OREGON — Ogle County’s top 4-H members and clubs were honored for outstanding achievement at a special program held Sunday, Nov. 17, in the Byron Civic Theatre.

Top county honors went to 4-H teens Aylivia Danekas, Polo, and Nicholas Cassens, Byron. Danekas, Pine Creek Valley 4-H Club, and Cassens, 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 yearly to the two 4-H’ers with the most impressive records of long-term leadership and service at the club level and beyond.

Bruce Gehrke, Byron, received 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 skills and a willingness to help with 4-H activities. It has also served as a positive example to younger members.

Four youths were challenged to greater leadership and service as the “I Dare You” Leadership Award recipients. 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: Alayna Doane, Mighty Clovers 4-H Club; Colton Gehrke, By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club; Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree 4-H Club; and Addison Yordy, Leaf River Busy Beavers 4-H Club.

Other special award winners included:

Outstanding Club President: Aylivia Danekas, Pine Creek Valley and Kaden Lingbeck, Leaf River Soaring Eagles.

Outstanding Club Vice-President: Courtney Bushman, Pine Creek Valley and Grant Johnson, Leaf River Soaring Eagles.

Outstanding Club Secretaries: Haven Marks, Summerhill Huskies and David Wehler, Leaf River Soaring Eagles.

Outstanding Club Treasurers: Isabelle Blumhoff, Pine Creek Valley and Kaeden Motszko, Leaf River Soaring Eagles.

Outstanding Club Historians: Aubrey Kusnierz, Mighty Clovers and Kaden Lingbeck, Leaf River Soaring Eagles.

Outstanding Club Reporter: Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree.

Ogle County Club Recreation Chairperson: Kayden Barndt, Pine Creek Valley.

Outstanding Club Junior Leaders: Aylivia Danekas, Pine Creek Valley.

Electricity Achievement Award: Cora Herring, Hub Hickory Nuts.

Illinois Holstein-Friesian Association Award: Shelby Harbaugh, Carefree.

Several awards were distributed to community clubs throughout the county for outstanding community service, educational programming, and promotional efforts. Additionally, one club’s leadership team 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 the following club winners:

Window Display Promotion Award: First Place – By-Y-Badgers 4-H Club (Byron). Second Place – Leaf River Soaring Eagles 4-H Club (Leaf River). Third Place – Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Monroe Center).

Ogle County 4-H Club-of-the-Year: First Place – Blackhawk Crossing 4-H Club (Oregon). Second Place – Mighty Clovers 4-H Club (Stillman Valley). Third Place – Ogle County Clovers 4-H Club (Rochelle).

Top Leader Team Award: Carefree 4-H Club (Oregon): Amanda Harbaugh, Annette Martin, and Wacey Sassaman.

Alumni Award: Sara Blume.

Hall of Fame: Annette Martin.

4-H is an informal youth education program of University of Illinois Extension. For more information or to get involved, call 815/732-2191 or visit us online at https://extension.illinois.edu/bdo.  This is the best time of year to join!  

If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in programming, contact the Ogle County Extension office at 815-732-2191. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet your needs.