Recap from the celebration of Sussex County 4-H Achievement Event “Oh my Gourd, We Love 4-H” which took place on September 30, 2023. Photos from the event will be posted on the DE 4-H Flickr Page!
JOY SPARKS SPIRIT OF 4-H AWARD
The Joy Sparks Award is given in memory of Joy G. Sparks, past State 4-H Program Leader. Joy was a lifelong 4-H member. She embodied what it meant to be a 4-H’er and used her Head, Heart, Hands and Health to better herself and her community. Award recipients are chosen based on their contributions to the 4-H program and keeping Joy’s Spirit of 4-H alive. This year’s winner was Amy West who was honored for her dedication and service to Sussex County 4-H for over 25 years!
FRIEND OF 4-H AWARD
This award is given to individual or organizations who give to Sussex 4-H in a variety of ways. This year’s recipient was Mr. Doug Crouse. Doug has led our organization to do many great things and helped us to have an enormous impact on the youth of Delaware.
NATIONAL 4-H EVENT AWARD WINNERS
National Conference: Kyle Kerr and Sam Gossett
National Ignite Summit: Carter Bradley, Ruby DiSabatino, Kyle Kerr, Kieran Probert, Declan West and Cassidy White
National Shooting Sports Participant: Abby Sparpaglione
National 4-H LifeSmarts Participants: Bryan Cabrera-Icta, Reagan Fritz, Kaitlyn Johnson and Edwin Noon
National Congress 2023 Delegates: Carter Bradley, Bailey Fletcher, Kyle Kerr and Ainsley West
New Inductees to the Sussex County Order of Links
Amy West, President of the Sussex Order of Links conducted the induction ceremony.
New inductees are: Dakota Carmona, Wesley DeFord, Amy Kuhlman, Austin Quackenbush, Zoe Probert and Joe West.
JUNIOR LEADERS are individuals who volunteer hours of their time to teach, share, and help other
4-Her’s. First Year Junior Leader pins were awarded to: Ashley Adams, Linda Adams, Sedona Ashman, Quinton Ashman, Emily Davis, Keira Fletcher, Addison Freebery, Juliana Hall, Christian Hill, Elizabeth Hill, Francesca Joella, Murphy McCarroll, Embrey Means, Chloe Megee, Sophia Montag, Gianna Nagle, Rachel O’Day, Becca Plump, Hannah Ritter and Alison Swartz.
LEADER PINS:
1st year Leader Pin:
Melinda Bonniwell, Sara Cunningham, Rachel Driscoll, John Eichten, Leslie Eichten, Tasha Esham, Lance Fleetwood, Maggie Fleetwood, Caitlin Jestice, Madison Johnson, Boopathi Ramasamy, Matt Thompson and Brian Vincent
5 year Leader Pin:
Lisa Ashman, Stan Bradley, Kira DiSabatino, Nancy Freebery, Amy Kuhlman, James Osborne, Maria Perry, Beth Sparpaglione and Dawn Tomeski
10 year Leader Pin:
Elliott Rice and Heather Taylor
20 year Leader Pin
Susan DeFord and Debbie Lagano
25 year Leader Pin:
Kathy DiSabatino
CLOVERBUD
There were 59 Sussex County Cloverbuds. In recognition of their fine efforts, they received a 4-H certificate and 4-H water bottle.
CLUB PROJECT ACTIVTY AWARDS
BRIDGEVILLE MUSTANGS
1 AWARD
Alyssa Carpenter: Judging
Brooke Messick: Exploring 4-H
Gideon Quackenbush: Judging
Paige Taylor: Judging
Grace Workman: Judging
2 AWARDS
Camille Book: Judging & Public Speaking
Cole Carpenter: Woodworking & Judging
Sarah Melvin: Horse & Public Speaking
Taylor Melvin: Horse & Judging
Lily VanVorst: Woodworking & Judging
3 AWARDS
Abby VanVorst: Foods, Woodworking & Judging
4 AWARDS
Cameron Hale: Foods, Leadership, Woodworking & Judging
Brooke Taylor: Horse, Woodworking, Judging & Demonstration
7 AWARDS
Carter Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Woodworking, Judging & Public Speaking
Reid Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Woodworking, Judging & Demonstration
10 AWARDS
Lillie Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Textiles, Community Service, Foods, Horse, Leadership, Woodworking, Judging, Demonstration & Public Speaking
12 AWARDS
Juliette Anger: Archery, Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods, Goat, Horse, Horticulture, Leadership, Woodworking, Judging, Demonstration and Public Speaking
COUNTRY CLOVERS
2 AWARDS
Emily Davis: Demonstration & Public Speaking
