BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Shayna Durrance and Saylor Rhoden received Outstanding Bradford County 4-H Members of the Year awards at the organization’s annual banquet, which was held Sept. 7 at the Gov. Charley E. Johns Conference Center in Starke.
Durrance, a senior member, is active in the Green Acres Club. UF/IFAS Bradford Extension Livestock and Natural Resource Agent Lizzie Whitehead said, “She’s a very dedicated, young lady and has a serving heart.”
For the past two years, Durrance, who exhibited the homegrown reserve grand-champion heifer at the breed show at the Bradford Agricultural Fair, has been involved in livestock judging. She was part of this year’s state-championship team, which will compete at the national contest in November in Louisville, Kentucky.
“She has worked hard collecting sponsorships for her team to be able to travel to the national contest and pushes her livestock-judging team to the next level,” Whitehead said. “She always gives 110 percent of herself to the sport, and she is always there when we need her.”
Rhoden, a junior member, is active in the Horsin’ Around club. She won the Versatility championship at the Area North Horse Show and qualified for the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Championships after her performance at the Florida 4-H State Horse Show. At state, Rhoden placed first in Speed Events Ground Handling, third in Western Pleasure, fourth in Keyhole Race and seventh in Ranch Trail. She was also seventh among juniors in the high-point awards.
“She and her fellow 4-H’ers put together a fundraiser to help raise money to go the State 4-H Horse Show in Tampa, Florida, called Ponies and Popsicles,” Whitehead said. “What a great entrepreneur we have here.”
Whitehead said Rhoden has been involved in a number of community service projects, such as the 4-H Giving Tree and taking her miniature horse to area nursing homes as therapy for the residents.
Payton McKenzie was recognized as a recipient of the Bradford 4-H endowed scholarship. The amount of $1,000 has already been sent to Santa Fe College, where McKenzie is a full-time student after taking dual-enrollment classes while in high school.
“He’s studying business management administration,” said Interim Extension Director Cindy Sanders. “He plans to graduate with his AA degree in December and is going to begin working at Ring Power in St. Augustine.”
McKenzie will be pursuing his bachelor’s degree in business after earning his AA degree.
A couple of club leaders were honored, including Dana McKenzie, who received the Rookie Leader of the Year Award. The club she leads is Show Stoppers, which was presented with the Gold Clover Award for being an outstanding club.
“Dana has done an excellent job getting this new group up and running. As those of you know who have been in 4-H for a while now, there is a lot to learn,” Whitehead said. Then, referring to the 4-H motto of “To Make the Best Better,” Whitehead said, “Dana has embraced her role as a 4-H club leader in showing the youth in Show Stoppers what it means to make the best better.”
Whitehead then announced it was time to present its Leader of the Year Award to one who has been a 4-H volunteer for 18 years.
“She has not been recognized in the past because she was one of our very good staff and humbly did not want herself to be recognized,” Whitehead said.
The award went to Kim Griffis, who no longer works in the Extension office, but who remains a leader of the Green Acres club.
“Tonight, we want to take the opportunity to tell you how much we appreciate you and thank you for your service,” Whitehead said.
Recognition of contest participants
Besides the presentation of Outstanding 4-H Member of the Year awards, youth were recognized for their participation on teams and in events. That began with Kaitlin Van Heusen, the leader of the Fancy Feathers club, intruding her poultry judging team, which consists of Cayman Brown, Landon Brown, Mason Scoggins, Reece Scoggins, Ansley Smith, Callie Smith, Nicholas Ward, Shawn Ward and Julia Zurfluh.
At the Northeast Florida Fair in Callahan last October, Zurfluh, Mason Scoggins and Reece Scoggins were part of the first-place intermediate team. Brown received second place at the Jacksonville Fair.
Fancy Feathers members exhibit poultry as well as participate in poultry judging. Nicholas Ward had the grand-champion chicken at the Columbia County Poultry Show and was second in junior showmanship behind Shawn Ward.
Nicholas Ward went on to win two reserve championships in American Poultry Association shows.
“He won two class championships over in Fanning Springs,” Van Heusen said of Nicholas Ward. “He went on to the Lake City show, which is the Sunshine State Classic, and received another class championship.”
Whitehead recognized Ansley Smith and Callie Smith for their participation in the February Insectathon in Gainesville, where they were tested on their knowledge of entomology. She then presented 4-H members who participate in livestock judging: Kaylan Box, Regan Broome, Cayman Brown, Tanner Connell, Shayna Durrance, Bailey Jones, Bailey Varnes and Macy Wilson.
“These guys hold a very special place in my heart,” said Whitehead, who is the livestock-judging coach. “They worked really hard.”
At the SE3 contest this past spring in Perry, Georgia, the team competed against 4-H and FFA teams, placing ninth. Durrance was the fourth high-point senior individual.
Durrance was the seventh high-point individual at the Florida Youth Expo, followed by Bradford placing eighth out of 14 teams at the Florida State 4-H Livestock-Judging Contest.
“After that contest, I set a lot of high goals and expectations,” Whitehead said. “They did very well at the Alachua County Fair, Bradford County Fair, Union County Fair, Putnam County Fair and also the Clay County Fair.”
The state-championship team consisted of Connell, Durrance, Jones and Varnes. Jones was the top high-point individual.
“They dominated the contest,” Whitehead said. “When I looked at their scores, they beat all the FFA teams as well. They were 16 points above the winning FFA team.
“They have a lot of potential going into the national contest.”
Connell, Durrance, Jones and Varnes received state-championship jackets, sponsored by Bradford County Farm Bureau and belt buckles sponsored by R&B Fencing, AAA Hay, Blackberry Creek Cattle and 3RD Cattle.
