Recap from the celebration of Sussex County 4-H Achievement Event “Find Your Spark in 4-H!” which took place on September 26, 2021. Photos from the event can be found on our 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 Tammy Schirmer for her dedication and service to Sussex County 4-H for over 10 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 Conley’s Church in Lewes. Laura Hill accepted the award on the church’s behalf. We appreciate this church opening its doors to Sussex 4-H over the past year and a half so that we could have programming safely in person!
NATIONAL EVENT AWARD WINNERS
National Congress: Wesley DeFord
National Conference: Brynn Hovatter
Healthy Living Summit: Brynn Hovatter
Ag Science Summit: Ainsley West, Kaitlyn Johnson and Madison Johnson
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: Destiny Carmona, Debbie Goehringer, Brynn Hovatter, Chelsea Hudson, Melody Hudson, Madison Johnson and Dana Probert
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: Ruby DiSabatino, Bailey Fletcher, Sam Gossett, Jase Hudson, Ella Locklear, Tayetum Ruhl and Jake Williams
LEADER PINS:
1st year Leader Pin
Blakelyn Truitt
5 year Leader Pin
Lora Collins, Heather Collins, Chelsea Hudson, Melody Hudson, Keith Johnson, Ron Krajewski, Angela Lagano, Kara Short, John Tomeski, Noel Warren and Joe West
10 year Leader Pin
Jeff Allen, Neil Anger, Joseph Lagano and Brittany Malchow
15 year Leader Pin
Bo Waller
20 year Leader Pin
Susan DeFord, Garry Ebling, Jodie Gravenor, Michelle Kirk, Melissa Layton, Melissa Mitchell, Kip Wharton and Lisa Winston.
25 year Leader Pin
Pam Eskridge
30 year Leader Pin
Debbie Goehringer and Roxanne Hense
40 year Leader Pin
Carole Vincent
CLOVERBUDS
There were 59 Sussex County Cloverbuds. In recognition of their fine efforts Cloverbuds received a 4-H bookmark.
CLUB PROJECT ACTIVTY AWARDS
Bridgeville Mustangs
1 AWARD
Chase Anderson: Exploring 4-H
Jenna Anger: Judging
Alyssa Carpenter: Outdoor Adventures
Carlyn DeFord: Leadership
2 AWARDS
Ray Anderson: Poultry & Goats
Kyle Kerr: Community Service & Foods
Paige Taylor: Horse & Judging
3 AWARDS
Alexia Carroll: Dairy, Goats & Poultry
Brooke Taylor: Horse, Judging & Demonstration
Amanda Jewel: Sheep, Public Speaking & Demonstration
4 AWARDS
Cameron Hale: Foods, Engineering, Wood Science & Judging
5 AWARDS
Reid Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods, Judging & Demonstration
7 AWARDS
Carter Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Foods, Leadership, Judging, Demonstration & Public Speaking
Lillie Bradley: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Clothing & Textiles, Foods, Judging, Demonstration & Public Speaking
8 AWARDS
Juliette Anger: Archery, Arts & Crafts, Foods, Horticulture, Horse, Judging, Demonstration and Public Speaking
CLOVER KNIGHTS
1 AWARD
Ella Locklear: 1st Year Jr. Leader
COUNTRY CLOVERS
1 AWARD
Emily Davis: Demonstration
Chloe Megee: Demonstration
Cate Reilly: Demonstration
2 AWARDS
Matthew Johnson: Judging & Demonstration
3 AWARDS
Madison Johnson: Leadership, Demonstration & Judging
4 AWARDS
Kaitlyn Johnson: Clothing, Photography, Demonstration and Judging
CYPRESS HEART & HANDS
1 AWARD
Tayetum Ruhl: 1st Year Jr. Leader
2 AWARDS
Jase Hudson: Judging & 1st Year Jr. Leader
DUBLIN HILL
1 AWARD
Kylie Pusey: Goats
Shelby Pusey: Community Service
2 AWARDS
Aydin Jones: Arts & Crafts and Demonstration
3 AWARDS
Logan Jackson: Community Service, Photography & Demonstration
4 AWARDS
Ella Marquez: Arts & Crafts, Clothing & Textiles, Foods & Demonstration
HARBOR LIGHTS
1 AWARD
