Recap from the celebration of Sussex County 4-H Achievement Event “4-H Fiesta” which took place on September 28, 2025.
Photos from the event are 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 Gina Anger who was honored for her dedication and service to Sussex County 4-H for over 18 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 the Scott/Bennington Family. This family has been a part of Sussex 4-H for generations and continues to give back to 4-H in a variety of ways. Teresa has been a county leader for 22 years and has served as the nurse for 2nd Week State 4-H camp for many years. Katie currently lives in Tennessee where she is a 4-H Educator and always credits the skills Delaware 4-H taught her. Krista is a leader for the Sycamore 4-H Club and has two children in 4-H. Kimberlyn is a Sussex Link and helps Krista with club activities when she can. Kaleb is our fearless Sussex 4-H Administrative Assistant who goes above and beyond to make sure our programs run smoothly. He also volunteers time and county and state events. We are so fortunate to have the Scott/Bennington family as part of our 4-H program and appreciate all the time and effort this family puts into helping others!
NATIONAL 4-H EVENT AWARD WINNERS
National Ignite Summit: Juliette Anger, Sedona Ashman, Lillie Bradley, & Hanna Holland
National 4-H LifeSmarts Participants: Sedona Ashman, Caydance Means, Embrey Means, & Cassidy White
Middle School LifeSmarts Participants: Matthew Johnson, Kamilla Santos De Luna, Kathryn Cabrera Icte, and John Roman Nehrbas
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: Amy Denham, Kaitlyn Johnson, Kyle Kerr, and Ainsley 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: Brady Chaffinch Cohee, Jayla Hill, Coleson Jestice, Matthew Johnson, Cody Kuhlman, Alex Mavity, Chloe Megee, McKenna Neumann, Sophia Pauze, Ethan Perry, Callie Russell, Kamilla Santos, Olivia Shultie, and Andrew Wisniewski
CLOVERBUD
There were 92 Sussex County Cloverbuds. In recognition of their fine efforts, they received a 4-H certificate and 4-H bouncy ball.
LEADER PINS:
1st year Leader Pin:Cindy Blair, Danielle Bradshaw, Ashlyn Elliott, Bradley Schutt, Tiffany Schutt, and Rebecca Sieber
5 year Leader Pin:Kim Bailey-Thomas
10 year Leader Pin:Rebecca Johnson, Dana Probert, Jamie Swartz, Corey Taylor, and Jackie Waller
15 year Leader Pin:Robin Wroten
30 year Leader Pin: Carol Warren
50 year Leader Pin:Dave Mitchell
CLUB PROJECT ACTIVTY AWARDS
BRIDGEVILLE MUSTANGS
1 AWARD
Jenna Davis: Judging
Sarah Melvin: Public Speaking
Taylor Melvin: Judging
Gavin Sessler: Woodworking
2 AWARDS
Cole Carpenter: Community Service & Leadership
Andrew Platek: Community Service & Skill-a-Thon
Lillian Platek: Community Service & Skill-a-Thon
Gideon Quackenbush: Demonstration & Skill-a-Thon
Macie Richard: Exploring 4-H & Public Speaking
Gavin Szczur: Shooting Sports & Public Speaking
Brooke Taylor: Demonstration & Judging
Lily Vanvorst: STEM & Demonstration
3 AWARDS
Brooke Messick: Community Service, Leadership, and Public Speaking
Jeremy Messick: Shooting Sports, Public Speaking, and Skill-a-Thon
4 AWARDS
Mark Moore: Horticulture, Shooting Sports, Woodworking, and Skill-a-Thon
6 AWARDS
Cameron Hale: Foods, Leadership, Performing Arts, Woodworking, Demonstration, and Skill-a-Thon
13 AWARDS
Juliette Anger: Arts & Crafts, Communication Arts, Community Service, Foods, Goat, Horticulture, Leadership, Photography, Shooting Sports, Woodworking, Demonstration, Skill-a-Thon, & Public Speaking
CLOVER KNIGHTS
1 AWARD
Scarlett Morton: Skill-a-Thon
