Locals to be honored with 4-H scholarships

Ten Wayne County youths will be awarded $8,000 in 4-H scholarships at the Wayne County Fair. They were chosen based on their 4-H experience, community activities and scholastic achievements.

Ben Rhoads, Morgan Johnson, and Halle Miller will receive the General 4-H Scholarship prior to the Junior Fair Swine Auction at 8 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in the Wayne County Fair Event Center.

Rhoads is the son of Steve and Barb Rhoads of Smithville. He is a 2023 graduate of Smithville High School and a freshman at The Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute (OSU ATI) majoring in hydraulic power and agricultural business.

A member of the Smithie Whiz Kids, Rhoads is a 13-year 4-Her who has completed 42 projects including goats, breeding and market rabbits, market chickens, market hogs and shooting sports. He was the 2022 Wayne County Junior Fair King and has been an officer of his club, Junior Leaders, and Junior Fair Board. He also was a Cloverbud Camp counselor and CARTEENS leader.

In high school, Rhoads played varsity football, was a member of the National Honor Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Ski Club. He earned his State FFA Degree and is working toward his American FFA Degree.

“My dedication, teamwork, leadership abilities, and hard work are because of what I have learned throughout my 4-H years,” Rhoads said. “Both programs (4-H and FFA) “have helped make me a better person and will help me throughout my life and career.”

He listed recruiting several youths to join 4-H as one of his major accomplishments. He hopes to pursue a career in design and sales of hydraulic components and systems.

Morgan Johnson

Johnson, the daughter of Russ and Molly Johnson of Wooster, is a sophomore at OSU ATI, where she is on the Livestock Judging Team. In 13 years as a member of the Hoof-N-Hide 4-H Club, she completed 45 projects, including breeding sheep, market lambs, breeding and market goats, poultry, rabbits and market hogs. She won multiple breed Champion awards, Outstanding Market Lamb awards and the Excellence in 4-H Award. She also earned a trip to compete at the National Western Stock Show.

She was an officer for her club, Junior Fair Board and Junior Leaders; was crowned Wayne County Junior Fair Princess; counselor for Cloverbud Day Camp and Junior Camp; and member of the livestock and meat judging teams.

Additionally, she’s involved in the Wayne Presbyterian Church and serves as an Ohio Sheep Improvement Association LEAD Council Junior Director.

“Promoting sheep and leading youth in 4-H activities is a passion of mine,” said Johnson, who wants to serve the agricultural industry. “I am a firm believer that the ag and livestock industries helped shape who I am today,” she said, “and I want to give back and help the future generations.”

Halle Miller

Miller is a junior at the University of Akron majoring in marketing and sales management. She is the daughter of Michael and Robin Miller of Creston.

A 12-year member of the Canaan Country Cousins, Miller held office on Junior Fair Board and was a member of the Food and Fashion Board, as well as 4-H Ambassador Team. She was also a Junior Leader and Cloverbud Day Camp counselor.

She represented Wayne County 4-H at the Ohio State Fair with her clothing and textile projects, receiving several Outstanding of the Day awards and 3 Clock trophies. She has shown sheep at the county and state levels and completed dog projects. She was chosen to be a part of the Ohio Youth Capital Challenge and during this experience advocated for 4-H in front of the Ohio State Legislature. Her honors include Excellence in 4-H Award.

A Young Agriculture Professional, she earned her State FFA Degree and is a candidate for the American FFA Degree.

Additionally, she’s been involved in the Wayne County Youth Foundation and volunteered for the Apostolic Harvest Call Center and Daughters of the Auxiliary of Apostolic Christian Village.

Miller said 4-H has provided her with experience in public speaking, leadership, mentoring, and many other practical life skills that will be beneficial to her as she continues her college studies.

Haley Dull and Elizabeth Gilson will be awarded the Doyle Findley Scholarship and Andrea Esselburn the Beef Committee Scholarship before the start of the Junior Fair Beef Auction at 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, in the Event Center.

Haley Dull

Dull is the daughter of Mark and Julie Dull of Rittman. She is a graduate of Rittman High School and the Wayne County Schools Career Center. A nine-year member of Milton Country Clovers, she has completed more than 50 projects with ducks, turkeys, rabbits, market hogs, goats, and feeder calves. She has won Reserve Champion meat turkey, Reserve Grand Champion market goat and Reserve Champion market duck.

Dull said she learned work ethic by preparing her animals for show.

She is a member of Grace Brethren Church where she teaches Sunday School. In high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, captain of the soccer team, and played basketball.

Dull plans to earn a nursing degree at Kent State University and wants to work in a hospital, giving back and helping people.

Elizabeth Gilson

Elizabeth Gilson is the daughter of Kim and Les Gilson of Wooster and an OSU sophomore studying agronomy. A 12-year 4-Her, Gilson was a member of the Jefferson Pioneers and Wayne County Shooting Sports Club. She completed 43 projects that involved food and nutrition, the outdoors, fishing, veterinary science, food science, clothing, guns, laundry, cats gardening, market lambs, breeding sheep and self-determined.