Bryan Cabrera-Icta: Demonstration & Judging
3 AWARDS
Kaitlyn Johnson: Leadership, Demonstration & Judging
4 AWARDS
Matthew Johnson: Clothing, Photography, Demonstration and Judging
CYPRESS HEART & HANDS
1 AWARD
Brayden Cooper: Exploring 4-H
2 AWARDS
Jase Hudson: Community Service & Demonstration
DUBLIN HILL
1 AWARD
Anna Jones: Public Speaking
Aydin Jones: Demonstration
Raegan O’Day: Judging
Oliver Podlaseck: Arts & Crafts
Chase Pusey: Exploring 4-H
Kylie Pusey: Community Service
Shelby Pusey: Arts & Crafts
2 AWARDS
Ella Crockett: Exploring 4-H & Public Speaking
Jonathan Tucker: Exploring 4-H & Public Speaking
3 AWARDS
Emorie Jackson: Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Photography
4 AWARDS
Logan Jackson: Community Service, Photography, Judging & Public Speaking
Lucas Marquez: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods & Demonstration
6 AWARDS
Ella Marquez: Arts & Crafts, Clothing, Community Service, Foods, Judging & Demonstration
HARBOR LIGHTS
1 AWARD
Claira Adams: Public Speaking
Lillee Carter: Public Speaking
Abby Cunningham: Demonstration
Thomas Cunningham: Demonstration
Robert Nagle: Demonstration
Jayda Plump: Demonstration
HOLLYMOUNT
1 AWARD
Emily Card: Community Service
Gunnar Glasco: Exploring 4-H
Emma Jones: Foods
Addison Nikodemski: Public Speaking
Cade Nikodemski: Public Speaking
Ella Soni: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Bailey Fletcher: Judging & Demonstration
Keira Fletcher: Sheep & Demonstration
3 AWARDS
Cody Kuhlman: Archery, Goats, & Judging
4 AWARDS
Julia Freebery: Foods, Photography, Public Presentation & Public Speaking
5 AWARDS
Ainsley West: Community Service, Leadership, Sheep, Judging & Demonstration
6 AWARDS
Morgan Everts: Archery, Community Service, Dog, Photography, Judging & Demonstration
Addison Freebery: Foods, Leadership, Photography, Public Presentation, Judging & Public Speaking
7 AWARDS
Claire Denham: Community Service, Foods, Performing Arts, Public Presentation, Judging, Demonstration & Public Speaking.
Joel Denham: Community Service, Financial Literacy, Public Presentation, Sheep, Judging, Demonstration & Public Speaking.
Declan West: Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Sheep, Wildlife, Demonstration & Judging
LORD BALTIMORE HELPING HANDS
1 AWARD
Wyatt Herring: Public Speaking
3 AWARDS
Ruby DiSabatino: Community Service, Leadership & Judging
MILFORD 4-H
1 AWARD
Victoria Smith: Judging
SEAFORD BLUE JAYS
1 AWARD
Ivy Genshaw: Horticulture
Jayda Genshaw: Horticulture
Seth Genshaw: Horticulture
Raina Passwaters: Exploring 4-H
Andrew Platek: Exploring 4-H
Zipporah Rolph: Photography
2 AWARDS
Jake Shultie: Community Service & Photography
3 AWARDS
Olivia Shultie: Community Service, Foods & Demonstration
5 AWARDS
Janet Shultie: Foods, Goats, Horse, Judging & Demonstration
6 AWARDS
Caydance Means: Arts & Crafts, Foods, Performing Arts, Photography, Judging & Demonstration
Embrey Means: Arts & Crafts, Foods, Performing Arts, Photography, Judging & Demonstration
STATELINE
2 AWARDS
Samantha Timmons: Foods and Demonstration
3 AWARDS
Meredith Timmons: Foods, Judging & Demonstration
SUNSET BRANCH
1 AWARD
Ryder Bradshaw: Public Speaking
McKenna Neumann: Horse
Kieran Probert: Demonstration
Alison Swartz: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Quinton Ashman: Small Engines & Judging
Sedona Ashman: Horse & Judging
Adriana Dorman-Donophan: Horse & Public Speaking
Jayla Hill: Foods & Public Speaking
Liam Probert: Demonstration & Public Speaking
Wyatt Vincent: Archery & Small Engines
Andrew Wisniewski: Demonstration & Public Speaking
Daniel Wisniewski: Demonstration & Public Speaking
3 AWARDS
Murphy McCarroll: Health, Small Engines & Demonstration
Exploring 4-H Project:
This project is designed for 4-H’ers 8-12 years old. Eleven 4-H’ers completed the project record that was judged for this event: Brayden Cooper, Ella Crockett, Gunnar Glasco, Brooke Messick, Raina Passwaters, Andrew Platek, Chase Pusey and Jonathan Tucker.