Dakota Carmona: Public Speaking
Destiny Carmona: Public Speaking
Diamond Carmona: Public Speaking
Cole Carter: Public Speaking
Olivia Goehringer: Public Speaking
Jake Williams: 1st Year Jr. Leader
HOLLYMOUNT
1 AWARD
Ava Clingan: Judging
Francesca Joella: Photography
Gianna Joella: Foods
Katie Kuhlman: Goats
Sundene Lodge: Horse
Addison Nikodemski: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Sara Figurski: Community Service & Judging
Cody Kuhlman: Goats & Judging
4 AWARDS
Claire Denham: Communications, Public Speaking, Judging & Demonstration
Joel Denham: Communications, Public Speaking, Judging & Demonstration
Morgan Everts: Archery, Community Service, Photography & Judging
5 AWARDS
Addison Freebery: Communications, Dance & Movement, Foods, Photography & Public Speaking
Samuel Gossett: Foods, Judging, Demonstration, Public Speaking & 1st Year Jr. Leader
6 AWARDS
Bailey Fletcher: Public Presentation, Sheep, Outdoor Adventures, Demonstration, Judging & 1st Year Jr. Leader
Keira Fletcher: Foods, Performing Arts, Public Presentation, Sheep, Judging & Demonstration
Declan West: Community Service, Foods, Sheep, Wildlife, Judging & Demonstration
7 AWARDS
Ainsley West: Community Service, Foods, Public Presentation, Sheep, Vet Science, Judging & Demonstration
LORD BALTIMORE HELPING HANDS
1 AWARD
Marshall Herring: Exploring 4-H
Cassidy White: Foods
9 AWARDS
Ruby DiSabatino: Community Service, First Aid, Foods, Leadership, Performing Arts, Photography, Judging, Demonstration & 1st Year Jr. Leader
LUCKY LEAF
1 AWARD
Elise Garde: Cooking
Noel Garde: Exploring 4-H
Lauren Romanowski: Demonstration
3 AWARDS
Meredith Timmons: Archery, Judging & Demonstration
4 AWARDS
Murphy McCarroll: Computer Science, Photography, WearTec Engineering and Demonstration
MILFORD 4-H
1 AWARD
Victoria Smith: Judging
SEAFORD BLUEJAYS
1 AWARD
Seth Genshaw: Animal Science
2 AWARDS
Ivy Anne Genshaw: Small Pet & Demonstration
Embrey Means: Community Service & Outdoor Adventures
4 AWARDS
Caydance Means: Arts & Crafts, Community Service, Literacy and Outdoor Adventures
5 AWARDS
Jake Shultie: Community Service, Photography, Wood Science, Goats & Judging
Janet Shultie: Community Service, Foods, Goats, Judging & Demonstration
Olivia Shultie: Clothing & Textiles, Foods, Goats, Judging and Demonstration
SUNSET BRANCH
1 AWARD
Liam Probert: Public Speaking
Andrew Wisniewski: Public Speaking
Daniel Wisniewski: Public Speaking
2 AWARDS
Wyatt Vincent: Archery & Public Speaking
3 AWARDS
Quinton Ashman: Poultry, Judging & Public Speaking
Sedona Ashman: Poultry, Judging & Public Speaking
Kieran Probert: Aerospace, Demonstration & Public Speaking
Zoe Probert: Horticulture, Demonstration & Public Speaking
Exploring 4-H Project:
This project is designed for 4-H’ers 8-12 years old. Three 4-H’ers completed the project record that was judged for this event: Chase Anderson, Noel Garde and Marshall Herring
Exploring 4-H Award Winner: Noel Garde
Diamond Clover Awards
Level 1 Award Winners (Amethyst pin)
Noel Garde, Marshall Herring, Aydin Jones, Cody Kuhlman, Ella Marquez, Nicco Moutzalias, Ethan Perry and Wyatt Vincent
Level 2 Award Winners (Aquamarine pin)
Cameron Hale, Liam Probert and Alison Swartz
Level 3 Award Winners (Ruby pin)
Juliette Anger, Quinton Ashman, Sedona Ashman, Lillie Bradley, Reid Bradley, Claire Denham, Joel Denham, Morgan Everts, Keira Fletcher, Addison Freebery, Logan Jackson and Olivia Shultie
Level 4 Award Winners (Sapphire pin)
*Please note these awards are on backorder and will be given to you as soon as they arrive at the 4-H office!
