100th year of 4-H in Columbia County highlights Achievement Night

DAYTON–This year was the 100th year of 4-H in Columbia County, making the program's Achievement Night November 3 that much more special.

"Can you imagine what it must have been like 100 years ago?" asked one of the presenters, Dakota Buman, during introductory remarks. "I'm sure there were cows and sheep and the like, but robotics, microwave cooking and computerized quilting machines? My, how some things have changed, and, my, how some things never change."

4-H is about "the people, the experiences, the life-long skills, the memories, the County Fair; it's about being a role model, giving back and 'Making the Best Better,'" Buman said. "Columbia County 4-H is a tradition, a 100-year tradition. We've all heard of it, many have experienced it and tonight we are celebrating it."

4-H Camp Counselors and Counselors-In-Training were introduced by Emmalee Davis, 4-H Camp Board Member. Columbia and Garfield counties collaborate to hold the annual camp at Camp Wooten in June, she said, crediting the camp's success to its teen camp counselors who set up, assist with classes and activities, oversee cabin duties and tend to younger campers' needs all while serving as role models to younger 4-H members.

Livestock Judging Awards were presented to the top ten from the 2019 Fair: 1-Jasper Morrow, 2-Monte Pettichord, 3-McKenzie Lewis-Seal, 4-Hagen Taylor, 5-Mackenna Barron, 6-Hannah Peralez, 7-Lexi Brooks, 8-Chloe Gleason, 9-Tyson Durham and Trista Villaro (tie), 10-Garrett Palmer.

The Small Animal Herdmanship Award went to Krafty Farmers 4-H Club and Jessika Lambert. The Large Animal Herdsmanship Award was a tie, going to Columbia County Corrals 4-H Club and Barnyard 4-H Club.

4-H Leaders are instrumental and many were recognized for their volunteerism and contributions. First Year Leaders were Alicia Adkins, Shelli Bryant, Lucas Collier, Clinton Reser, Steve Tapio, Damian Walter and Robert Yutzy; Second-year-Danika Hankins; 3-Tressa Buman, Nancy Laughery; 5-Rachel Turner; 6-Michael Fortier, Sara Fortier, Tracy Hanger, Amber Lambert; 7-Emmalee Davis, Amanda McCleary, Dina Jenkins; 8-Jeanne Walter; 9-Jeff Jenkins; 14-Carla Rowe; 23-Mikki Smith; 24-Val Turner; 31-Kennie Reeves.

First-year 4-H Club members were Tyler Coulston, Delaynee Cox, Gavin Durham, Tyson Durham, William Durham, Zachary Durham, Alyssa Hollingsworth, Cindi Howard, Kellen Hutchens, Rozlyn Magill-Katsel, Allie Pettit, Georgia Reser, Brenna Sinkbeil, Mason Sinkbeil, Graci Turner, Nickolas Vance, Andrew Wertz and Rhonda Sue Yutzy.

Second-year members: Alexa Jones, Cheri Mathews, Dia Adkins, Hailey Reed, Jerod Hankins, Miriam Hutchens, Trista Villaro and Monte Richie.

Third-year members: Cecilia Acevedo, Hope Adkins, Jemma Anderson, Benny Brian, Mikayla Close-John, Jaycee Cox, Peyton Dobbs, Bryon Collier, Elise Mann, Raymond Yutzy, Reuben Yutzy and Rosemary Yutzy.

Fourth-year members: Hudson Reser, Anthony Jonas, Kaelie Jonas, Joshua Reser, Dakota Buman, Tayla King and Jessika Lambert.

Fifth-year members: Maddox Anderson, Teagan Culley, Lillian Fortier, Denver Hutchens and Brooklyn Laughery.

Sixth-year members: Cayle Davis, Charlie Garcia, Dan Magill-Katsel, Walter Patton and Phinehas Kerr.

Seventh-year members: Jessie Atteberry, Mackena Culley, Samantha Davis, Anna Fortier, Shaelyn Fortier, Mason Garcia, Lila Hutchens, Sagelyn Kilts, Cassidy Laughery, Tatumn Laughery, Kiya McCaw and Mikel Vance.

Eighth-year member: Balian Walter.

Ninth-year members: McKenzie Dobbs and Daltin Mellish-Lambert.

Tenth-year member: Vaughn Walter.

Eleventh-year member: Alex Jenkins.

Twelfth-year member: Rebecca Smith.

Project medals are awarded to 4-H members who have shown outstanding accomplishments in a project, community service and personal growth.

Family Living and STEM

Shooting Sports/Rifle-Lillian Fortier

Shooting Sports/Pistol-Anna Fortier

Shooting Sports/Shotgun-Shaelyn Fortier

Shooting Sports Achievement-Shaelyn Fortier and Alex Jenkins

Photography-Alex Jenkins

Robotics-Benny Bryan, Phinehas Kerr, Josh Reser, Balian Walter and Vaughn Walter.

