoted 4-H leader and parent. She ran every 4-H club meeting, community service project, and activity the Denim N Dust club participated in. Even during her struggle with cancer treatments Rhonda was still always present and committed to her 4-H Club. She was always available to help any child or parent whenever they needed assistance. Her devotion, commitment, and friendships to 4-H makes her a perfect candidate for the 4-H Leader of the Year Award. She will forever hold a place in the Denim N Dust 4-H Club, the hearts of its members, and the 4-H community. Rhonda lost her battle with cancer shortly before the Fair in July. Rhonda will be honored and remembered always for the impact she made on the children and adults in the Muskegon County 4-H. Rhonda was from Muskegon. State 4-H Award – This is the highest honor bestowed on Michigan 4-H youth. This program is for 4-H youth aged 13 and up with at least three years of 4-H experience. This past year Cassie Perrin from Coopersville applied for the State 4-H Award and was invited to be a State 4-H Delegate for the Sheep Science project area. I would like to recognize her for her hardwork and commitment to excellence.