GRAVETTE — “Our Legend Lives On” was the theme of the Benton County 4-H Achievement Banquet which was held Saturday, Nov. 19, in the Benton County Fairgrounds Auditorium.
The annual banquet is sponsored by the Benton County 4-H Foundation and acknowledges the accomplishments of 4-H members, leaders and clubs in Benton County during 2013. Over $13,000 in scholarships was also awarded to graduating seniors.
The Benton County 4-H Council officer team of Joshua Lockhart, president and presider over the evening’s agenda; Ashton Yarbrough, vice president; Lauren Leonard, song leader; and Carson Alsup, Faith Bomstad, Laurel Mayo and Noah Smith, offi cers at large; spent most of the day preceding the banquet preparing for over 260 members and guests. As always, Jessica Street and Janice Shofner, Benton County Cooperative Extension 4-H Agents, were on hand for support and encouragement.
Banquet attendees enjoyed a dinner catered by Smokin Joe’s, entertainment by 4-H members Lauren and Cole Leonard and Laurel Mayo, and a motivational message from Benton County 4-H Alumni and past State 4-H Director, Darlene Zeh Millard. The majority of the evening was devoted to recognizing honorees for their achievements in leadership, community service, record book submission and allaround accomplishments.
Awards presented are as follows:
Benton County 4-H Champions for 2013 - Beginner County Champions, Kendall Yarbrough, Town & Country 4-H, and Hannah Jackson, Liberty Bell 4-H; Intermediate County Champions, Laurel Mayo, Centerton 4-H, and Ashton Yarbrough, Town & Country 4-H; Advanced County Champions, Joshua Lockhart andNoah Smith, both of Town & Country 4-H Club.
County Achievement Awards - First Year Member Award, Valorie Kay, Crosschurch 4-H, and Haley Ann Demi, Logan 4-H; Beginner Community Service Award, Melissa Hope, Cave Springs 4-H, and Julie Griffi n, Logan 4-H; Intermediate Community Service Award, Danica Tate, Centerton 4-H, and Alison Creasey, Siloam Springs 4-H.
Intermediate Leadership Award - Melissa Estes, Cave Springs 4-H, and Adriana Joyce, Apple Spur 4-H; Advanced Leadership Award, Samantha Lambert, Outdoor Adventures 4-H.
State Record Book Winners - Carson Alsup, Technology, Town & Country 4-H Club; Steven Altman, Shooting Sports, Ozark Youth Shooting Sports 4-H Club; Brooke Belts, Swine, Outdoor Adventures 4-H Club; Faith Bomstad, Beef, Logan 4-H Club; Jayme Burden, Animal Science, Decatur 4-H Club; Jessica Crawley, Dairy, Maysville 4-H Club; Lauren Dexter, Vet Science, Cave Springs 4-H Club; McKenzie Hummel, Horse, Horsemanship 4-H Club; Casey Jarding, Leadership, Apple Spur 4-H Club; Samantha Lambert, Family Life, Outdoor Adventures 4-H Club; Ellen Mertes, Foods & Nutrition, Cave Springs 4-H Club; Erin Mertes, Foods & Nutrition, Cave Springs 4-H Club; Emily Pigeon, Leadership, Bloomfi eld 4-H Club; Lauren Russell, Fabrics and Fashions, Apple Spur 4-H Club; and Noah Smith, Health and Fitness, Town & Country 4-H Club.
Jackie Griffin, Logan 4-H Club, and Karl Kay, Crosschurch 4-H Club, were recognized as Leaders of the Year. Two Friend of 4-H Awards were presented to Newell-Rubbermaid and Robert Seay.
Approximately $9,400 in scholarships was awarded to 13 graduating seniors by the Benton County 4-HFoundation, and an additional $12,500 in scholarships was presented by other county 4-H sponsors.
County 4-H Foundation Scholarships were awarded to the following 2014 Seniors: Faith Bomstad, $1,250; Joshua Lockhart, $1,250; Noah Smith, $1,000; Carson Alsup, $1,000; Levi Bingham, $1,000; Kirby Romines, $900; Brooke Belts, $750; Samantha Lambert, $750; Jennifer Isgrigg, $500; Ashley Jackson, $250; Kaia Gossman, $250; Howie Stettmeier, $250; and Tyler Hamilton, $250.
Other scholarships given during the banquet included two Nature’s Calling $500 scholarships, presented by the Northwest Arkansas Garden Coop, to Samantha Lambert and Howie Stettmeier; a $500 Nina Dean & Euel Patton Memorial scholarship to Samantha Lambert; mentoring scholarships given by an anonymous donor to Kirby Romines and Carson Alsup for $500 per semester for four years; a $500 scholarship to Joshua Lockhart; and $250 scholarships to Tyler Hamilton and Noah Smith. Noah Smith received the Jason Bertschy Memorial Scholarship for $500. Four T&C 4-H Service Scholarships of $500 each were awarded to Noah Smith, Joshua Lockhart, Levi Bingham and Carson Alsup.
Twelve 4-H clubs in Benton County achieved County Honor status and six 4-H clubs in the county achieved State Honor status. Benton County 4-H clubs who earned ‘State Honor Club’ recognition were: Apple Spur, Cave Springs, Centerton, Crosschurch, Logan and Town & Country 4-H Club.
4-H is the Youth Development Program of the University of Arkansas and is open to all youth between the ages of 5 and 19 without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, disability or any other legally protected status. There are over 500 members associated with 24 4-H clubs in Benton County.
Sports, Pages 16 on 11/27/2013