Exploring 4-H Award Winners:
Top Awards: Raina Passwaters and Chase Pusey
Honorable Mention: Andrew Platek and Jonathan Tucker
Diamond Clover Awards
Level 1 Award Winners (Amethyst pin)
Emily Card, Brayden Cooper, Gunner Glasco, Harper Holland and Matthew Johnson
Level 2 Award Winners (Aquamarine pin)
Lexington Chisenhall, Julia Freebery, Emorie Jackson, Lucas Marquez, Tori Millman, Oliver Podlaseck, Wyatt Vincent, Lily VanVorst and Daniel Wisniewski
Level 3 Award Winners (Ruby pin)
Cody Kuhlman, Ella Marquez and Liam Probert
Level 4 Award Winners (Sapphire pin)
Quinton Ashman, Sedona Ashman, Makenna Cooper, Cameron Hale and Andrew Wisniewski
Level 5 Award Winners (Emerald pin)
Juliette Anger, Lillie Bradley, Reid Bradley, Claire Denham, Joel Denham, Morgan Everts, Keira Fletcher, Addison Freebery, Logan Jackson, Kieran Probert, Brooke Taylor and Abby VanVorst.
Level 6 Projects in Progress
Ruby DiSabatino, Murphy McCarroll and Declan West
Level 6 Award Winner (Diamond pin)
Carter Bradley – Service Project: “Carter’s Care Kits”
The mission of this project is to provide hygiene kits to the homeless population of Delaware. Products in the kits include toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap, shampoo, tissues, lip balm and hand sanitizer. Carter recruited 4-H clubs, community clubs and his school’s swim team to help with this project. Overall, 557 Carter’s Care Kits have been donated to local homeless shelters! Carter says this project has been a life-changing experience that has shaped his perspective on the world and his role within it. He wants to continue to address social issues and create positive change. Carter, you have made an outstanding effort on your project and successfully been able to give back to your community. We applaud you for all your efforts and look forward to this project continuing for many years to come!
Camp Counselor Awards
4-H Teen Leaders served as counselors at a variety of events in the spring and summer of 2023 including Younger Member Day, Experience Extension Camp and Sussex 4-H Day Camp. These counselors were:
Ashley Adams, Carter Bradley, Alyssa Carpenter, Cole Carpenter, Ruby DiSabatino, Bailey Fletcher, Kyle Kerr, Demetreus Moutzalias, Rachel O’Day, Austin Quackenbush, Abby VanVorst, Ainsley West and Declan West.
Counselor’s in Training (CIT’s): Juliette Anger, Lillie Bradley, Reid Bradley, Addison Freebery, Cameron Hale, Logan Jackson, Embrey Means, Talia Moutzalias and Taylor Young.
Judging Contest Awards
Awards were given to those individuals who placed first at the county judging contests or first at the state contest if a county contest was not available. All members who took part in these contests received a pin and certificate.
Horticulture: Kaitlyn Johnson
Wildlife: Sedona Ashman
Foods: Ella Marquez
Clothing: Kaitlyn Johnson
Photography: Quinton Ashman
Wood: Cameron Hale
Horse: Brooke Taylor
Livestock: Bailey Fletcher
Poultry: Kaitlyn Johnson
Leaders Association Scholarship
The Leaders Association Scholarship Award is given to outstanding 4-H’ers taking into consideration, project work, participation, community service and leadership. 4-H’ers may receive this award only once.
The winner of the 2023 Leaders Scholarships was: Declan West, Hollymount
Links Scholarships
The recipients of this award received a full scholarship to Younger Member Weekend Camp.
Winners:
Cody Kuhlman, Hollymount
Lexington Chisenhall, Bridgeville Mustangs
Taylor Melvin, Bridgeville Mustangs
Emorie Jackson, Dublin Hill
Barbara Taylor Scholarship:
The recipient of this award received a full scholarship to Younger Member Weekend Camp.
Winner: Julia Freebery, Hollymount
Alternate: Lucas Marquez, Dublin Hill
Phyllis Hill Memorial Award
Ainsley West presented the Phyllis Hill Memorial Award on behalf of the Hollymount Club. The recipient of this award was Dakota Carmona. Dakota is a member of the Harbor Lights 4-H Club.
Ida Layton Award:
This award is sponsored by the Layton Family in honor of Ida Layton, former 4-H leader and member of the Sussex County Horse Advisory. The 2023 Winner was Kyle Kerr. Kyle is a member of the Bridgeville Mustangs 4-H Club and outgoing President of Sussex 4-H Jr. Council.
4-H SPIRIT AWARDS
Nine years ago, we incorporated the Sussex 4-H Spirit Awards into our program. The 4-H Spirit Awards are similar to those given at State 4-H Camp. Recipients will be awarded for how they represented the 4 H’s (Head, Heart, Hands, Health) and 4-H Spirit throughout the year. 5 youth and one adult will receive this award each year. This year’s winners were: Caydance Means, Rachel O’Day, Declan West, Demetreus Moutzalias, Austin Quackenbush and Gina Anger.
Congratulations to all award winners!