COUNTRY CLOVERS
3 AWARDS
Kaitlyn Johnson: Leadership, Demonstration, & Judging
4 AWARDS
Matthew Johnson: Clothing & Textiles, Photography, Demonstration, and Judging
CYPRESS HEART & HANDS
1 AWARD
Jaxson Lanzi: Exploring 4-H
Catherine Stearn: Public Speaking
Thomas Stearn: Public Speaking
5 AWARDS
Faith Absher: Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Textiles, Community Service, Wildlife, & Skill-a-Thon
DUBLIN HILL
1 AWARD
Carter Bradley: Public Speaking
Ella Crockett: Public Speaking
Aubree Davidson: Arts & Crafts
Jason Moore: Exploring 4-H
Jeffrey O’Day: Public Speaking
Hailey Parsons: Arts & Crafts
2 AWARDS
Owen Jackson: Exploring 4-H & Skill-a-Thon
Milo Podlaseck: Exploring 4-H & Skill-a-Thon
Chase Pusey: Arts & Crafts & Community Service
Shelby Pusey: Arts & Crafts & Community Service
3 AWARDS
Gabriela Haldeman: Arts & Crafts, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
Oliver Podlaseck: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, & Skill-a-Thon
4 AWARDS
Raegan O’Day: Arts & Crafts, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
5 AWARDS
Emorie Jackson: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Clothing & Textiles, Photography, & Demonstration
Logan Jackson: Community Service, Leadership, Photography, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Lucas Marquez: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
Emma Schutt: Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Textiles, Shooting Sports, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
Brynn Schutt: Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Textiles. Shooting Sports, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
7 AWARDS
Reid Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Communication Arts, Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
Ella Marquez: Arts & Crafts, Cats, Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
9 AWARDS
Lillie Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Communication Arts, Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Performing Arts, Demonstration, Skill-a-Thon, & Public Speaking
HARBOR LIGHTS
1 AWARD
Briahna Adams: Public Speaking
Claira Adams: Public Speaking
Israel Adams: Public Speaking
Linda Adams: Public Speaking
Rainna Adams: Public Speaking
Alexis Blair: Public Speaking
Kyle Martin: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Kaylee Martin: Public Speaking & Skill-a-Thon
Ethan Martin: Public Speaking & Skill-a-Thon
HOLLYMOUNT
1 AWARD
Evelyn Denham: Public Speaking
Micah Denham: Public Speaking
Fiona Nehrbas: Performing Arts
John Roman Nehrbas: Performing Arts
Liv Nehrbas: Performing Arts
Scarlett Stazzone: Skill-a-Thon
3 AWARDS
Ainsley West: Community Service, Leadership, & Sheep
4 AWARDS
Joel Denham: Community Service, Financial Literacy, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Caroline Krajewski: Exploring 4-H, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Megan Krajewski: Photography, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Cody Kuhlman: Goats, Shooting Sports, Demonstration & Skill-a-Thon
5 AWARDS
Claire Denham: Communication Arts, Community Service, Performing Arts,Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Julia Freebery: Communication Arts, Foods, Photography, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
6 AWARDS
Kiera Fletcher: Communication Arts, Community Service, Healthy Living, Leadership, Performing Arts, & Demonstration
