The annual Webster County 4-H Awards Celebration was held Sunday in the Opera House at the Fort Museum and Frontier Village.

This event recognizes 4-H members, volunteers, and supporters. The night is sponsored each year by the Webster County 4-H Foundation and the Webster County Extension and Outreach Office.

The 4-H County Council thanked 4-H volunteers, donors, and other 4-H supporters. Throughout the evening, a variety of club and project area awards, special awards, scholarships, and volunteer recognition awards were presented. Council members also celebrated graduating seniors as they began their last year as 4-H members.

The hostesses for the program were Aianna Kirby and Brookelynne Peterson.

Club awards were presented to the following:

Badger Builders

First Year Member Awards: Harper Banks, Lydia Cowell, Eastyn Johnson, Jack Yetmar.

C/C Sidekicks

First-Year Member Awards: Kenray Behrens, Jaden Clute, Eleftheria Goebel, Madeline Goebel, Elijah Kiplinger, Falen Klein, Jeremiah Mitchell. Intermediate Achievement Award: Ava Marie Kirby. Senior Achievement Awards: Aianna Kirby, Jennifer Touney. Officer Awards: Sylvia Wacholtz — President and Photographer Award, Aianna Kirby — Vice President and Historian Award, Zoey Wacholtz — Secretary Award, AvaMarie Kirby — Recreation Leader Award.

Dayton Tigers

First-Year Member Awards: Sullivan Crandell, Creo Davis, Ryker Eslick, Tavin Goeders, Caleb Lundgren, Declan Lundgren, Wyatt Miller, Olivia Nowell, Dane Ott, Brayden Richardson, Garrett Swanson, Max Wicklein. Junior Achievement Awards: Paisley Bintz, Heavan Cunigan, Serenity Cunigan, Allison Hayes, Dane Ott, Noah Peterson, Garrett Swanson, Max Wicklein. Intermediate Achievement Awards: Xavier Cunigan, Grant Peterson, Joley Swanson. Senior Achievement Awards: Blessing Cunigan, Luke Muench, Jacob Nieland. Officer Awards: Luke Muench — President Award, Grant Peterson — Secretary Award.

Douglas Dreamers

First-Year Member Awards: Grace Anderson, Aubreigh Ballard, Harrison Carzoli, Degan Friesth, Camren Hurtt, Joshua Klemp, Gracia McHone, Anna Nicholson, Adia Pearson, Vincent Pearson, Addison Potter. Junior Achievement Awards: Charlie Bedford, Joshua Klemp, Claire Schelle. Intermediate Achievement Awards: Gracie Kallansrud, Lauren Schelle. Officer Awards: Cora Anderson — Vice President Award, Aviela Savv — Secretary Award, Robbie Vit — Treasurer Award, Joe Vit — Recreation Leader Award.

Elkhorn Earlybirds

First-Year Member Awards: Zoey Bell, McKenna Fevold, Lillian Ford, Lauren Kavanaugh, Cooper Rentz. Junior Achievement Awards: Lucas Eastman, Charlie Meyer. Officer Awards: Nora Lane — President Award, James Kavanaugh — Secretary Award, Lyra Lane — Recreation Leader Award.

Gowrie Groundbreakers

First-Year Member Awards: Charlotte Adams, Nicolas Albright, Nolan Albright, Lillian Allen, Elijah Gustoff, Tayden Gutshall, Leonard Loeffler, Violet Newell, Kenyia Ruebel, Lane Ruebel, Caitlyn Wanat, Scarlett Wood. Junior Achievement Awards: Charlotte Adams, Ella Kuhn, Kiley Norine, Kenley Spece, Caitlyn Wanat, Emilia Zimmerman. Intermediate Achievement Award: Kaylee Hicks, Brock Norine, Blaine Peterson, Andrew Wanat. Senior Achievement Awards: Cooper Spece, Benjamin Wanat, Tyler Wanat. Officer Awards: Lane Ahlers — President Award, Benjamin Wanat — Vice President Award, Turner Ahlers — Treasurer Award, Drew Ahlers — Recreation Leader Award, Andrew Wanat — Recreation Leader Award.

