Dodge County 4-H Achievement Program held Sunday

By Pat Hahn for the Daily Times
Monday, October 22, 2007 12:18 PM CDT

The accomplishments of Dodge County 4-H clubs and their members during 2007 were recognized during the annual achievement program at Juneau Sunday afternoon.

Jessica Pillsbury, Watertown Boosters, and Katherine Dogs, Herman Hornets, received the prestigious 4-H Key Awards, the highest award a 4-H member can receive in Wisconsin. In addition to certificates, both received commendations from the Wis-consin Legislature.

Each year 4-H members prepare record books documenting their 4-H involvement and what they have done and learned in their projects. Outstanding achievement award winners are chosen from those record books, with evaluation based both on project work and club, county and community involvement.

Awards were presented in both the junior division (for those in third through eighth grades) and the senior division (for those ninth grade and above).

Kari Schoenike received the Julie Stippich Outstanding Achievement Award in the junior division, and Abeni Aschebrook, the Kevin Stippich Award in the senior division. The awards are presented annually in memory of two 4-H members who lost their lives in tragic accidents.

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Also recognized for outstanding achievement in the junior division were Anna Boschert, Katelyn Buss, Matt Ebert, Laura Schoenike, and Brook Smith. In the senior division, Sam Arndt, Katherine Dogs, Eric Pamperin and Jessica Pillsbury received similar recognition.

In addition to the outstanding achievement recipients, top junior division record books were submitted by Caleb Aschebrook, Nathan Fink, Janelle Remington, Mikayla Meyer, Marissa Schmitz, and Kelly Vierck.

Other top senior division record books were prepared by Joel Behl, Rebecca Minnig, Sarah Buszka, Steffani Koch, and Kristin Natzke.

Frank Behling received the Crowley Dairy Award, and Mikayla Meyer and Sarah Buszka, the Thorman Foods Awards.

Members were also recognized for their work in individual projects. Recipients of junior division awards, sponsored by Dodge County Home and Community Education, included adventure: Caleb Aschebrook; aerospace: Matthew Ebert; beef and beef feeder: Eva Arndt; cake decorating: Shala Brehm, Kari Schoe-nike, Laura Schoenike; cats: Megan Kreitzman, Holly Pamperin, Scott Pamperin, Laura Schoenike.

Ceramics: Megan Kreitzman, Brook Smith; child development: Laura Schoenike; clothing: Jodi Berndtson, Katelyn Buss, Laura Schoenike; creative stitchery: Kari Schoenike; crocheting: Emily Groh; dairy: Felicia Bohn, Seth Nehls, Janelle Remington, Brook Smith, Carrie Warmka; dogs: Anna Boschert, Janelle Remington; drawing and painting: Matthew Ebert; electricity: Zachary Miller.

Exploring: Emma Meyer, Justin Wuestenberg; folk arts: Laura Schoenike; foods: Mikayla Meyer; friends helping friends: Laura Schoenike; garden: Shala Brehm, Rachel Perry; health: Scott Pamperin; home environment: Katelyn Buss, Marissa Schmitz; horse: Elizabeth Affeld, Eva Arndt, Anna Boschert, Alexus Remington, Janelle Rem-ington; knitting: Jodi Berndtson, Leslie Dykstra; leathercraft: Laura Schoenike.

Music: Katelyn Buss, Laura Schoenike; pallet of fun: Brook Smith; photography: Anna Boschert, Kelly Vierck; rabbits: Carrie Schuett, Kelly Vierck; rubber stamping: Emily Groh; scale models: Scott Pamperin; community service: Kari Schoenike; sheep: Anna Boschert, Mikayla Meyer, Connor Schultz, Saman-tha Schultz; shooting sports: Mikayla Meyer; stencil painting: Laura Schoenike; swine: Kelly Vierck; woodworking: Zachary Miller; youth leadership: Laura Schoenike.