Addison Freebery: Communication Arts, Foods, Photography, Sheep, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Declan West: Community Service, Leadership, Sheep, Wildlife, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
LAUREL LEAFLETS
1 AWARD
Alayna Davis: Skill-a-Thon
Averi Evans: Skill-a-Thon
Dezaray Evans: Skill-a-Thon
Jayda Evans: Skill-a-Thon
Mahagany Evans: Skill-a-Thon
Za’cori Holloman: Skill-a-Thon
Kayden Henson: Skill-a-Thon
Kyree Muse: Skill-a-Thon
Sadae Riddick: Skill-a-Thon
Solanna Savilus: Skill-a-Thon
Grayson Short: Skill-a-Thon
LORD BALTIMORE HELPING HANDS
1 AWARD
Miranda Hockenbrock: Exploring 4-H
2 AWARDS
Anthony Schifano: Exploring 4-H & Skill-a-Thon
Grace Schifano: Exploring 4-H & Public Speaking
3 AWARDS
Ruby DiSabatino: Community Service, Leadership, & Skill-a-Thon
MILFORD 4-H Club
1 AWARD
Victoria Smith: Skill-a-Thon
MISPLLION 4-H AFTERSCHOOL
1 AWARD
Harlem Bell: Skill-a-Thon
Kyree Bordley: Public Speaking
Juliette Coverdale: Public Speaking
Kahlyn Gulla: Skill-a-Thon
Sa’Ryan Petion: Public Speaking
Sophia Roblero-Perez: Skill-a-Thon
Kieran Sockriter: Skill-a-Thon
SEAFORD BLUE JAYS
1 AWARD
Ivy Anne Genshaw: Horticulture
Claire Pauze: Exploring 4-H
Jayda Riefler: Horticulture
Jake Shultie: Community Service
Olivia Shultie: Arts & Crafts
2 AWARDS
Janet Shultie: Guinea Pig & Skill-a-Thon
3 AWARDS
Embrey Means: Performing Arts, Demonstration, & Skill-a-Thon
Paloma Rolph: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, & Photography
4 AWARDS
Caydance Means: Performing Arts, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Zipporah Rolph: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Photography, & Visual Arts
STATELINE
1 AWARD
Daniel Fleetwood: Skill-a-Thon
Meredith Timmons: Skill-a-Thon
Samantha Timmons: Skill-a-Thon
SUNSET BRANCH
1 AWARD
Sedona Ashman: Judging
Jacob Bradshaw: Public Speaking
Ryder Bradshaw: Public Speaking
Lily Brittingham: Demonstration
Evelyn Calloway: Horse
Eamer Carey: Public Speaking
West Choi: Public Speaking
Wren Choi: Public Speaking
Ariana Dorman-Donophan: Horse
Jayla Hill: Skill-a-Thon
Harper Holland: Skill-a-Thon
Macklyn Muzik: Public Speaking
Ethan Perry: Healthy Living
Lucas Perry: Public Speaking
Illyiah Phillips: Horse
Kylee Reynolds: Public Speaking
Kennedy Stalcup: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Braedan Neumann: Goat & Demonstration
Nolan Perry: Healthy Living & Public Speaking
Wyatt Vincent: Healthy Living & Shooting Sports
Daniel Wisniewski: Healthy Living & Public Speaking
3 AWARDS
Willow Cohan: Horse, Demonstration, & Public Speaking
Alex Mavity: Horse, Demonstration, & Public Speaking
Kinsley Muzik: Horse, Demonstration, & Public Speaking
McKenna Neumann: Horse, Demonstration, & Judging
Kieran Probert: Healthy Living, Public Speaking, & Demonstration
Callie Russell: Horse, Demonstration, & Judging
Peyton Stalcup: Foods, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Andrew Wisniewski: Foods, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
4 AWARDS
Isabelle Hein: Horse, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Lillian Hein: Horse, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
Jane Mavity: Horse, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
5 AWARDS
Liam Probert: Goat, Healthy Living, Demonstration, Public Speaking, & Skill-a-Thon
SYCAMORE
1 AWARD
Klaira Wing: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Eli Wing: Exploring 4-H & Public Speaking
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: Miranda Hockenbrock, Owen Jackson, Caroline Krajewski, Jaxson Lanzi, Jason Moore, Claire Pauze, Milo Podlaseck, Macie Richard, Anthony Schifano, Grace Schifano, and Eli Wing.