Johnson Jaguars

First-Year Member Awards: Mack Allen, Henry Compart, Kolton Condon, Layne Condon, Nora Hogan, Eva Kingland, Adolee Mowrer, Cambree Mowrer, Keagan Mowrer, Treavor Mowrer. Junior Achievement Award: Abby Allen, Mack Allen, Calli Bird, Henry Compart, Kolton Condon, Layne Condon, Nora Hogan, Emma Johnson, Emma Trice. Intermediate Achievement Awards: Case Condon, Kinnick Egli, Millie Egli, Madelyn Wittrock. Senior Achievement Awards: Bellah Aquino, Bianca Aquino, Cade Buenting, Owen Compart, Kyla Egli, Alexis Essing, Addison Loseke, Ava Messerly, Ava Nelson, Keaton Wittrock, Logan Wittrock. Officer Awards: Kyla Egli — President Award, Keaton Wittrock — Vice President Award, Logan Wittrock — Treasurer Award, Bianca Aquino — Secretary Award, Bellah Aquino — Photographer Award, Maddie Wittrock — Recreation Leader Award, Millie Egli — Recreation Leader Award.

County project awards were presented to the 4-H members by the 4-H County Council members. 4-H’ers had to submit their record-keeping materials in order to be considered for these awards. Citizenship, communication, and leadership were considered when selections were made.

Award winners were: Bianca Aquino — Long Term Record Book, Achievement; Owen Compart — Long Term Record Book, Achievement; Blessing Cunigan — Achievement; Alex Lambert — Long Term Record Book; Luke Muench — Long Term Record Book, Achievement; Tyler Wanat — Long Term Record Book, Achievement.

The 4-H Spirit Award was given to several 4-H’ers for their extra work and dedication to the 4-H program. This award was given at the Junior level to Harper Banks and Scarlett Zaharia of the Badger Builders, and Paisley Bintz and Dane Ott of the Dayton Tigers. At the Intermediate level, the award was presented to Maiya Herndon of the Badger Builders. At the Senior level, award recipient was Joe Kauffman of the Dayton Tigers.

Volunteers were presented with clover pins and certificates for serving five and 10 years as a 4-H volunteer. Five years of service to the 4-H program receive the silver clover pin: Anna Lewandowski — Poultry Project Leader, Suzie McDonald — Horse Project Leader, receiving a gold clover pin for 10 years of service: Aaron Martin — Beef Project Leader.

Volunteers who stepped down from their leader role were thanked for their dedication and support: Becky Aquino as Johnson Jaguars club leader; Marsha Farnham as Gowrie Groundbreakers club leader; Pam Speck as Rabbit Project leader; and Heather Wittrock as Johnson Jaguars club leader.

The Caring Adult Awards were presented to Susie McDonald and Mindy Ott. McDonald is a coach and horse project leader who consistently supports youth. She is described as always being there for her club, cheering them on, and creating memorable experiences, such as stopping for treats after activities.

Ott is a leader for the Dayton Tigers 4-H Club. With her humor and magnetic personality, she creates a welcoming environment that makes each youth feel special and valued.

The Alumni 4-H Member Award was presented to Josh Carlson of Gowrie and Erin and Justin Ford of Fort Dodge.

Carlson, a Gowrie Groundbreakers alumnus and current Swine Project Leader, has an impressive 4-H journey spanning nine years.

Erin Ford was an active member of the Webster Dictionaries 4-H Club for about four years. Justin Ford grew up as a member of the Washington Winners 4-H Club and has spent the past 12 years serving as a shooting sports leader.

The Honorary 4-H Member Award was presented to Lindsay Kavanaugh, of Fort Dodge. She is a former 4-H county youth coordinator who created opportunities for young people to lead, learn, and grow in confidence. She continues to serve as an active 4-H parent and dedicated volunteer.

College scholarships were presented in memoriam of several individuals associated in various ways with Webster County 4-H.

The Bill and Pat Coffey Memorial Scholarship was presented to Tyler Wanat; the MaryAnn Haase Memorial Scholarship to Lyra Lane; the Colin Murphy Memorial Scholarship to Owen Compart; the Eddie Peterson Memorial Scholarship to Brookelynne Peterson; the Pat Rees Memorial Scholarship was presented to Bianca Aquino; the Dean Scharf Memorial Scholarship was presented to Blessing Cunigan.

Additional scholarships were given, including: Des Moines River Valley Tractor & Engine Club Scholarship given to Luke Muench; and the Webster County 4-H Foundation Scholarship given to Alex Lambert. Each of the scholarships presented were valued at $500.

Twenty-three graduating seniors were also celebrated as they began their final year as Webster County 4-H members. Senior members included: Bianca Aquino, Cade Buenting, Ellie Carstens, Owen Compart, Blessing Cunigan, Hailey Dawson, Nolan Eslick, Alexis Essing, Oryan Hanson, Joe Kauffman, Aianna Kirby, Alex Lambert, Lyra Lane, Addison Loseke, Luke Muench, Sydney Novencido, Brookelynne Peterson, Ryan Stewart, Sylvia Wacholtz, Tyler Wanat, Taylor Willardson, Alexander Wirtz, and Keaton Wittrock.