State awards presented to Logan County 4-H members

[December 10, 2016]  LINCOLN - 4-H members from across the state were honored for their lifetime 4-H achievements in a ceremony held on Nov. 19th in Champaign. The Illinois State 4-H Award recognizes exemplary work in five major areas, including communications, community service, leadership, personal growth and project mastery. All Illinois State 4-H awards are supported through donor gifts to the Illinois 4-H Foundation.

Winners received either a trip to National 4-H Congress, $1,000 toward the cost of another national 4-H event, or a $1,000 college scholarship as their prize.

Logan County 4-H members selected as Illinois Award winners who recently attended National 4-H Congress held in Atlanta, Georgia, included Clayton Skelton in the area of Leadership and Grace Skelton in the area of Community Service; both are children of Rusty & Stacie Skelton of Middletown.

Regarding their trip to National 4-H Congress, Clayton says “National 4-H Congress mainly taught me three things. First being that in life it's less about what you're doing but more about who you are doing it with. The friends I have made there are a group of unforgettable people who made my experience a great one. Secondly, I learned that a good goal has to have stronger motivations than it has excuses. The third thing I learned is that this country has a seemingly endless amount of diversity and people.

Grace adds “Attending National 4-H Congress was a life changing opportunity where I met many new friends from all over the country and Puerto Rico. The best part was creating new friendships, especially with the 12 other Illinois Delegates. We started out as strangers and now are all best friends.”

Previous winners who continue to excel in their award area were presented 4-H Blue Awards at the Recognition Event.

Those winners include Logan County 4-H member, Katlyn Helton, daughter of Ron & Kristen Helton of Middletown, selected as a repeat winner in Communications and Project Mastery. Katlyn was also honored as an Illinois State Key Award Winner. The Illinois 4-H Key Award emphasizes community service and mentorship by 4-H members throughout their 4-H career.

Legacy of Leadership Scholarships were presented at the Illinois 4-H State Recognition Event as well. Nine teens were awarded $1,000 scholarships based on their achievements in the Illinois 4-H program. The Illinois 4-H Foundation presented these scholarships to 4-H teens who have demonstrated and maintained a high standard of 4-H excellence and mastery during their membership. Logan County 4-H member Alyssa Zimmer, daughter of Rick & Gail Zimmer, was honored as a scholarship recipient.

[Patty Huffer
Extension Program Coordinator
University of Illinois Extension]

About 4-H: Illinois 4-H strives to help youth learn skills for living. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois. Illinois 4-H aims to impact the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs and groups and short-term programming.