Wood County 4-H Royalty 2024. Queen: Katie Daley of Lubeck Lucky Clovers 4-H Club; Princess: Skylar Hart of Woodchucks 4-H Club; Prince: Jaxon Swiger of Fairview 4-H Club; King: Colorado Sampson of Collegiate 4-H Club. (Photo Provided)

MINERAL WELLS — Wood County 4-H celebrated a year of accomplishments at its annual Awards Ceremony on Nov. 5.

4-H Club Awards of Excellence went to Belleville, Fairview, Lubeck Lucky Clovers, Sand Hill Explorers, Teen Leaders, and Woodchucks 4-H Clubs. American Brushhoppers, Belleville, Fairview, Lubeck, Sand Hill, Sharp Shooters, Woodchucks and Teen Leaders 4-H Clubs received blue ribbon recognition. Red ribbon recognition was given to Rebels and white ribbon recognition to Saulsbury 4-H clubs.

4-H Clubs created displays for the National 4-H week event to promote the program and recruit new members. The WVU Parkersburg Collegiate 4-H Club received 1st place, Lubeck Lucky Clovers 2nd place, and Belleville 3rd place.

Wood County 4-H clubs nominated outstanding members for the year. American Brushpoppers: Justin Donato, Zoey Swisher and Grace Hall. Belleville: Evan Banks, Callie Dixon, Cooley Dixon, Morgan Wicker and Hollie Smith. Fairview: Jaxon Swiger, Josiah Swiger, and Rochel Young. Lubeck Lucky Clovers: Chase Breen and Myah Tice. Rebels: Noah Stout, Emmy Fullerton, Collin Lewis, Ady Matheny, Evan Kent and Samantha Thompson. Sand Hill: Jacob Anderson, Lycan Cline, Hailey Barnes, Lucas Lewellyn and Ashlee Stephens. Saulsbury: Landon Fordyce, Lilian Blair, Caleb Shore, Elizabeth Ludwig, Bodee Walters and Emilee Allsion. Sharp Shooters: Eliana Higgins, Morgan Wicker and Emilee Allison. Woodchucks: Maylee Bland and Skylar Hart. Teen Leaders: Paisley Fry and Audrey Sundstrom.

Six 4-H members were selected from the club nominees to be 2023 Wood County Outstanding 4-H Members. Junior grades 3-5: Justin Donato and Callie Dixon. Intermediate grades 6-8: Chase Breen and Hailey Barnes. Senior grade 9 to age 21: Lucas Lewellyn and Hollie Smith.

Community Service Award Winners from Wood County 4-H at an awards ceremony in November. (Photo Provided)

Wood County 4-H Teen Leaders were recognized for their service and leadership. Achievement in Service: Jordan Dearth and Lily Sundstom. Achievement in Leadership: Chase Breen and Lucas Lewellyn. Outstanding Service Awards: Byron Dearth, Cameron Shore and Audrey Sundstom. Outstanding Leadership Awards: Emma Casto, Jayden Dearth and Ali Evans.

4-H members pledge their hands to larger service in their clubs, community, country, and their world. Several members were honored for their service this past year. Helping Hands (ages 5-10): Mason Ewing and Abrianna Fleak. Making a Difference (ages 11-15): Lorelei Dent, Brayden Jenkins, Lainey Lewis, Kay Lewis, Cheyenne Martin, Dixie Martin, Cate McLain, Brantley Poling, Owen Skinner and Samantha Thompson. True Leaders in Service (ages 16-21): Marissa Hendershot, Hannah Lent, Isaac Lewis, Miryan Lewis, Carter McLain, Laekyn McLaughlin, Lilly-Ann Skinner, Hollie Smith and Ashlee Stephens, Audrey Sundstrom.

Presidential Service Awards are issued on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service and civic participation. Wood County 4-H members meeting the criteria for Bronze, Silver, and Gold awards were honored. Bronze: Jansen Swiger, Abrum Dent, Emmy Fullerton, Ezekiel Dent, Callie Dixon, Evan Banks, Caleb Shore, Josephine Myers, Cooley Dixon, Emilee Allsion, Emma Casto, Lucas Lewellyn, Byron Dearth, Jayden Dearth, Katie Daley, Hannah Parsons, Emma Daley, Cyleigh Sampson, Hope Prunty, Tessa Prunty and Erin Carmicle. Silver: Sophia Burgess, Isaac Marvel, Jaxon Swiger, Sara Stoneking, Jennessa Lewellyn, Camryn McLain, Grace Hall, Cate Evans, Whitney Griffith, Braydyn Griffith, Ambreia Griffith. Gold: Eliana Higgins, Malachi Sindledecker, Martin Sindledecker, Josiah Swiger, Morgan Wicker, Chase Breen, Jordan Dearth, Ali Evans, Dalton Dearth, Brayden Keeney and Cameron Shore.

4-H Project Medal recipients: Evan Banks – Rabbit; Madison Lewis – Rabbit and Poultry; Cyleigh Sampson – Swine, Poultry and Horse; Hollie Smith – Beef; Jaxon Swiger – Bicycle and Health.

4-H members were honored for their service and leadership and recognized for their extraordinary character. Rising Stars (ages 13-15): Paisley Fry, Jenessa Lewellyn and Morgan Wicker. Continuing Service and Leadership (ages 18-21): Katie Daley, who have continued to serve the program and their communities beyond high school and in college.

All County Member and Volunteer Award Winners 2023 from Wood County 4-H at an awards ceremony in November. (Photo Provided)

I Dare You Awards (ages 16-18) also known as the National Leadership Award recognizes extraordinary young leaders for their character and leadership potential. This year Wood County 4-H selected Erin Carmicle and Cate Evans for this top honor.

