BY TRACY LEE TATE
Special to the Times
Union County 4-H held its annual Awards Banquet on May 3, 2024 at Sardis Baptist Church in Lake Butler.
The event featured a buffet-style dinner of smoked chicken, macaroni and cheese, green beans, baked beans, rolls, and dessert.
The Fellowship Hall, where the meal was served, and the Sanctuary were nearly full of 4-H members and their families.
The awards event began at 7 p.m., with Union County UF/IFAS 4-H Extension Agent Meagan Daniel welcoming the crowd and overseeing the opening ceremony.
Latoya and Naliana Hampton presented the 4-H Pledge, followed by Luke Alvarez leading the Pledge of Allegiance. Kylee Thomas sang the National Anthem, followed by the prayer offered by Cadence Collins. Daniel then recognized and welcomed some of the people who had helped make the event possible. Mentioned were: Union County Extension Agent Jim DeValerio, UF/IFAS NE District Director Eric Simone and his wife, Amy, attending county commissioners, Justin and Jessee Howard (he roasted the chicken and she prepared the macaroni and cheese), Sardis Baptist Church Music Director Tog Goodson for operating the sound equipment, George and Ashkea Dyal (for set-up), Farm Bureau (which donated the door prizes), Emerson Nursery (who provided the ferns for the stage) and several families which offered help and brought dessert.
Daniel then went on to give some perspective on the Union County 4-H. She said there were 18 different clubs, 26 approved and background-checked volunteers, with seven additional volunteers who have specialty certifications. She said that, currently, there were about 280 youngsters involved in the program.
The volunteers were then recognized with the club they worked with. These volunteers were: Amanda Boyette (Beyond the Buckle), Selena Chassie (Pigtails and Ponytails), Kimberly Collins and Shane (Bullseye Brigade), Priscilla Conner (New River), Kenneth Cox (Barrel Burners), Shannon Croft (Sew Cute SPIN), Kayla and Channing Dobbs (Sugarberries), Jennifer and John Duniven (Bunny Buddies), Ashkea Dyal (Homeschool), Erin Elixson (Horse Judging), Karen Elixson (Homeschool), Dana Gill (Beyond the Buckle), Jessie Howard (Cloverbuds), Richard Kelley (Barrel Burners), Benji Bennett (Barrel Burners), Leah and Donald Manning (Rooted in Union), Kristyn Neuhofer (Day at the Capital), Randa Roddenberry (New River), Nancy Stalnaker (Pigtails and Ponytails), Waylen Tetstone (Chasin’ Ribbons), Ashlynn Turknett (Chasin’ Ribbons and Emily and Shane Wilson (Bullseye Brigade).
Next came the club recognitions, with each youngster receiving a certification of completion and the club officers also receiving a pin.
The Avid Anglers Club came first, with all members receiving a Wildlife and Fisheries pin for a completed club project books. The officers were Ella Griffis (President), Weston Daniel (Vice-President), Jenson Tetstone (Reporter).
Members of the Baas and Billies Club all received certificates of completion.
The Barrel Burners all received shooting sports pins. The team from this club shot at state competition, with Dallen Cox placing third. He will represent the club at the national shooting sports competition in Grand Island, Nebraska, held June 23-28.
The Beyond the Buckle Club all received a horse pin for the project book completed in the club. Club officers were Lorelai Smith (President), Ryan Boyette (Vice-President), Emerson Garmon (Secretary), Savannah Thornton (Treasurer), Paislee Ricketson (Reporter) and Tinsley Moates and Paislee Melette (Sgts. At Arms).
Members of the Bullseye Brigade all received shooting sports pins. Club officers were Miley Wilson (President), Cadence Collins (Vice-President), Gage Lewis (Reporter and Historian) and Celia Elixson.
The Bunny Buddies received bunny pins. The officers were Dallas Salter (President) and Addilyn Reid (Vice-President). The Chasin’ Ribbons Club all received certificates of completion, as did the Cloverbuds and the Community Service Clubs. The members of the Citizenship SPIN (DATC) Club all received citizenship pins.
The New River Club members received a certificate of completion, while the officers received officer pins. The officer were Cole Welch (President), Braxton Johnson (Vice-President), Reed McNeal (Secretary), Everett Emery (Treasurer), Ayda McNeal (Chaplain) and Rafe Alvarez (Reporter).
Members of the Pigtails and Ponytails received Certificates, while the officers also received pins. Officers were Alayah Jefferson (President), Latoya Hampton and Callie Smith (Vice-Presidents), Naliana Hampton (Secretary), Ava Jefferson, Addy Thomas and Haven Hankerson (Sgts. at Arms), and Marcus Jefferson (Chaplain).
Members of the Providence Friendship and Rooted in Union Clubs all received Certificates of Completion.
The Sugarberries Club members all received certificates and baking pins. Officers were Ella Dobbs (President), Maddie Feltner (Vice-President), Reese Taylor (Secretary), Raylynn Dobbs (Treasurer), Kyler Harper and Grace Box (Secretaries), Ethan Yeagger (Parlimentarian) and Kimber Wallace and Caroline Dukes (Rec. Leaders).
The Homeschool Club members received certificates, while their officers received pins. Officers were Wyatt Rogers (President), Klayton Neuhofer (Vice-President), Hannah Rizer (Secretary), Alyssa Lee (Treasurer), Teghan Sullivan (Reporter), Raylan Dyal and Mazie Redding (Sgts. at Arms) and Sawyer Dyal (Chaplain).
The Horse Judging Team had some achievements announced before receiving their awards, The two teams competed at the State Fair, with one of them placing fourth. The High Individual was Cailynn Boggs. Also, Cailynn Boggs, Cadence Collins, Cuyler Collins and Maddie Croft competed at the state 4-H contest, placing second in the state. They are eligible to compete at 4-H Regionals, in Perry, GA. July 31- Aug. 4, 2024. Boggs was the Number Two Individual and can represent Union County on the Florida Team at nationals in Louisville, KY the first weekend in November.
Finally, the Sew Cute SPIN Club members all received certificates for their work in the past year.
In addition to all the certificates and pins awards members of the clubs, more than 240 project pins were given out to members of clubs who either completed a special project in their club, competed in a local or state competition or completed a project book.
Certificates and pins were awarded to members who have been in 4-H for five years or more. The winners were: Five Years – Kamryn Hartley, Blaine Orton, Tripp Connell, Kassi Kadlec, Corbin Neal, Cooper Gemelli, Paisley Schmitt-Theus, Vivian Hunt, Cain Addison and Cailynn Boggs; Six Years – Farrah Elixson, Anderson Griffis, Raylan Dyal, Emmy Croft, Maddie Croft, Naomi Croft, Latoya Hampton, Natalia Hampton, Alayah Jefferson and Charley Box; Seven Years – Logan Cannon, Callen Collins, Cuyler Collins, Quentin Elixson, Nathaniel Harlow, Delana Barton, Kalli Kadlec, Kalyn Reynolds and Marcus Jefferson; Eight Years – Reagan Williams, Cadence Collins, Celia Elixson, Jacee Box and Klayton Neuhofer; Ten Years – Miley Wilson; Eleven Years – Macie Wilson and Twelve Years – Sydney Box.
Clover Awards were given to nine Cloverbuds, 13 Juniors, five Intermediates and one Senior.
The final presentation of the evening was the awarding of two $1,000 4-H Scholarships. This was the first time these scholarships had been awarded since the scholarship program was founded in 2019. Winners Cailynn Boggs and Sydney Box each received a medallion and tassels for their achievements.
