BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Telegraph Staff Writer
Regan Broome, Ayanna Deary, Shayna Durrance and Ryleigh Rhoden were recognized as Outstanding 4-H Members during the Bradford County 4-H awards banquet, which was held June 2 at the Gov. Charley E. Johns Conference Center in Starke.
“These individuals have risen to the top, are actively involved and are a great representation of what Bradford County 4-H is all about,” said Samara Purvis, the Bradford County Extension director who’s also the county’s 4-H agent.
The presentation of the Outstanding 4-H Member awards was just one of many highlights on the evening, which consisted of several other “outstanding” award winners.
An outstanding member was recognized in each age division: Rhoden in the senior division, Jeffrey Eaves in the intermediate division and Emma Griffis in the junior division.
A new award category recognized an outstanding member in each 4-H club. Sadie Tew and Julian Rhoden received those awards in the GRITS and Young Bucks clubs, respectively.
“Sadie had perfect attendance,” Purvis said. “She’s a big helper, always willing to step up in her club. She definitely exemplified true leadership.”
In talking about Rhoden, Purvis said, “Julian was quite the helper in his club, willing to always participate and work really hard.”
Eaves, who was visibly excited each time he was called upon to receive an award, was recognized as the outstanding member of the Little Rascals club.
“He has a lot of energy, as you can see,” Purvis said of Eaves. “He brings that energy to the club. If you ever come into the office, and you’re feeling kind of down, and Jeffrey’s there…he’s going to give you a hug, and he’s going to flirt a little bit.”
Purvis also added, “Sometimes when kids are new to 4-H, and they don’t have any friends or don’t know anyone, it’s good to have a Jeffrey in your club.”
In presenting Allie Gray as Club Bunny’s outstanding member, Purvis said, “Allie just always brought very positive energy to the club. She was always the bit of sun in the club.”
Edrick Hamilton, who is the 12 Guys in Bow-Ties and 12 Girls in Pearls club leader, announced that Jordan Brown was its outstanding member, saying that Brown exhibited the kind of traits he’s looking for in children who want to be a part of the community leadership organization.
“He showed to be that role-model kid who we’re looking for and that we’re trying to get kids to transform into,” Hamilton said, adding that Brown has been coming out of his shell, transforming from a quiet and shy kid to someone who takes on leadership roles instead of staying in the background.
Lucas Grider was named the outstanding member in the Blue-Ribbon Swine club. Purvis referred to a presentation given by Grider on average daily gain, saying, “In his presentation, you could tell he knew exactly what he was talking about. It wasn’t something that he just put
together. He had his heart in that. It showed how dedicated he is to his club.”
In announcing that Raegan Luke as the outstanding member in Horsing Around, Purvis said, “She had some bad days that were pretty tough, but she never gave up. She persevered. Sometimes it’s hard to do that.”
Madelyn Ballard was the outstanding member of the Warriors for Clovers club. Purvis said she displayed a good spirit and always lent a hand to assist other club members.
“She just really showed what true leadership is,” Purvis said.
Purvis announced Regan Broome as named the outstanding member of the Green Acres club, saying, “You don’t have to ask her to be places. She’s just there. That’s rare because teenagers could do a lot of other things instead of coming and hanging out with us old people at the Extension office.”
The last outstanding member announced was Peyton Norman, who’s in the Crafty Clovers club.
“She has a little entrepreneur spirit,” Purvis said. “I hear she makes soaps. She’s always at every meeting, and she encourages all the other club members, but I like Peyton because she has a craft, and she’s going to develop that craft.”
Purvis said she could see Norman being an eventual winner of the Rising Entrepreneurship Award, which was a new award created this year and presented to Kaitlyn McKenzie and Kierstyn McKenzie. Purvis noted that both participated in the Very Berry Bakeoff and made some of the desserts at the banquet.
“They have amazing desserts and have hopes of one day opening a baker,” Purvis said.
Alana Borgner and Ayanna Deary, whom Purvis described as “handy and hard-working youth,” were the recipients of Workhorse Awards. Of Borgner, Purvis said, “She was always there early in the morning and stayed late, just like all of us employees did. She accomplished anything we asked of her, and she almost outworked us all. Her dedication to helping others doesn’t go unseen.”
In talking about Deary, Purvis said she’s “always willing to lend a hand at any event we have.”
“She’s worked very hard at camps, assisting in the office, setting up with the fair and being very supportive of all the 4-H youth,” Purvis said.
Raegan Luke, K.J. Odom, Ryleigh Rhoden and Saylor Rhoden received Busy Horse Project Awards for their participation in the North Area District Horse Show. All qualified to compete at the state show in July.
Luke, Ryleigh Rhoden and Saylor Rhoden were also recognized for their participation in Florida 4-H Day at the Capitol.
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.
In the senior division, Ryleigh Rhoden earned gold, while Auston McKenzie and Payton McKenzie earned silver. Anna Conner, Jordan Hamilton, William Hamilton, Ally McElhenny and Harley Smith earned bronze.
