BYRON – Ogle County’s top 4-H members and clubs were honored for outstanding achievement at a special program held Sunday, Nov. 10 in the Byron Middle School Theatre.
Top honors
Top county honors went to 4-H teens Sara Blume, Oregon and Renee Gehrke, Byron. Blume, Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club and Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club, were the recipients of the Co-op Watch Awards sponsored by Ogle County Farm Bureau and its affiliates. Watches are awarded each year to the two 4-H’ers with the most impressive records of long-term leadership and service at the club level and beyond.
William Carlson, Byron, was the recipient of a $50 cash award sponsored by the Ogle County 4-H Foundation. The Foundation Award is presented annually to a single 4-H’er who has shown leadership skill, a willingness to help with 4-H activities, and has served as a positive example to younger members.
Four youth were challenged to greater leadership and service as recipients of the “I Dare You” Leadership Award.  New owners of William Danforth’s inspiring book, “I Dare You,” these youth were selected based on their previous leadership, citizenship, and project work.  Winners included: Carter Conderman, By-Y-Badgers; Julia Heller, Grand Detour Greens; Kayla Mingus, Ogle County Clovers, and Taylor Yordy, Leaf River Busy Beavers.
Other special award winners included:
Outstanding Club President – Julia Heller, Grand Detour Greens; Jaden Scott, Blackhawk Crossing.
Outstanding Club Secretaries – Alexandria Cassens, By-Y-Badgers; Gracie Prose, Carefree.
Outstanding Club Treasurers – Isaac Charbonneau, Leaf River Busy Beavers; Faith Marquardt, Carefree.
Outstanding Club Reporter – Clare Montavon, Mighty Clovers.            
Outstanding Club Historians – Faith Adams, Hub Hickory Nuts; Lauren Carlson, By-Y-Badgers
Ogle County Club Recreation Chairperson – Carson Conderman and Bruce Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers; Grant Johnson, Kaeden Motszko, and Micah Wehler, Leaf River Soaring Eagles.

Ogle County 4-H Drill Team Traveling Horse Award – Cassidy Vincent, Ogle Jolly.
Electricity Achievement Award – Kate Costello, Ogle Jolly.
Illinois Holstein-Friesian Association Award – Brenna Noon, Carefree.
A number of awards were distributed to community clubs throughout the county in recognition of outstanding community service, educational programming, and promotional efforts.  Additionally, one club’s leader was recognized for their outstanding efforts to work together to effectively meet the needs of and coordinate the work of their club.  Congratulations go to all of the following club winners:
Fall Club Promotion Award
1st Place – Ogle County Clovers 4-H Club
Window Display Award
1st Place— Mighty Clovers 4-H Club
2nd Place – Byron Emerald Eagles 4-H Club
3rd Place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club
Ogle County 4-H Club-of-the-Year
1st Place – Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club
2nd Place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club
3rd Place – Ogle Jolly 4-H Club
Top Leader Team Award
Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club: Tanya Bowers, Lisa Hinrichs, and Barb Miller
Alumni Award
Anna Henson
4-H Hall of Fame Recipient
Earl Hagemeyer