Members receiving senior division project awards, sponsored by Watertown Daily Times, included adventure: Abeni Aschebrook; archery: Joshua Westphal; basketry: Chelsea Gutzdorf; beef and beef feeder: Sam Arndt; cake decorating: Taylor Brehm, Cassandra Meyer; cats: Eric Pamperin; celebrate art: Sarah Buszka; ceramics: Alyssa Kreitzman;

Clothing: Katie Dogs, Cassan-dra Meyer; creative stitchery: Sarah Buszka; creative writing: Michelle Behl; crocheting: Sarah Buszka, Danica Wendlandt; dairy: Frank Behling, Brett Hildebrandt, Ty Hildebrandt; Steffani Koch, Kristin Natzke, Kyle Natzke; dogs: Abeni Aschebrook; flowers: Joshua Westphal; foods: Sarah Buszka, Cassandra Meyer, Christopher Vierck.

Garden: Laura Jordan, Amanda Soldner; goats: Allison Schuett; history and heritage: Eric Pamperin; horses: Marisa Toepfer, Joshua Westphal; leathercraft: Derek Gensch; music: Rebecca Minnig; nature space: Eric Pamperin; photography: Eric Pamperin, Christopher Vierck, Samantha Zander; poultry: Joel Behl; rabbits: Joel Behl, Christopher Vierck, Victoria Voigt.

Rubber stamping: Katherine Dogs; scale models: Eric Pamperin; scrapbooking: Sarah Buszka; waterskiing: Michelle Behl; sheep: Cassandra Meyer; shooting sports: Cassandra Meyer; stencil painting: Rebecca Minnig; swine: Christopher Vierck; woodworking: Andrew Buss, Brianna Rhodes; youth leadership: Katherine Dogs, Eric Pamperin.

Secretary awards, sponsored by Esther Menn Memorial, went to Kari Schoenike, Juneau Victorians, in the junior division and Rebecca Minnig, Leipsic, in the senior division. Honorable mention went to Emily Groh and Paul Metzgar.

Reporter awards, sponsored by Gloria Hafemeister, went to Nathan Fink, Herman Hornets, in the junior division and Sam Arndt, Trenton Highlights, in the senior division.

Four-H clubs were also recognized for their work in specific activity areas. Special emphasis awards, sponsored by the Water-town Daily Times, went to the following: high honors: Herman Hornets, Juneau Victorians; honors: Lebanon Luckies, Leipsic; participation: Lomira Clover Leaves, Trenton Highlights.

Juneau Victorians and Leipsic were recognized for having the best dairy promotion ideas.

Dodge County Farm Bureau President Jim Schoenike presented paperweights to club graduates. Graduates included Jessica Blodgett, Kristin Natzke, and Tanya Oechsner, Lomira Clover Leaves; Nicole Buss, Tri County Twisters; Chelsea Carl, Katie Coughlin, Jeremy Laird, and Amy Mason, County Line; Jonathan Giese, Mayville Lucky Clovers; Amanda Graff and Jessie Welhoefer, Portland Boosters; Kathryn Haberman, Leipsic; Laura Jordan, Oak Grove Owls; Ryan Marshall, Richwood Rangers; Julie Martin and Emily McAleavey, Neosho Utopians; Rebecca Frank and B.J. Nehls, Sinissippi; Caitlyn Nehmer, Leipsic; Nicholas Neitzel, Julie Schumann, Lake-side; Katie Qualmann, Herman Hornets; Raven Wagner, Juneau Victorians.

Program emcees Sam Arndt and April Schultz commented on how 4-H has benefited them. Both said 4-H has taught them lifelong skills, developed lasting friendships, introduced them to a wide variety of activities and opportunities.

Dodge County Agriculture and Extension Education Committee member Bob Krueger thanked Extension staff, parents and volunteers for their work. “Four-H is an old organization, but it just keeps doing more and more. It makes me proud to see the work of this group and the unbelievable things they do,” he said. “Your efforts are definitely appreciated.”

Using “Glowing 4-H Experiences” as her theme, Dodge County 4-H Youth Development Agent Sally Schoenike told 4-H members, “Your 4-H experiences glow with accomplishments.” She urged members to think about their accomplishments and what they have learned during the year. “Look at your entire 4-H experience as reflecting on that glowing experience,” she added.

AOK 4-H Club served as program hosts.