The intermediate division had five earn gold: Shayna Durrance, Jeffrey Eaves, George Wyatt Folsom, Hailey Griffis and K.J. Odom. Regan Adams, Hunter Brewster, Regan Broome, Kaitlyn McKenzie, Kierstyn McKenzie and Maddison Lee earned silver, while Lily Conner and Lucas Grider earned bronze.
Raegan Luke and Ansley Ward received gold in the junior division, while Saylor Rhoden earned silver. Bronze winners were William Conner, Caleb Griffis, Emma Griffis, Levi Jeffrey, Brett Polk and Adaleigh Wainwright.
Cloverbuds — the youngest 4-H members who participate in events for experience — were recognized for performance standards, too: Jackson Brewster, Eva Rose Folsom, Easton Griffis, Allie Griggs, Lane Hartley, Wayne Hartley, Remington Jeffrey, Garrett Lee and Clairabelle Martin.
Youth were also recognized for community service hours.
“One of the criteria for minimum standards is for 4-H members to be involved in 10 or hours of community service, with 50 percent of those hours being directly related to their 4-H project or other 4-H events and activities,” Purvis said.
Recognized for having 10-24 hours of community service were Taelynn Brazell, Hunter Brekke, Jordan Brown, Anna Conner, Lily Conner, William Conner, Ryder Detweiler, Jeffrey Eaves, Caden Eison, Raekwon Givens, Lucas Grider, Caleb Griffis, Emma Griffis, Jordan Hamilton, Mauriya Hankerson, Tymber Harper, Jaden Hendrieth, Beaux Hunter, Aiden Jackson, Levi Jeffrey, Marissa Justice, Grant Lawson, Maddison Lee, Raegan Luke, Taylor Mikkelson, Amir Montaser, K.J. Odom, MacKenzie Phillips, Nicholas Rentas, Saylor Rhoden, Raegan Robinson, Chase Small, Harley Smith, Nolan Stokes, Sydney Todd, Adaleigh Wainwright, Khamari Wilson, Jerzy Wright and Kylee Wright.
Those who had 25 or more community service hours were Regan Adams, Hunter Brewster, Regan Broome, Shayna Durrance, George Wyatt Folsom, Hailey Griffis, William Hamilton, Ally McElhenny, Auston McKenzie, Kaitlyn McKenzie, Kierstyn McKenzie, Payton McKenzie, Ryleigh Rhoden and Ansley Ward.
Livestock Agent Lizzie Whitehead recognized the 14 youth who participated in livestock judging: Regan Broome, Shayna Durrance, George Wyatt Folsom, Jordan Hamilton, Koy Hartley, Auston McKenzie, Kaitlyn McKenzie, Kierstyn McKenzie, Payton McKenzie, Jackson Thames, Natalie Thames, Bailey Varnes, Adaleigh Wainwright, Kate Wainwright and Ansley Ward.
Whitehead said most of the youth had never judged livestock before. Still, the senior team ranked as the sixth-highest team at the state event, while also earning first- and second-place finishes at the Bradford event and second-place finishes at the Alachua, Putnam and Union events. The intermediate team had a first-place finish at the Clay event and first- and third-place finishes at the Bradford and Putnam events, while the junior team placed first at the Union event. Folsom was the first-placing
intermediate individual at the Clay event.
Most 4-H programs don’t have as many youth participating in livestock judging as Bradford did, Whitehead said, adding, “To have 14 who are competing against each other and practicing together and bonding was really fun to watch. I’m proud of all of their accomplishments.”
Whitehead also presented the Community Award winners, saying, “When there is a need, they fill the void with their time and support. One of our biggest fundraisers would not have been as successful without their help. We were able to raise over $6,000 to go toward all the events that we do throughout the year.”
Those receiving the awards were 3RD Cattle, A&D Recovery, C&S Site Prep, Hamilton Custom Services, Hamilton Farms, Jessica Lee, Pat Mundorff, Suburban Carpet Cleaners, Ward Timber, Whitehead Family Cattle and Carnell Williams.
Four individuals were recognized as volunteers who’ve devoted 15 or more years toward supporting 4-H: Liz Burris, Tamara Dinkins, Kim Griffis and Teresa Jerrels.
Another 10 volunteers were recognized, with Purvis saying they “hit the ground running and really exemplified mentorship to our youth this past year.” They were Kristin Cannon, Phillip Crawford, Ayanna Deary, Courtney Finley, Edrick Hamilton, Kyle Jerrels, Haley McElhenny, Kara Rhoden, Miranda Sellers and Laura Sirak.
“4-H really wouldn’t be what it is in Bradford County if we didn’t have our volunteers,” Purvis said.
The last honorees of the night were Ayanna Deary and Ally McElhenny — program completers who are now preparing to go to college. Deary will attend Advent Health University in Orland to pursue a degree in nuclear science. McElhenny will go to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia, to pursue a degree in agricultural communication.
