County 4-H Herdsman Awards Finishes Off the County Fair!

Jamestown, NY (August 1, 2024) Each year, as the Chautauqua County Fair winds down, the whole 4-H Program gathers in the Warren K. Brown Show Arena to celebrate and award the youth who have excelled in a variety of areas at the Fair. Special scholarships are awarded and then awards by specific animal projects. Barn superintendents are asked to nominate young people in their barn or area for these prestigious awards.

The following criteria are considered for these awards: Sportsmanship, Kindness, Communication Skills, Trustworthiness, Responsibility, Ethics, Initiative, Positive Role Model to others, Helpfulness, Have Diverse Interests and these nominees should exemplify the four-fold development of 4-H: head, heart, hands and health.

The first award was the Most Improved 4-Hr Award, in memory of Robert Spinler. The youth that were nominated were: Caitlyn Kriner, Ida Jones, Addison Damcott, Anna Carlberg, Lissie Case, Hunter Bova, Everett LeBarron, Payton Stalter and Aryienna Bunce. This year’s recipient was Addison Damcott of the Sherman Kountry Kids 4-H Club.

The next award was the Kris TeWinkle Memorial Spirit of 4-H Award. Those nominated were: Abigail Carlberg, Lexus Eschenbach, Carly Wilson, Kamryn Harper, and Jaidyn Newhouse. Abigail Carlberg was selected for this award.

The 2024 Most Outstanding 4-H Junior Superintendent Award Nominees were: Levi Overend, Cole Nickerson, Lexus Eschenbach, Kaitlyn Brown, Lydia Covert, Denza Fanara, Caitlyn Kriner, and Grace Pfleuger. The award was presented to Denza Fanara of the Horse Project.

Best All Around 4-H Member Award in Memory of Kazan Mosher nominees were: Logan Ellsworth, Charlotte Couchman, Hannah Schauman, Madalyn Reading, Cole Nickerson, Everett LeBarron, and Kendall Nickerson, with the award being presented to Madalyn Reading.

Also recognized at the Herdsman Awards are the youth that are aging out of 4-H and moving on to the next chapters of their lives. This includes: Morgan Becker, Hallie Boardman, Lydia Covert, Lexus Eschenbach, Mackenzy Graziano, Tegenya Graziano, Kamryn Harper, Breanna Keefe, Adam Lesch, Cole Nickerson, Hannah Schauman, Luisa Smith, Leighanne Swan, and Erma Jean Wolcott.

Each animal barn then presents the special Herdsman Awards. Although other awards are given, it’s the Herdman Awards that are the feature event. In the Horse Barn, Senior Herdsman goes to Carley Wilson, Junior Herdsman goes to Wyatt Portice. In the Hog Barn, Adam Lesch was selected as Senior Herdsman, with Landon Manning winning the title of Junior Herdsman. The Sheep Barn selected Baker Huntington as its Senior Herdsman and Olivia Kwilos was the Junior Herdsman. In the Poultry Project, Everett LeBarron was the Senior Herdsman and Serens Overstreet was selected as the Junior Herdsman. The Beef Project awarded Levi DeLand as the EarlyBird Herdsman, and Lance Griswold as the Best Helper. In the Goat Barn Mackenzy Graziano was Senior Herdsman and Tess Speck the Junior Herdsman. For the Dairy Bar Abigail Carlberg was the Senior Herdsman and Evie Woodis the Junior Herdsman.

Special thanks to the 4-H Teen Ambassadors for their extra work on several events throughout the week, including the Master Showman events! These events were enjoyed by all who participated!

Good luck 4-H members and families until we see you in the next project year!

The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.

Last updated August 1, 2024