The Brookings County 4-H Recognition Awards Event took place Nov. 19.
4-H members were selected for awards based on their accomplishments and growth, which they recorded in their 4-H journal. These are annual reports of a members 4-H activities, project reports, financial reports for livestock, annual goals and successes, photos and newspaper clippings and anything else the 4-Her has to be proud of during their past year.
Awards were granted to 4-H participants in recognition of their achievements and personal development, documented in their individual 4-H journals. These journals serve as annual summaries of a member’s 4-H engagements, encompassing project updates, livestock financial records, yearly objectives and achievements, as well as noteworthy accomplishments the 4-Her wishes to highlight from the previous year.
Through their journals, 4-H members are learning many life skills, such as: the value of record keeping, critical decision making and planning for their future in the form of journaling which will ultimately be reflected in a career resume and job opportunities. The journals also offer an opportunity for the 4-H member to reflect on the progress of their goals, and learn from mistakes they made. This method teaches members about personal responsibility and the role they play in their own successes.
First Year Special Foods Awards
- Sara Dupraz, Aurora; Holly Greiner, Brookings; Tyler Knutsen, Volga; James Ostrem, Volga; Honor Stern, Bruce; Elena Yoshida, Aurora
Second Year Special Foods Awards
- Robert Elliott, Brookings; Sara Greiner, Brookings; Harper Hill, Hetland; Elise Ulvestad, Brookings
Third Year Special Foods Awards
- David Gilkerson, Brookings; Kaylin Gjernes, Brookings; Evelyn Ostrem, Volga
Fifth Year Special Foods Awards
- Bailey Gjernes, Brookings; Claire Ulvestad, Brookings; Callie VanderWal, Brookings/Volga
Sixth Year Special Foods Awards
- Ancora Gilkerson, Brookings
11th Year Special Foods Awards
- Brinleigh Mack, Brookings
Public Presentations Awards
- Gayle Foster, Brookings; Ancora Gilkerson, Brookings; Lydian Gilkerson, Brookings; Conrad Hybbert, Brookings; Matilynn Jaquet, Volga; Gabriel Stern, Bruce; Honor Stern, Bruce
Beef Promotion Awards
- Sara Dupraz, Aurora; Ancora Gilkerson, Brookings; Bailey Gjernes, Brookings; Harper Hill, Hetland; Tyler Knutsen, Volga; Brinleigh Mack, Brookings; Gabriel Stern, Bruce; Callie VanderWal, Brookings/Volga
State Beginner Family and Consumer Sciences Skill-a-thon Participants
- Kaylin Gjernes, Brookings
State Junior Family and Consumer Sciences Skill-a-thon Participants
- Jackson Hestermann, Aurora; Bailey Gjernes, Brookings; Callie VanderWal, Brookings/Volga
State Senior Family and Consumer Sciences Skill-a-thon Participants
- Cooper VanderWal, Brookings/Volga
State Beginner Horticulture Skill-a-thon Participants
- Kaylin Gjernes, Brookings
State Junior Horticulture Skill-a-thon Participants
- Bailey Gjernes, Brookings
State Beginner Poultry Skill-a-thon Participants
- Kaylin Gjernes, Brookings; Halle IntVeld, Bruce
State Junior Poultry Skill-a-thon Participants
- Bailey Gjernes, Brookings
State Junior Livestock Judging Participants
- Jonathan Moe, Bruce; Shaedan Rasmussen, Aurora; Hannah Jo Skovly, Tosten Tangen, Voga
State Senior Livestock Judging Participants
- Mattisyn Keppen, Volga
MEMBER PINS
Member year pins are awarded to members who have participated in 4-H projects and completed a 4-H record book.