4-H Royalty are selected each year to represent the Wood County 4-H for the upcoming year 2023-2024 at parades and events. These individuals are selected based on their records of service and achievement. Princess: Skylar Hart of Woodchucks 4-H Club. Prince: Jaxon Swiger of Fairview 4-H Club. King: Colorado Sampson of Collegiate 4-H Club, and Queen: Katie Daley of Lubeck Lucky Clovers 4-H Club.

Wood County State 4-H Poster and Photo Contest winners were on display at the State Fair of West Virginia: Alaiyah Bland, Callie Dixon, Jaxon Swiger, Olivia Tice, Savannah Tice, Isabella Bland, Lorelei Dent, Elizabeth Ludwig, Josiah Swiger, Morgan Wicker, Alana Willis, Jayden Dearth, Shyanne Dearth, Alexis Smith, Evan Banks, Kayleen Staats, Grace Hall, Carter McLain, and Camryn McLain. Wood County 4-H had 82 blue ribbon still projects on display at the State Fair of WV.

Morgan Wicker received a Gold Ribbon for her state visual animal science presentation and her presentation was on display at the State Fair of WV.

Wood County 4-H participated in the state Stockman’s Judging Contest with the team members Audrey Kent, Bodee Walters, Austin Kent, Morgan Wicker and Kayleen Staats. Audrey Kent (51), Bodee Walters (145), Austin Kent (152), Morgan Wicker (42), and Kayleen Staats (58) competed against several participants in the individual state senior and junior competition.

Mary Buck was presented with the Friend of 4-H Award from Wood County 4-H Extension Agent Jodi Smith at an awards ceremony in November. (Photo Provided)

The Wood County 4-H Jr. Air Rifle team won 1st place in the regional competition. Morgan Wicker got 2nd place in the Junior division with 449 points. Cooley Dixon earned 7th place with 422 points. In the Senior division Emilee Allison received 9th place with 473 points and Samantha Thompson 14th place with 456 points.

Wood County Sharp Shooters participated in the State Archery Qualifier this year. Placing in the top 10 for Genesis Class from Wood County was William Mullen (10), Lily Sundstom (9), Spencer Steele, Cooley Dixon (6), Eliana Higgins (5), and Morgan Wicker (4). Josh Steele placed 3rd in Compound bow and qualified for National competition.

West Virginia 4-H All Stars live by the motto of service. Adult 4-H members who have earned a charting pin, and 4-H volunteers with five or more years of service to the organization, are eligible for All Star nomination. The newest All Stars for 2023 are 4-H Members Caroline Affolter, Stephanie Kent, TJ Life, Mallory Marks, Doreen Moore, Doug Moore, Becky Murphy, Brent Parsons, Ted Pigott, and Tessa Prunty.

One All Star was selected as Outstanding All Stars for 2023: Kelly Casto. Kelly gives new meaning to the word “outstanding.” She serves as a camp coordinator of two county 4-H camps, a camp counselor, club leader, fund-raiser, and chief of the county 4-H All Stars. Kelly has gone above and beyond for Wood County 4-H. She is a true Outstanding All Star and lives the motto of “service” in all she does.

The Wood County 4-H program is only possible because of the dedicated service of our volunteers. Honored for years of service this year were 5th Year Silver Clover: Haley Garrison, Rachelle Garrison, Amy Mullen and Ryan Vaughan. 10th year Gold Clover: Lindsey Boso, Kyla Conger, Lyndall Jones, Mel Lockhart, Bob Lockhart, Jay Prunty, Bob Sponaugle and Crystal Sponaugle. 15th Year Pearl Leader: Brittany Williams. 20th Year Diamond Linda Dearth, Angela Evans, Mary Richter, Georg Taylor and Angie Thompson. 25th Year Clover: Allen Russ Collins and Angie Groves. 30th Year Ruby Clover: Michael Fling and Michelle Fling. 35th Year Sapphire Clover: Tony Boso and Betty Somersville. 40th Year Diamond Clover: Penny Todd.

Wood County 4-H selected one Outstanding 4-H Volunteer for 2023 – Sharon Perdue, a dedicated 38-year volunteer leader in Wood County. She began as a member of the Lubeck Lucky Clovers 4-H Club when she was 9, became a volunteer, and her three sons were also members of the same club. Perdue wears many hats – chaperone, camp counselor, instructor, conservation, club and county fundraisers, haunted trails, tour days, teen leaders, this volunteer does it all. For 20 years she has used her expertise in food service management to oversee the club’s famous Taco Buggy fundraiser. She is a favorite among camp counselors and has served both county and state camps. In addition to her 4-H service, she is an auxiliary member of the local fire department, organizes blood drives, has traveled with the Red Cross during disaster relief. She is also very active in her church Lunch Sak program and involves 4-H members in all her service activities.

Honored as Friend of 4-H at this year’s Awards Ceremony, Mary Buck, who has been a staunch supporter of the Wood County 4-H program and the Wood County 4-H Camp for 56 years. She has led hundreds of fundraisers to support the county’s 4-H campground, donated thousands of hours of time, and has provided both in kind and financial support for decades. She quietly supports 4-H behind the scenes in every aspect of the program, and she continues to cook in the 4-H camp kitchen during summer camps, fundraisers, and Showcase. She also provides much educational support to the program, teaching gardening and tree identification, cooking, camp history, sewing and quilting skills to volunteers and members. It is not unusual to find Buck at the 4-H camp sewing curtains or planting flowers. Buck is not only a valuable volunteer in Wood County, but she is also a true lifelong Friend of 4-H, officials said.