A Big “Thank You” to all the Adults Leaders (above) who make Freestone County 4-H a great program.
“I would like to begin by thanking each of you for coming here tonight to support our county 4-H program,” began Riley Simpson, President of the Freestone County 4-H Council, as she welcomed guests of the 2017 Awards Banquet, held Thursday, August 17th in the new Twisted Vines Event Center (formerly the Fairfield VFW Hall).
“This program provides numerous opportunities each year for the youth of our county to learn and to grow. We are here tonight to recognize the achievements of our 4-H members as well as adult leaders, businesses, and individuals that dedicate so much time, money, and effort to our 4-H program.”
Following pledges and prayer led by 4-H members Cooper Craddick, Conner Jackson, and Kade Kimball, guests were treated to a fully stocked taco bar and dessert table.
Beginning the awards presentation, club managers for all five county clubs were recognized, including: Julie Jordan, Dew 4-H Club Manager; Melissa Benner & Tiffany Serrato, Eagle Country 4-H Club Managers; Maggie Bonds & Misty Lewis, Fairfield 4-H Club Managers; Marsha Morgan & Christi Kimball, Freestone Community 4-H Club Managers; and April Kofnovec & Mandy Henderson, Wortham 4-H Club Managers.
Earning special awards were:
Cooper Craddick, recipient of the Bronze Star Award;
Monty Morgan, Horizon Award;
Rachel Lewis, Silver Star;
and Peyton Daniel, Gold Star Award.
County 4-H Members received recognition for numerous projects throughout the year.
Those honored for completing record books include: Rachel Lewis of Fairfield 4-H who completed a record book in the Ag Sciences category and won 2nd place at the District Contest; Monty Morgan of Freestone Community 4-H completed a record book in the Goat category and won 5th place at the District contest; and Cooper Craddick of Fairfield 4-H completed a record book in the Clothing & Textiles category and won 2nd place at the District Contest.
Freestone County was well represented in several different areas at district and statewide competitions. Members honored for competing were District Food Challenge 4th place junior team “Snicker Doodles” made up of Rainy Bonds, Taylor Flandry, Claire Guillotte, and Brianna Myers; District Food Challenge Junior Team “Souper Stars” – Logan Allen, JD Hanzelka, and Cooper Craddick; District Food Challenge Intermediate Team “Cooking Cowgirls” – Rachel Lewis, Mattie Hagen, and Jaylee Jordan; District Food Show 1st Place Intermediate Dairy – Rachel Lewis; District Food Show Junior Protein – Cooper Craddick; District Fashion Show Junior Storyboard and Construction – Taylor Flandry; District Fashion Show 4th Place Jr Buying & 4th place Junior Storyboard – Cooper Craddick; District Fashion Show 3rd place Intermediate Buying – Jaylee Jordan; District Fashion Show 1st place Intermediate Storyboard & 4th place Buying – Sadie Newman; District Photography, with two blue and two red ribbons – Monty Morgan; District Photography, with seven blue and one red ribbon – Rachel Lewis.
Other District Awards included District Plant ID Participants Riley Simpson & Conner Jackson; District Ag Product ID Junior – Cooper Craddick; District Ag Product ID 5th place Intermediate – Rachel Lewis; District Livestock Skillathon 6th place Senior – Conner Jackson; District Livestock Skillathon 6th place Intermediate – Rachel Lewis; District Livestock Skillathon 5th place Senior – Riley Simpson; District Junior Beef Quiz Bowl Team 4th place – Caroline Craig, Rachel Lewis, and Lilah Craig; District Senior Beef Quiz Bowl, 2nd place Team – Conner Jackson, Riley Simpson, Preston Simpson and Laney McAdams; District Educational Presentation-Open ANR 3rd Place Intermediate – Rachel Lewis; District Educational Presentation-Open FCS 2nd Place Junior – Cooper Craddick; District Educational Presentation –Beef 4th place Intermediate – Lilah Craig; District Livestock Judging 5th place Junior Team – Cooper Craddick, Angel Serrato, Cole Coufal, and Grayson Holcomb; District Livestock Judging Junior participant – Jay Craddick; District Livestock Judging 6th Place intermediate Team – Rachel Lewis, Bryson Nettle, Austin Pippin, and Sadie Newman; District Livestock Judging 8th place Intermediate Team – AJ Serrato, Megan Benner, and Alissa Losey; District Livestock Judging Senior Team – Preston Simpson, Conner Jackson, and Logan Todd; and District Horse Show Reserve Champion Mare – Josie Henson.
State-wide honors were presented to State Qualifying Beef Quiz Bowl Team – Riley Simpson, Preston Simpson, Conner Jackson, and Laney McAdams; District 8 Council Vice Chairman – Peyton Daniel; Texas 4-H Foundation Scholarship Recipients – Riley Simpson; Shotgun Sports Scholarship Recipient Laney McAdams; and Ag Student of the Month by Texas Farm Credit – Riley Simpson.
Exhibitors of the State Fair of Texas, East Texas State Fair, Heart ‘o Texas State Fair, Fort Worth Stock Show, San Antonio Stock Show, Rodeo Austin, and Houston Stock Show, and members who participated in shooting sports events were also recognized.
Other adult volunteers recognized include project leaders and coaches, Jennifer Daniel, Food Challenge and Food Show; Laura Craddick, Fashion Show and Fashion Storyboard; Yvonne Brooke, Archery; and Angie McAdams, Shotgun.
This year’s Outstanding Adult Leader Award was presented to Melissa Benner of Eagle Country 4-H.
Since she became club manager, Melissa has increased her club enrollment by 56% in one year. She and her husband, Mark, helped eight youth with swine projects for the county fair and housed seven of them at their barn to help 4-H members learn the right way to raise a swine project for the county fair.
Melissa is always promoting 4-H with a smile on her face.
This year’s recipient of the Friends of 4-H award is Freestone County Farm Bureau.
Freestone County Farm Bureau Board has purchased mounts for members participating in 4-H Plant ID; and spent more than $7,500 at the Freestone County Fair Youth Livestock Sale.
Additionally, this year’s Awards Banquet was paid for by Freestone County Farm Bureau Board.
Freestone County 4-H Members would like to thank Freestone County Farm Bureau, adult leaders, and their communities for making this program possible for the youth of Freestone County.
(Photos by Megan Hempel)
