By JONATHAN SNYDER

Forty-one 4-H members were honored for 10 years of dedicated service to the program, along with the winners of the Caley Memorial Award, County Tenure Awards, and the crowning of the 2024 4-H Ambassadors Saturday.

Wells County 4-H Youth Development Educator Anya Aulbach announced the award winners. This year marks the 56th year of the Caley Award, named after the Caley family. Bill Caley and his four children, Kirby, Kent, Kris Ann and Kevin, were all tragically killed in an auto accident while traveling to the 4-H fair in 1965.

At right, Joshua Bricker and Ella Wheeler show their Caley Award plaques. More photos on Page 3. (Photo by Jonathan Snyder)

Ella Wheeler and Joshua Bricker were announced as the Caley Award winners. The award is given in honor of their outstanding leadership, citizenship, sportsmanship and personality qualities throughout their 4-H, school, community and church activities. Wheeler and Bricker were presented with a $500 cash scholarship and a personalized plaque for their achievements and will have their names engraved on the Caley Memorial Plaque.

From left to right, Ella Wheeler, Hudson Werich, Hunter Wenger, Fletcher Wenger, Brady Wenger, Karlee Warner, Yazmine Tucker, Ayden Teeple and Audrey Sweeden are given their 10-year membership awards. (Photos Jonathan Snyder)

County Tenure awards were presented to Kammy Miller and Ella Wheeler. The County Tenure awards are given to two 4-H members who have taken the most 4-H projects during their time in 4-H. 

From left to right, Chayson Brown, Marianne Pease, Makenzie Fuess and Samantha Evans are the 2024 4-H Ambassadors.

The 2024 4-H Ambassadors are Samantha Evans, Makenzie Fuess, Chayson Brown and Marianne Pease. Evans and Fuess are the senior ambassadors, with Brown and Pease announced as the junior ambassadors. Farm Bureau Scholarships were awarded to Karlee Warner, Case Boxell, Caleb Johnson and Bree Ulfig.

From left to right, Tucker Jenkins, Chase Hulvey, Alexis Grover, Makenzie Fuess, Riley Frauhiger, Chloe Ferguson, Connor Collins, Makaylynn Bushee, Joshua Bricker and Case Boxell are given their 10-year membership awards.

The 10-year 4-H members, followed by their club and their 4-H projects, are listed below:

• Cohen Bailey — Rockcreek Rollers Club, swine project.

• Faith Bales — Jefferson Knightriders Club, rabbit, arts and crafts, archery and junior leader projects.

• Case Boxell — Chester Chargers Club, beef, rabbit, poultry, dairy beef, swine and dairy feeder projects.

• Joshua Bricker — Jackson Jaguars Club, woodworking, electric, sheep, dog, models, collections, foods and junior leader projects.

Above, from left to right, Cade Shelton, Gracie Rinkenberger, Dakota Perry, Grant Nash, Kammy Miller, Jillian Melcher, Lauren Mann, Ella Lahr, Kayla Kiefer and Annabelle Johnson are all given their 10-year membership awards.

• Makaylynn Bushee — Rockcreek Rollers Club, swine and dairy projects.

• Connor Collins — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine, dairy goats, models, forestry and weather and climate projects.

• Chloe Ferguson — Lancaster Achievers Club, poultry project.

• Kylie Frauhiger — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, sewing project.

• Riley Frauhiger — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, dairy feeder and foods projects.

• Makenzie Fuess — Lancaster Achievers Club, poultry, meat goat, garden, corn, arts and crafts, floriculture, rabbits, dairy feeder and foods projects.

• Perrin Gates — Liberty Happy-Go-Lucky Club, cattle, goats and archery projects.

• Alexis Grover — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, poultry, home environment, and BB and rifle projects.

• Chase Hulvey — Rockcreek Rollers Club, meat goat, swine and dairy feeder projects.

• Elijah Ingle — Lancaster Achievers Club, weather and climate science and garden and herb projects.

• Tucker Jenkins — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine project.

• Annabelle Johnson — Lancaster Achievers Club, Nigerian dwarf goat and swine projects.

• Kayla Kiefer — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine, cake decorating and poultry projects.

• Ella Lahr — Liberty Happy-Go-Lucky Club, foods project.

• Lauren Mann – Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, rabbit project.

• Madeline McCabe — Rockcreek Rollers Club, photography, shotgun and rabbit projects.

• Jillian Melcher — Jefferson Knightriders Club, photography project.

• Kammy Miller — Chester Chargers Club, meat goat, poultry, gardening, strawberry, arts and crafts, gift wrapping, woodworking, small engines, dairy goats and poultry poster projects.

• Grant Nash — Lancaster Achievers Club, poultry, swine, meat goats, corn, soybeans, wheat and alfalfa projects.

• Dakota Perry — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, cat and model craft projects.

• Gracie Rinkenberger — Lancaster Achievers Club, cattle and sheep projects.

• Austin Rogers — Wells County Robotics 4-H Club, robotics project.

• Cade Shelton — Rockcreek Rollers Club, swine project.

• Ethan Stauffer — Chester Chargers Club, computer and electric projects.

• Trevon Stoppenhagen — Lancaster Achievers Club, horse and pony, swine and poultry projects.

• Audrey Sweeden — Liberty Happy-Go-Lucky Club, sheep and meat goat projects.

• Ayden Teeple — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, poultry, genealogy and construction toys projects.

• Dalton Tomasek — Lancaster Achievers Club, swine, horse and pony, goats and electric projects.

• Yazmine Tucker — Dairy Club, dairy and dairy feeder projects.

• Karlee Warner — Archery and Shotgun clubs, archery and shotgun projects.

• Brady Wenger — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine, wheat, hay, soybeans and alfalfa projects.

• Fletcher Wenger — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine and goat projects.

• Hunter Wenger — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine, dairy beef, dairy feeder and starter beef projects.

• Marlee Wenger — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, swine, wheat and hay projects.

• Hudson Werich — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, construction toys, woodworking, electrical and weather projects.

• Ella Wheeler — Hurryin’ Harrisons Club, beekeeping, arts and crafts, sewing and entomology projects.

• Vanessa Wilson — Horse and Pony Club, horse and pony project.

jonathan@news-banner.com