Exploring 4-H Award Winners:
Top Awards: Owen Jackson, Dublin Hill and Eli Wing, Sycamore
Honorable Mention: Macie Richard, Bridgeville Mustangs and Milo Podlaseck, Dublin Hill
Diamond Clover Awards
Level 1 Award Winners (Amethyst pin)
Evelyn Calloway, Ava Dahlstrom, Averi Evans, Dezeray Evans, Jayda Evans, Mahagany Evans, Kayden Henson, Zacori Holloman, Moriah Horsey, Lara Hudson, Owen Jackson, Caroline Krajewski, Ty Millman,Kyree Muse, Cora Passwaters, Raina Passwaters, Andrew Platek, Lillian Platek, Milo Podlaseck, Macie Richard, Sadae Riddick, Callie Russell, Solanna Savilus, Emma Schutt, Brynn Schutt, Grayson Short, Catherine Stearn, and Kinze White.
Level 2 Award Winners (Aquamarine pin)
Faith Absher, Gabriela Haldeman, Jeremy Messick, Scarlett Morton, McKenna Neumann, Raegan O’Day, Nolan Perry, and Callie Russell.
Level 3 Award Winners (Ruby pin)
Harper Holland, Matthew Johnson, Megan Krajewski, Ethan Perry, and Gavin Szczur
Level 4 Award Winners (Sapphire pin)
Julia Freebery, Hanna Holland, Emorie Jackson, Lucas Marquez, Brooke Messick, Lily VanVorst, and Daniel Wisniewski
Level 5 Award Winners (Emerald pin)
Cody Kuhlman and Ella Marquez
Level 6 Project in Progress
Juliette Anger, Lillie Bradley, Reid Bradley, Claire Denham, Joel Denham, Keira Fletcher, Addison Freebery, Cameron Hale, Logan Jackson, and Kieran Probert
Level 6 Award Winners and Service Projects (Diamond pin)
Kaitlyn Johnson: “Joy for TOTS”
Camp Counselor Awards
4-H Teen Leaders served as counselors at a variety of events in the spring and summer of 2025 including Younger Member Weekend and Sussex 4-H Day Camp. These counselors were: Linda Adams, Juliette Anger, Lillie Bradley, Reid Bradley, Cole Carpenter, Claire Denham, Joel Denham, Ruby DiSabatino, Cameron Hale, Logan Jackson, Ella Marquez, Caydance Means, Embrey Means, Brooke Messick, Demetreus Moutzalias, Talia Moutzalias, Abby VanVorst, Ainsley West, Declan West, and Taylor Young.
Counselor’s in Training (CIT’s): Alex Mavity, Hanna Holland, and Megan Krajewski
Skill-a-Thon & 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: Claire Denham
Foods: Juliette Anger
Clothing: Kaitlyn Johnson
Photography: Logan Jackson
Wood: Cameron Hale
Horse: Brooke Taylor
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. Winners receive a ½ scholarship to 4-H State Camp
The winners of the 2025 Leaders Scholarships were:
Keira Fletcher, Hollymount and Logan Jackson, Dublin Hill
Alternate: Embrey Means, Seaford Blue Jays
Links Scholarships
The recipients of this award received a full scholarship to Younger Member Weekend Camp.
Winners: Gabriela Haldeman, Emma Schutt, Jeremy Messick, and Andrew Platek
Barbara Taylor Scholarship:
The recipient of this award received a full scholarship to Younger Member Weekend Camp.
Winner: Oliver Podlaseck, Dublin Hill
Alternate: Faith Absher, Cypress Heart & Hands
Phyllis Hill Memorial Award
Addison Freebery presented the Phyllis Hill Memorial Award on behalf of the Hollymount Club. The recipient of this award was Declan West. Declan is a member of the Hollymount 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 2025 Winner was Ainsley West. Ainsley is a member of the Hollymount 4-H Club and outgoing President of Sussex 4-H Jr. Council.
4-H SPIRIT AWARDS
Eleven 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: Embrey Means, Kyree Muse, Ella Marquez, Keira Fletcher, Cole Carpenter, and Rebecca Johnson.
Congratulations to all award winners!