She won the Becky Leatherman Gardening Award, earned Outstanding awards on her projects at the county level, and won Outstanding of the Day awards at the state level.

As an FFA member, she was active in community service events and competed in soil and livestock judging contests. She also was a member of the National Honor Society, Students Opposed to Drugs and Alcohol and Moreland United Methodist Church Youth Group.

Gilson is working on a degree in agronomy and with her degree wants to help local farmers make soil and crop decisions.

Andrea Esselburn

Esselburn is the daughter of Tom and Kelly Esselburn of Shreve and an OSU junior. During her 14 years in 4-H, she exhibited market steers, market hogs, and beef breeding animals at the county and state level.

She was a county medal award winner in beef and served on the Junior Fair Board. “My involvement in 4-H taught me many valuable skills of leadership and service” she said. “Showing livestock for so many years, taught me the importance of hard work to achieve goals. Successes and wins in life come through dedication and commitment, something I am thankful to recognize from the 4-H opportunities I had growing up.”

At OSU, she is a member of Sigma Alpha Professional Agricultural Society, Food Science Club, Meat Science Club, Collegiate Farm Bureau as well as Wayne County Farm Bureau and College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Peer Mentor Program.

Her career goals are to work in the food industry as a marketing and communications professional. She would love a career in the meat industry because she has a passion for promoting animal-based proteins to consumers as part of a healthy, sustainable diet.

Receiving Junior Fair Baked Goods Contest Scholarships are Anna Hovest, Libby Grossniklaus and Kailynn Wickens. These will be presented prior to the Baked Goods Auction at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, in the Event Center.

Anna Hovest

Hovest is the daughter of Andrew and Carrie Hovest of Rittman and a freshman at the College of Wooster. She is a 13-year member of the Sterling 604 Rangers 4-H Club, a club officer, Junior Leader, and Junior Camp counselor. Her projects included photography, cake decorating, woodworking, and gardening. She earned Outstanding honors at county judging and has gained skills in public speaking, leadership, resourcefulness, organization, communication, and perseverance.

She’s been involved in Girl Scouts, National Honor Society, varsity and club soccer, choir, Academic Challenge, Student Council, Teen Institute, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, band, and church.

She is studying archeology with hopes of one day organizing studies at dig sites or even working at a museum, especially if she “can help educate kids about the wonders of ancient worlds” she said. Her 4-H involvement, she said, “has contributed so much to my character over the years.”

Libby Grossniklaus

Libby Grossniklaus is the daughter of Amanda and Troy Dague, Burbank. She is a sophomore at OSU ATI and graduate of Norwayne High School and Wayne County Schools Career Center. She was a 9-year 4-Her, served as an officer for her club, Wayne County Country Cousins, and Junior Leaders, and Junior Fair Board. She also was a CARTEENS leader and a member of the Wayne County Junior Fair Royal Court and 4-H Livestock Judging Team.

Her main 4-H project areas were market beef steers, which she showed at the county and state levels, market hogs, market chickens, pygmy goats, cooking, clothing, and still projects. She said 4-H has taught her many life skills such as hard work, communication, and leadership.

She received the American FFA degree and in high school was active in sports, including track, cheerleading, and soccer.

An agricultural communications major, Grossniklaus wants to own her own consulting business and help agricultural businesses with their social media, website design, and marketing strategies.

Kailynn Wickens

Kailynn Wickens is the daughter of Heather and Mike Wickens of Wooster. In her 14 years in 4-H, she has completed projects in sewing, baking, goats, rabbits, market hogs, and steers. She has been an officer in her club, the Smithie Whiz Kids, Junior Leaders, and Junior Fair Board. She also has been a counselor for Cloverbud Day Camp and Junior Camp, served as a CARTEENS leader and was the 2022 Wayne County Fair Princess.

She received Grand Champion awards for her LaMancha dairy goats and twice won Showman of the Day award for goats. She also won the Best of Breed award for rabbits.

In high school, she was involved in cross country, volleyball, and basketball, played in the band and served in multiple officer positions in FFA. She also helps teach children’s programs at her church.

Wickens is attending TRI-C to become a radiology technician.

Madisyn Morrow

Also prior to the Baked Goods Auction, Madisyn Morrow, the daughter of Ann and Bryan Morrow of Shreve, will receive the Diane Hange Scholarship. She is a junior nursing student at OSU and was a 9-year 4-H’er. She exhibited market hog and rabbit projects and won showmanship and market class awards, and an Outstanding Skillathon award.

Morrow is a volunteer walker and sitter for Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a non-profit organization that raises guide dogs and provides them to members of the visually impaired community, free of charge. At college, she is a member of Ohio State’s Block O student section club for all athletic programs.

“Throughout 4-H l learned how important it is to give back to my community,” Morrow said. “I also learned time management skills and how to care for livestock properly.” She was able to save money earned from selling her livestock projects to pay for college tuition.

Morrow plans to work in the ICU at OSU Wexner Medical Center and eventually wants to become a certified nurse anesthetist.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: 10 Wayne County students earn 4-H scholarships