Social Sciences, Personal Development, Achievement, Public Speaking

Leadership-Cassidy Laughery

Demonstrations-Walter Patton

Public Speaking-Jaycee Cox

Citizenship-Cayle Davis

Personal Development-Trista Villaro

Livestock & Animal Fields

Livestock Judging-Tyson Durham and Trista Villaro

Horse Judging-Hope Adkins

Beef-Jaycee Cox, Delaynee Cox and Graci Turner

Swine-Mason Garcia, Jarod Hankins and Brenna Sinkbeil

Goats-Jessika Lambert, Cheri Mathews, Daltin Mellish-Lambert, Raymond Yutzy, Rhonda Yutzy and Reuben Yutzy.

Sheep-Cecilia Acevedo, Kellen Hutchens, Miriam Hutchens, Anthony Jonas, Kaelie Jonas, Anna Fortier, Lillian Fortier, and Shaelyn Fortier.

Horse-Jemma Anderson.

Demonstration Awards

Demonstrations and Illustrated Talks are valuable learning tools that give members the experience and ability to speak and present ideas before a group.

1-Walter Patton; 2-Delaynee Cox; 3-Cindi Howard; 4-Jaycee Cox; 5-Dan Magill-Katsel; 6-Jessie Atteberry.

Record Books

Keeping records helps 4-Hers track projects to evaluate what has been learned and see important financial information.

Junior Divison-Traditional

1-Charlie Garcia and Rozlyn Magill-Katsel (tie); 2-Cindi Howard; 3-Alexa Jones; 4-Graci Turner; 5-Denver Hutchens.

Intermediate-Traditional

1-Zach Durham; 2-Tyson Durham; 3-Mason Garcia; 4-Lila Hutchens.

Intermediate-Computer

1-Dan Magill-Katsel; 2-Jessika Lambert; 3-Tayla King.

Senior-Traditional

1-McKenzie Dobbs; 2-Trista Villaro; 3-Dakota Buman; 4-Shaelyn Fortier.

Senior-Computer

1-Walter Patton; 2-Alex Jenkins.

Husband-and-wife team of 4-H leaders Jeff and Dina Jenkins were recognized as the 2019 Outstanding 4-H Leaders for Columbia County.

The Jenkins were recognized for their "commitment to the youth of Columbia County and for their selflessness in promoting a program they feel is important to today's youth," said 4-H Coordinator Donna Hanger.

The couple started as project leaders in one of the county's largest 4-H clubs, serving as club leaders of the Marksmen 4-H Club for the past seven years. In addition, they organize and facilitate the 4-H Food Booth at the Fair. Through this, young 4-H members get experience in handling money, working with the public and performing community service.

"Jeff and Dina are only a phone call away when an extra hand is needed within our 4-H Community and our local community," Hanger said.

Local veterinarians Kennie and Chuck Reeves were honored with the Friends of 4-H Award, bestowed by the Leaders' Council and presented by Sara Fortier. The Reeves's, Fortier informed the audience, "are both citizen leaders of our community, involved in civic community groups and the 4-H Community. They are always willing to lend a hand where they feel it's needed, and when asked."

The Cattlemen's Award was presented by Rick Turner, a member of the Columbia County Livestock Association, to Dan Magill-Katsel and Cindi Howard, for their Top Beef Projects, which judged the member on his or her project records, scope of the beef project, and the member's involvement in their club and fair activities.

"This year's selection was difficult as new, young members are joining the beef program and they are competing against the older members, which is a difficult task," Turner said. "The selection committee had a hard time placing one beef member above the rest; so, it was decided to reward a junior member and an advanced member."

The Top Project by a Junior 4-H Member, a traditional award presented by the Patit Valley Grange, represented by Neita Stearns, was awarded to Jemma Anderson for her horse project.

Anderson, according to her club leader, "has improved so much and with a smile on her face," Stearns said. Anderson has learned to be patient, work consistently on project objectives and to work hard to accomplish what is asked of her. "She cares about her project animal and sees that it is taken care of and is 'in tune' with its sometimes off-beat attitude," Stearns said.

"She is a very enthusiastic and motivated young lady who takes anything she does very seriously, and with a great attitude," Stearns said.

The Top Project by an Intermediate 4-H Member, presented by the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff's Association, was Mason Garcia for his swine project.

Garcia "works to be 'his best' in his project, said presenter Kennie Reeves. "His leader says he has had several obstacles this year and took on a lot of responsibility, not only with his own project, but helping out an injured younger member's project until he was able to proceed on his own.

"This member has learned to be resilient and work out obstacles to achieve his goals," Reeves said. "This member has stayed positive with a great attitude. He is always willing to help and goes out of his way to make sure everything gets done."

The Top Senior Project was presented to Shaelyn Fortier and Alex Jenkins. The award was presented by Tracy Hanger on behalf of Portland General Electric and Archer Farms.