First Year Member Pins
- Jett Callesen, Estelline; Caitlin Collins, Toronto; John Collins, Toronto; Aria Gilkerson, Brookings; Clara Granum, Volga; Emmett Gustafson, Bruce; Syndey Hahn, Brookings; Alexis Hanssen, Volga; Colton Hestermann, Aurora; Evelyn Knutson, Volga; Jonah Knutson, Volga; Aria Kuntz, Toronto; Nora Kuntz, Toronto; Caleb Langum, Volga; Isabel Langum, Volga; Lauren Langum, Volga; Mark Larscheid, Brookings; Samantha Larscheid, Brookings; Rhett Nelson, Brookings; James Ostrem, Volga; Shane Rebelein, Brookings; Averie Robinson, Brookings; Easton Robinson, Brookings; Honor Stern, Bruce; Libby Vlaminck, Aurora; Denley Willert, Brookings; Cashton Yockey, Elkton; Lane Yockey, Elkton; Elena Yoshida, Aurora
Second Year Member Pins
- Bentley Aas, Bruce; Kennedy Cook, Bruce; Carli Cox, Elkton; Robert Elliott, Brookings; Reba Gayne, Aurora; Sara Greiner, Brookings; Jackson Hahn, Brookings; Hannah Hansen, Bruce; Harper Hill, Hetland; Conrad Hybbert, Brookings; Mason Jorgensen, Sioux Falls; Murray McCausland, Brookings; Josh Nelson, Baltic; Kate Nelson, Baltic; Jaycie Olson, Volga; Shaedan Rasmussen, Aurora; Brady Rebelein, Brookings; Sheridan Rebelein, Brookings; Tosten Tangen, Bruce; Elise Ulvestad, Brookings
Third Year Member Pins
- John Cook, Bruce; MiKayla Fredrickson, Arlington; Kaylin Gjernes, Brookings; Holly Greiner, Brookings; Avaley Hestermann, Aurora; Andrew Moe, Bruce; Brenna Nelsen, Brookings; Marcus Olson, Volga; Mathew Olson, Volga; Rebecca Olson, Volga; Evelyn Ostrem, Volga
Fourth Year Member Pins
- Kate Gayne, Aurora; David Gilkerson, Brookings; Carter Hanssen, Volga; Halle IntVeld, Bruce; Mattisyn Keppen, Volga; Kory Mundt, Toronto; Talissa Tangen, Bruce; Aubrey Underwood, Brookings; Dustin Underwood, Brookings; Lucas Underwood, Brookings; Louis Yoshida, Aurora
Fifth Year Member Pins
- Lyla Bothe, Aurora; Nathan Bothe, Aurora; Jodi Callesen, Estelline; Ryder Ford, Bruce; Paige Fredrickson, Arlington; Hailey Fredrickson, Arlington; McKenzie Fredrickson, Arlington; Sophia Hansen, Bruce; Jackson Hestermann, Aurora; Levi Liljegren, Brookings; Jocelynn Mundt, Toronto; Kale Nelsen, Brookings; Riley Rasmussen, Aurora; Hannah Jo Skovly, Aurora; Claire Ulvestad, Brookings; Callie VanderWal, Brookings/Volga; Lane Vostad, White
Sixth Year Member Pins
- Zoey Ford, Bruce; Ancora Gilkerson, Brookings; Bailey Gjernes, Brookings; Jonathan Moe, Bruce Micah Stern, Bruce; Griffin Streich, Brookings
Seventh Year Member Pins
- Jade Callesen, Estelline; Gayle Foster, Brookings; Kyle Gayne, Aurora; Harmony Gilkerson, Brookings; Lydian Gilkerson, Brookings; Emma Hansen, Bruce; Landon Hanssen, Volga; Carter IntVeld, Bruce; Liam McCausland, Brookings; Kassandra Pickard, Brookings; Zachary Shultz, Bruce; Caden Singrey, Arlington; Maddisyn Thompson, Elkton; Quinn Ulvestad, Brookings; Cooper VanderWal, Brookings/Volga
Eighth Year Member Pins
- David Pickard, Brookings; Ashlyn Tangen, Bruce; Cheyenne Vander Wal, Bruce
Ninth Year Member Pins
- Melody Gilkerson, Brookings; Raymond Klein, White; Josie Nold, Brookings; Kamryn Streich, Brookings
10th Year Member Pins
- Preston Singrey, Arlington; Gabriel Stern, Bruce
11th Year Member Pins
- Paige Foster, Brookings; Brinleigh Mack, Brookings; Emily Robbins, Aurora
County Project Pin Recipients
- John Cook, Bruce; Gayle Foster, Brookings; McKenzie Fredrickson, Arlington; Kate Gayne, Aurora; Bailey Gjernes, Brookings; Kaylin Gjernes, Brookings; Ancora Gilkerson, Brookings; Harmony Gilkerson, Brookings; Lydian Gilkerson, Brookings; Carter Hanssen, Volga; Landon Hanssen, Volga; Avaley Hestermann, Aurora; Josie Nold, Brookings; Zachary Shultz, Bruce; Preston Singrey, Arlington; Maddisyn Thompson, Elkton; Lane Vostad, White
Electric Project Awards
- First Year: Conrad Hybbert, Brookings
- Second Year: David Gilkerson, Brookings
- Fifth Year: Natalie Weinkauf, Volga
PROJECT AWARDS
S.T.E.M. Award
- David Gilkerson, Brookings
Wood Award
- Zachary Shultz, Bruce
Music Award
- Avaley Hestermann, Aurora
Creative and Expressive Arts Award
- Raymond Klein, White
