4-H members recognized for their achievements at annual banquet

The Daily American
·4 min read

BERLIN ― More than 185 4-H award winners, parents, leaders and business sponsors attended the Somerset County 4-H Recognition Banquet held at the Berlin Community Building Tuesday.

The dinner, sponsored by the Somerset County 4-H Development Fund Inc., is designed to recognize 4-H members for their achievements at the county, state, and national levels as well as acknowledge 4-H volunteers for their service during the 2022-2023 programming year. During the evening, more than $3,500 in scholarships were presented to members of the Somerset County 4-H program. They include:

Jenny Countryman is the daughter of Michael and Carol Countryman of Berlin. She is attending Lock Haven University studying to be a physician assistant. She is receiving the J&J Excavating, Lucas Popernack Memorial by Wilson Creek Energy, Commissioner Gerald Walker, Larry and Gale Hay and Somerset Trust Co. scholarships.

Bruck Ohler is the daughter of Carey and Bradley Schilling and Jason Ohler of Central City. She is attending Delaware Valley University, majoring in agribusiness. She is receiving the West Central Equipment, BJ Maurer, Hemminger Homes, Guy Chemical Co., Law Office of Megan Will and Yachere Feed scholarships.

Adalyn Geary is the daughter of Angela and Justin Gibson and Beryl Geary of Boswell. She is attending West Virginia University majoring in agricultural education. She is receiving the Walter Mahler Memorial, Somerset County Beef Producers, Frank Reynolds Memorial and Jenner Rod & Gun Club scholarships.

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The Outstanding 4-H’er Awards presented to Bruck Ohler and Dustin Green were sponsored by Horizon Farm Credit. Sami Jo Hayman received the Intermediate Outstanding 4-H Member Award, presented by Legacy Accounting LLC. The 4-H Spirit Award was presented to Audrey Marko and Logan Karwatsky.

The 4-H Clover Awards, designed to encourage 4-H members to engage in a variety of projects and activities that will enable them to acquire leadership skills necessary to lead successful lives as competent, caring and contributing citizens were also presented.

  • Members receiving Level one ― green clover award: Austin Ansell, Kourtney Ansell, Isabella Caola, Ella Ferris, Dierks Herring, Nevin Hillegass, Logan Karwatsky, Taylor Kister, Mallory Mosgrave, Brooke Rhoads, Tymber Shaffer, Westlee Shaffer and Isaac Lape.

  • Receiving Level two ― white clover award: Elizabeth Griffith, Layne Kister, Peyton Kister, Olivia Rhoads, Lillian Teets and Kyle Will.

  • Receiving Level three ― bronze clover award: Hayden Landis and Heath Landis.

  • Receiving Level four ― silver clover award: Anya Brown, Allison Creegan, Carlie Knott, Rachel Knott, Adysen Weighley and Kaylin Weighley.

  • Receiving Level five ― gold clover award: Carissa Croner, Katelyn Kovacs, Patricia Kovacs and Audrey Marko.

The diamond clover is the highest recognition, level 6. In addition to meeting other requirements, 4-H’ers must plan and conduct a major service-learning project. This year’s award winners are Hannah Mitchell ― “Blooms of Joy,” educating the community about mental health and offering free bouquets to help brighten the community; Laurel Cornell ― First Aid kits; Bailey Knotts ― Little Free Library in Meyersdale; Caleb Antram ― a clothing drive to benefit the Berlin Volunteer Fire Department; Josiah Antram ― food drive for his local food pantry; and Rori Allen ― “Help a Home” where she collected supplies to help the homeless in her community.

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Special recognition for years of service to 4-H as a volunteer was presented by 4-H County Council members.

  • Bronze Clover ― one year of service: Bill Brown, Nathan Croner, Andrea Hay, Danielle Hillegass, Juliann Isgan, Jennifer Kovacs, Abigail Martz, Julie Mitchell, Zach Sloane, Ryan Will and Emily Zambanini.

  • Silver Clover ― five years of service: Greta Durst, Christina Marko, Paige Ohler.

  • Gold Clover ― 10 years of service: Mandy Emert, Mary Green, Dewey Hagerty.

  • Pearl Clover ― 15 years of service: Forrest Ohler.

  • 20 years of service: Elizabeth Kovach, Sherry Lynch, Scott Summits, Keri Weighley.

  • 30 years of service ― Debbie Miller.

Youth were also recognized for their participation in National 4-H events. Sami Jo Hayman traveled in June to Grand Island, Nebraska, to compete in the National 4-H Shooting Sports Competition in archery. She also participated in the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., in April. This event is the pinnacle of civic engagement by connecting youth voices to various federal agencies. Participants are divided into roundtable discussion teams, paired with a federal agency, and are presented with a challenge question. The teams do their research and create solutions and suggestions to then formally present to their agency within the federal agency’s office space.

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Finally, Caleb Antram traveled as part of the Pennsylvania delegation last November to Atlanta, Georgia, to participate in the National 4-H Congress. On Thanksgiving weekend, he joined more than 800 delegates from throughout the United States as they gathered in Atlanta to participate in the 101st National 4-H Congress for a mix of educational workshops, motivational speakers, service-learning project work and recreational opportunities.

For those interested in joining 4-H or becoming a volunteer leader, contact Penn State Extension in Somerset County at 814-445-8911.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: 4-H youth recognized at annual Somerset County banquet