“I wanted to let all of you know you have made me very proud and exceeded my expectations this year,” Whitehead said. “I’m very thankful to have worked with all of you and gained a relationship with you.”
Whitehead received a gift of appreciation from the team members, with Jones thanking her her “time and dedication to each and every one of us on this team.”
“We would not be here without you and the time you committed to us, both as a team and as individuals,” Jones said.
The team also presented a gift of appreciation to Assistant Coach Carson Willis, who was on a livestock-judging team while in high school that experienced success and plans to participate on the University of Florida’s livestock-judging team.
“She has helped us tremendously by sharing her knowledge,” Connell said.
Sanders recognized those members who have competed in horse shows: Raegan Luke, Ryleigh Rhoden, Saylor Rhoden and Mason Stone.
Besides Saylor Rhoden’s accomplishments, the year saw her older sister, Ryleigh, do very well, culminating with the Breakaway Roping championship and a seventh-place finish in Boxing at the Southern Regional 4-H Horse Show.
Ryleigh Rhoden was the reserve champion in Versatility behind her sister at the Area North show and placed fifth in Ranch Roping, ninth in both Boxing and Ranch Trail and 10th in Ranch Riding at the state show.
Stone was the reserve grand champion in the Ranch class at the Area North show and placed third in Ranch Riding, fifth in Ranch Trail, seventh in Western Pleasure, eighth in Keyhole Race and 10th in Ranch Ground Handling at state.
Luke took second in Speed Events Ground Handling at state.
Record-book and performance awards
The following members were recognized for completing and submitting record books this past year: Ridge Bradley (swine), Teagan Bradley (swine), Regan Broome (steer), Shayna Durrance (heifer and steer), Lucas Grider (swine), Caleb Griffis (steer), Joshua Griffis (cloverbud), Raegan Luke (horse), Auston McKenzie (swine), Kaitlyn McKenzie (swine), Kierstyn McKenzie (swine), Payton McKenzie (swine), Kylie Odom (horse), Ryleigh Rhoden (horse), Saylor Rhoden (horse), Mason Stone (horse), Ava Lynn Thomas (swine), Adaleigh Wainwright (heifer), Ansley Ward (heifer and steer), Nicholas Ward (heifer) and Shawn Ward (heifer).
Performance-Standard Awards were presented to youth in each age division. Youth earned gold, silver or bronze status based on establishing a project plan, attending club meetings, giving presentations, attending, participating or competing in club-, county-, district- or state-level activities, completing service projects and completing project books.
“I had the privilege of judging these,” Sanders said. “I just want to say the participation these kids do and community activities and outreach within the community and their 4-H club is amazing.”
Gold awards were presented to Shayna Durrance, Kayla Griffis, Raegan Luke, Saylor Rhoden and Ansley Ward.
The following received silver awards: Ridge Bradley, Teagan Bradley, Regan Broome, Auston McKenzie, Kaitlyn McKenzie, Kierstyn McKenzie, Payton McKenzie, Kylie Odom, Ryleigh Rhoden, Mason Stone, Nicholas Ward and Shawn Ward.
A bronze award went to Adaleigh Wainwright.
Joshua Griffis received a Cloverbud Performance Award. Cloverbuds are 4-H members who are 5-7 years old.
Cloverbuds in attending the banquet besides Griffis were Ansley Smith and Callie Smith. All three received certificates for their participation as cloverbuds.
Club leaders and other 4-H supporters
“Clubs are the backbone of our program,” Whitehead said. “Our club leaders are among the best. These are the caring adults who impact youth throughout the county with the countless hours of volunteer work they put into their clubs.”
The following club leaders were recognized: Kristen Canon with Crafty Clovers, Tamara Dinkins with GRITS, Kim Griffis with Green Acres, Hailey McElhenny with Blue Ribbon Swine, Dana McKenzie with Show Stoppers, Kara Rhoden with Horsin’ Around, Miranda Sellers with Little Rascals, Laura Sirak with Young Bucks and Kaitlin Van Heusen with Fancy Feathers.
“Without these guys, are 4-H program would not be as strong,” Whitehead said. “These caring adults are pillars who lift our youth to their potential.”
Whitehead expressed her appreciation to all who support and sponsor the 4-H program, saying, “You are sending kids to horse contests and shows. You are sending kids to national contests. You’re also helping sponsor kids who can’t afford summer day camps.
“We couldn’t do it without you. Your donation is greatly appreciated and is spent very wisely on the youth.”
Bradford County Commissioner Diane Andrews and County Manager Scott Kornegay received Community Support Awards. Commissioners Chris Dougherty, Danny Riddick, Carolyn Spooner and Kenny Thompson weren’t present, but they received awards as well.
An award was also presented to Mary Bledsoe, who wasn’t present. Whitehead said Bledsoe “has bent over backward for our youth in our community.” Her efforts included providing the food for 140 youths at the livestock-judging contest at the Bradford Agricultural Fair.
Sanders expressed her thanks to UF/IFAS Extension Dean Andra Johnson and State 4-H Program Leader Stacey Ellison as well as to those who work at the Bradford Extension office. Whitehead and Horticulture and Small Farms Agent Luke Harlow were, at times this past year, the only ones manning the office, Sanders said, adding, “They kept it going.”
Tamara Dinkins (executive secretary) and Sterling Westbrook (agricultural program assistant) are recent additions to the office. Their efforts have been greatly appreciated, Sanders said. Both received gifts of appreciation to close the banquet.
“We can’t thank them enough for all they do in the office,” Sanders said, adding, “We appreciate it, and thank you. We look forward to great things for many years.”