Ruby DiSabatino, Sara Figurski, Elise Garde, Samuel Gossett, Talia Moutzalias, Kieran Probert, Brooke Taylor and Meredith Timmons
Level 5 Award Winners (Emerald pin)
Bailey Fletcher, Jake Shultie, Janet Shultie and Declan West
We also have a few members currently working on their Level 6 projects:
Carter Bradley and Ainsley West
Level 6 Award Winner (Diamond pin)
Zoe Probert – Service Project: “A Garden for a Cause”
The mission of this project is to provide nutritious, fresh food to people in need in order to reduce food insecurity and promote healthy eating. Zoe created a garden that grew and continues to grow fresh fruits and vegetables to provide for those who are food insecure and rely on food banks. Zoe says during the past year, she has created a community garden that produces enough vegetables to support the needs of about 8 families. From July 3, 2021 to September 16, 2021, her garden has produced 890 pounds of vegetables that have been donated to the DE Food Bank as well as a local homeless shelter.
Camp Counselor Awards
4-H Teen Leaders served as counselors at a variety of events in the spring and summer of 2021 including Younger Member Day, Experience Extension Camp and Sussex 4-H Day Camp. These counselors were:
Carter Bradley, Alyssa Carpenter, Cole Carpenter, Dakota Carmona, Destiny Carmona, Diamond Carmona, Carly DeFord, Ruby DiSabatino, Ashlyn Elliott, Sam Gossett, Brynn Hovatter, Austin Jewell, Kyle Kerr, Katie Kuhlman, Paige Taylor and Ainsley West.
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: Bailey Fletcher
Foods: Ruby DiSabatino
Clothing: Madison Johnson
Photography: Sedona Ashman
Wood: Jase Hudson
Horse: Paige Taylor
Livestock: Ainsley West
Poultry: Madison 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 winners of the 2021 Leaders Scholarships were:
Ruby DiSabatino, Lord Baltimore and Kyle Kerr, Bridgeville Mustangs
Alternate Winner: Sam Gossett, Hollymount
Links Scholarships
The recipients of this award received a full scholarship to Younger Member Weekend Camp.
Winners:
Lillie Bradley, Bridgeville Mustangs
Olivia Shultie, Seaford Blue Jays
Reid Bradley, Bridgeville Mustangs
Matthew Johnson, Country Clovers
Phyllis Hill Memorial Award
Ainsley West presented the Phyllis Hill Memorial Award on behalf of the Hollymount Club. The recipient of this award was Brynn Hovatter. Brynn is a member of the Cypress Heart & Hands 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 2021 Winner was Destiny Carmona. Destiny is a member of the Harbor Lights 4-H Club and outgoing President of Sussex 4-H Jr. Council. She currently attends the University of Delaware.
4-H SPIRIT AWARDS
Seven 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: Sam Gossett, Matthew Johnson, Kyle Kerr, Ruby DiSabatino, Brynn Hovatter and Kathy DiSabatino.
Congratulations to all award winners!