Horticulture
- Micah Stern, Bruce
Companion Animal Award
- Jocelynn Mundt, Toronto
Dog Award
- McKenzie Fredrickson, Arlington
Horse Award
- Maddisyn Thompson, Elkton
Rabbit Award
- Cheyenne VanderWal, Bruce
Poultry Award
- Harper Hill, Hetland
Goat Award
- Louis Yoshida, Aurora
Swine Award
- Evelyn Ostrem, Volga
Beginner Beef Award
- Carli Cox, Elkton
Junior Beef Award
- Shaedan Rasmussen, Aurora
Senior Beef Award
- Lyla Bothe, Aurora
Beginner Sheep Award
- Holly Greiner, Brookings
Junior Sheep Award
- Lucas Underwood, Brookings
Senior Sheep Award
- Emily Robbins, Aurora
Junior Livestock Feeder Project Award
- Levi Liljegren, Brookings
Senior Livestock Feeder Project Award
- Caden Singrey, Arlington
Deb Ford Memorial Beef Awards
- Beginner: Andrew Moe, Bruce
- Junior: Shaedan Rasmussen, Aurora
- Senior: Mattisyn Keppen, Volga
Overall Junior Family and Consumer Sciences Award
- Claire Ulvestad, Brookings
Overall Senior Family and Consumer Sciences Award
- Emma Hansen, Bruce
Overall Junior Record Book Awards
- Bailey Gjernes, Brookings; Louis Yoshida, Aurora
Outstanding Junior Livestock Record Award
- Callie VanderWal, Volga/Brookings
Outstanding Senior Livestock Record Award
- Emily Robbins, Aurora
Outstanding Senior Agriculture Record Award
- Cooper VanderWal, Volga/Brookings
Citizenship Awards
- Aubrey Underwood, Brookings; Kassy Pickard, Brookings
Local Government Awards
- Preston Singrey, Arlington; Aubrey Underwood, Brookings
Junior Community Service Awards
- Jackson Hestermann, Aurora
Senior Community Service Awards
- Maddisyn Thompson, Elkton
FUTURE LEADERS OF TOMORROW AWARDS
Future Farmer of Tomorrow Award
- Cooper VanderWal, Volga/Brookings
Future Homemaker of Tomorrow
- Lydian Gilkerson, Brookings
Club Youth-in-Action Award
- Bruce Honey Bees 4-H Club
Club Community Service and 4-H Promotion Awards
- Medary Creek Beavers 4-H Club
First Year – Leader Years of Service Awards
- Braeton Hill, Shooting Sports Project; Alec Hussak, Robotics/STEAM Project; Elizabeth Shultz, Shooting Sports Project; Julie Underwood, Trailblazers 4-H Club; Keith Underwood, Shooting Sports Project
Fifth Year – Leader Years of Service Awards
- Andy Dupraz, Shooting Sports Project; Susan Gilkerson, Northview Lads & Lassies 4-H Club; Kenneth Larson, Robotics/STEAM Project
10th Year – Leader Years of Service Awards
- Shannon Rasmussen, Trailblazers 4-H Club; Bobbi Shultz, Bruce Honey Bees 4-H Club & Shooting Sports Project; Joel Foster, Northview Lads & Lassies 4-H Club
30th Year – Leader Years of Service Awards
- Ann Vostad, West Sioux II
FRIEND OF 4-H AWARD
Erick Schulte
The Friend of 4-H award is coordinated by the Brookings County 4-H Leaders Association, and recognizes a remarkable supporter of Brookings County 4-H.
Erick Schulte has been involved in Brookings County 4-H in many capacities over the years. His most recent support of our program has been to volunteer in our Arts Festival Pork Booth at our largest fundraiser for the 4-H youth of Brookings County. Erick has managed the on-site handling and cooking of hundreds of pounds of pork loin all weekend long and has done so since 2018.
Erick also served as a volunteer coach for 4-H Shooting Sports, including coaching muzzleloader, .22 rifle and .22 pistol for six years. He started when his kids were members and continued after they graduated, serving as a volunteer and coach. He also volunteered at the state level and took three teams of muzzleloader participants from South Dakota to the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championships. His last team went in 2021 where three of the four members were from Brookings County. In addition to his local support of 4-H, Erick has also given of his time over the years to help with Fall State Shoot in Mitchell and to serve as a Range Officer for the Spring State Shoot in Pierre.
4-H leaders say they appreciate all that he has done for the 4-H program and congratulate Erick Schulte on being named this year’s Friend of 4-H.
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