The Haxtun-Fleming Herald - What can we reason but from what we know? -Alexander Pope

The first Sunday of October always marks an annual celebration of the current 4-H year's success and this year was no different as Phillips County 4-H members gathered at the Haxtun Community Center to celebrate the efforts and achievements of 2020 on Sunday, Oct. 4. This year's achievement program honored Friend of the 4-H award recipient Gloria Bergner, who received her recognition from her daughter, Lauren, 4-H Council President.

Bergner has served local 4-H youth in a number of capacities over the years including club leader, project leader and Cloverbud leader. She was described in her nomination letter as a selfless woman who is a light in the community. At the program on Sunday, she was awarded a service pin for more than 20 years as a 4-H leader.

"This is a rare, very impressive award that speaks volumes to the amount of time and effort that she has given to 4-H and the youth of Phillips County," said Jessie Stewart, Colorado State University Extension Agent.

Sunday's program opened with a welcome followed by the pledge of allegiance and the 4-H pledge. 4-H Council officer Brooklyn Plumb introduced special guests and introduced council members and presented of pins. The 2020 4-H council officer team includes President Lauren Bergner, Vice President Brooklyn Plumb, Secretary Addison Oliver, Treasurer Janessa Lutze, Reporter Lucy Mares, Senator Lauren Bergner, Senator Brooklyn Plumb, Alternate Senator Janessa Lutze, Alternate Senator Baylor Struckmeyer, Parliamentarian Baylor Struckmeyer, Historian Paige Oliver and Photographer Braden Plumb.

Brooklyn Plumb also recognized and presented special gifts to Council leaders Joan Owen and Mendi Lutze.

To kick off presentations for the day, Lucy Mares and Jaelynn Miner presented club leader pins and club completion certificates. Those earning first year leader pins include Jessica Beck, Jon Kleve, Gina Wear, Kelly Durbin, Krystle Koberstein and Lyanne Santistevan. Fifth year leader pins went to Jessica Oliver, Jeff Plumb, Joan Owens and Struckmeyer. Mark Lutze, Kindra Plumb and Mendi Lutze each received 10-year leader pins and Gloria Bergner received her 20-year club leader pin.

Club completion certificates are awarded to 4-H clubs when their membership completes at least 75 percent of the projects they enroll in. Clubs who earned certificates this year include Better Beef Makers, Challengers, Haxtun Pioneers, Holyoke Centennial, Paoli Hustlers and Raising Ranchers.

Every year, 4-H members are recognized for their membership on their first, fifth, 10th, 12th, 13th and 14th years of membership. First year members recognized on Sunday include Jace Bamford, Peyton Biesemeier, Eli Horton, Genevieve Koberstein, Ainsley Kramer, Ruby Santistevan, Brody Smith and Grace Stone Fifth year members include Avian Calderon, Azariah Calderon, Haylie Carpenter, Paige Oliver and Bobbi Starkebaum. Brooklyn Plumb and Kylee Workman were honored as 10 year members. Baylor Struckmeyer and Jeff Miner received 12 year pins and Lauren Bergner received her 13th year pin while Janessa Lutze earned her 14th year member pin.

4-H members between the ages of five and seven are not allowed to participate in any of the traditional competitive 4-H projects, however, they are considered 4-H members and receive membership certificates. First year Cloverbuds include Kortlyn Carpenter, Brodyn Daniel, Caden Donovan, Gracie Easton, Ava Ely, Quinn Frerichs, Joseph Kleve, Stetson McCabe and Allison Plumb. Second year Cloverbud members are Tenely Becker, Haeden Daniel and Avery Horton. Holley Ely, Kynlea Nelson and Amy Struckmeyer were honored as third year Cloverbuds.

Not only do members have to keep their project record books but members who are officers in their individual clubs must also keep accurate and up-to-date financial records as well as properly recording club meetings and activities.

Kylee Workman, with the Paoli Hustlers, won the Champion Club Secretary's award and Jessie Owens, with the Challenger's 4-H Club, won Champion Treasurer's book.

A highlight to the annual achievement program is always livestock and general project awards, including herdsman and production awards. This year the Paoli Hustlers took home a number of Grand Champion Herdsman awards including beef, swine, goat, lamb and horse. Grand Champion Poultry Herdsman went to the Haxtun Pioneers.

Champion production awards are based on carcass evaluation results and average daily gain. Champion Goat Production went to Bobbi Starkebaum, Champion Swine Production went to Leah Edwards and Amy Struckmeyer won Champion Beef and Sheep production awards.

Together, Jessica Oliver and Jessie Stewart presented All-Around horse awards including senior, intermediate and junior. Lauren Bergner won Grand Senior All Around, Addison Oliver won Grand Intermediate All Around and Paige Oliver earned Grand Junior All Around horse awards.

Each year, local 4-H clubs perform various community pride activities through the County. Below is a summary of each Club's activities in 2020:

The Paoli Hustlers decorated a hay bale for National 4-H Week, adopted two families during Christmas time, held a canned food drive for the Haxtun food bank, packed Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, helped with the Rocky Mountain food bank distribution, put flower pots out to promote the Phillips County Fair. Members also helped during the wind storm that affected Haxtun in May by building and cleaning for families.

The Challengers held a canned food drive, adopted a family in need, went Christmas caroling, helped serve meal and provided childcare at the Holyoke Credit Union's annual meeting and Highline Electric's Annual meeting, put flower pots out to promote the Phillips County Fair and also served at the Alumni dinner. The club also decorated a hay bale for National 4-H Week.

The Raising Ranchers always donate and provide meals and gifts around Christmas to a couple of less fortunate families in Holyoke through the Lutheran Church. They also participated in the Be Somebody Program. The Raising Ranchers build a float for the fair parade, decorate a club booth and put flower pots around town to help advertise the county fair. Members decorated a hay bale to help kick off National 4-H week.

Better Beef Makers put harvest bags together for wheat and corn harvest, decorated pumpkins for the nursing home residents, bought Christmas gifts for families in need, decorated a hay bale for National 4-H Week and put flower tubs, a parade float and a club booth together during fair.

The Holyoke Centennial 4-H Club served a meal at the Peerless Theatre, played bingo with the residents at Holyoke Assisted Living, decorated a hay bale for National 4-H week and helped with fair cleanup.

The Haxtun Pioneers 4-H Club sent thank you cards to service men and women serving overseas, helped families clean up after the wind storm that affected Haxtun residents in May , put out flower pots to celebrate National 4-H Week and also to promote county fair and helped with fairgrounds set up.

At the end of the program, Jessica Oliver stood to present the recipient of the I Dare You award, given annually to someone who, with little encouragement, are ready to see themselves as leaders, young adults who are ready to take the Dare. The award was established from successful businessman William H. Danforth who dared young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through live so leadership and service.

This year's award went to Layna Wear. In her nomination letter, it was said that Wear is a natural-born leader and is always willing to help any younger 4-H member with any project and despite being soft-spoken, is very knowledgeable. Wear is a part of the livestock judging team as well as a council officer.

Before wrapping up the program, council officers for the coming year took their positions and oaths of office. The 2021 Phillips County 4-H Officer team includes President Brooklyn Plumb, Vice President Isaac Strauss, Secretary Addison Oliver, Treasurer Jessie Owens, Historian Lucy Mares, Reporter Layna Wear, Parliamentarian Jeff Miner, Senators Isaac Straus and Hunter Donovan, Alternate Senators Layna Wear and Jessie Owens.