As we usher in the much-anticipated spring of 2010, I bring you greetings from Randolph County 4-H. We have lots to report (don’t we always?) and I have some thoughts for you to consider as you reload your closets with short sleeves and Bermuda shorts.
Our 4-H Honors Night was a great success.
We were nearly 100 strong, gathering at the First Presbyterian Church in Asheboro on Feb. 26 for a delicious meal and a celebration of the achievements of our 4-H youth and volunteers throughout 2009.
Yoselin Perez, Randolph County 4-H Teen Leadership Club member and Randolph Early College High School student, did a fantastic job as emcee for the evening.
As a community service project, over 250 items were collected for deployed troops, to make some brave soldiers feel a little bit closer to home.
A special thank-you to Ken Reininger, 4-H/Family and Consumer Science Advisory Council member, for presenting the Friends of 4-H Award to the Farm Bureau Federation.
This generous group has been a strong advocate for Randolph County 4-H, providing us with financial support that afforded us some great opportunities for community outreach.
With so many awards to give out, we were delighted to have the help of Asheboro Mayor David Smith and Chairman of the Randolph County Board of Commissioners Harold Holmes.
Their words of encouragement to 4-H families as well their constant support of our program is invaluable. Lorraine Smith, 4-H alumni and strong 4-H supporter, inducted our 4-H officers for the upcoming year.
Without further ado, I would like to share some of our award results: Project Records were turned in by Thomas Lilly, Preston Long, Jesse Osborne, Shenandoah Osborne, Josh Allred, Mackenzie Koenig, Rachel Osborne, Laura Allred, Evan Gunter, Addie Ward, Heather Allred, Adam Frazier and Terri Lane Frazier.
Achievement Awards were received by Addie Ward, Grayson Browder, Spencer Hinshaw, Jamison McDaniel, Roby Ward, Wyatt Yow, Walter Johnson, Allie Johnson and Adam Frazier.
Most Improved 4-H Club Member Awards were earned by Jesse Osborne, Hayden Thomas, Josh Allred, Roby Ward, Addie Ward, Donna Bunch, Danielle La Plume, Hayden Thomas, Anna Laton, Elmer York, Josh Laton, Yoselin Perez, Courtney Elliott, Terri Lane Frazier, Ariel Weeks and Ben Talbott.
Most Supportive Club Leader recognition was given to Beth Long, Kirsten Frazier, Amy Ward, Shannon Bunch, Brenda Laton and Ronnie Beal.
Our Sig Mcain 4-H Volunteer of the Year for 2009 was Amy Ward and The Spirit Of Kristina Jarrell 4-H Award winner was Adam Frazier.
Finally, with the awards given out and the opportunities for youth to be acknowledged for participation in particular events, the whole point of it all is this: we want to recognize what is good about youth and volunteers in Randolph County.
Being a parent or volunteer that shows up to do the work, take on some of the set up/clean up and provide rides to and from events, really does matter. Being the young person in 4-H that commits their time to a club or event and sees it through is worthwhile.
The time that we take to work with young people now will pay off ten-fold in their future.
THANK YOU to everyone in this community for your support of Randolph County 4-H.
Jody Terry is the 4-H program assistant for Randolph County 4-H, part of the N.C. Cooperative Extension Service in Asheboro. She can be reached at (336) 318-6000 or by e-mail at jody_terry@ncsu.edu
