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Leaders, Members Receive Lancaster County 4-H Awards
MICHELLE KUNJAPPU
Special Sections
MANHEIM (Lancaster Co.)
It is rewarding when hard work
and effort is applauded, and a re
cent banquet provided the oppor
tunity for many Lancaster Coun
ty 4-H’ers and their leaders to be
honored for their time and par
ticipation in the organization.
The annual 4-H Recognition
Night, a banquet conducted at
Ruhl’s United Methodist Church,
drew more than 200 people.
Talent selections included per
formances by Christine Keefer,
Lindsey Sensing, Katrina Smith,
Colton King, Erin Sensing, and
Lena Ferguson. Each were win
ners in the junior and senior divi
sions of the talent show con
ducted at the 4-H Fair.
In addition to talent selections,
several awards were given. Suz
anne Schmalhofer, Penn State
extension office manager, re
ceived the Friend of 4-H award
for her willing service to the or
ganization, according to 4-H
coordinator Katina Showman.
Sara Beckary, part of the Pup
pies with a Purpose 4-H Club,
won the Best Friend Award.
Each year one member of the
club is selected for their dedicat
ion to the Seeing Eye Program.
The Ephrata Cocalico Com
munity Club was recognized with
the 4-H Club Spirit Award. To
receive the award ($lOO to the
club’s treasury), the clubs are
asked to describe how they dis
As part of 4-H’s new Salute To Excellence award pro
gram, the first Volunteer of the Year Award went to Rob
Sherick, Manheim. Also a recipient of a new award from
the Salute To Excellence program, Connie Rutt, Quarry
ville, won the first Lifetime Volunteer Award.
Sarah Graybill, left, and Lori Hess won this year’s 4-H
scholarships. The $l,OOO scholarships will be awarded
after they have completed one semester at an institution
of higher learning and are enrolled for the next semester.
played 4-H spirit through their
head, hearts, hands, and health.
In addition, State 4-H
Achievement Days Winners in
cluded Erin Sensing, first place,
textile science individual; Luke
Hershey, first place, photogra
phy; and Jared and James Snyd
er, first place team, advanced ori
enteering. James Snyder was also
named first place individual in
orienteering.
Luke Hershey was given the
4-H Superior Achievement
Award presented by Kerry Boyd.
Hershey, 18, is the son of Les and
Lois Hershey, Kirkwood, and a
senior at Lancaster Mennonite
High School. This year marked
Hershey’s 10th year of 4-H in
volvement. He has been a mem
ber of numerous clubs, covering
the gamut from dairy beef, beef,
sheep, and swine to sewing, cross
stitching, and basket weaving. He
has also served in several leader
ship offices in the clubs, includ
ing working as a teen leader.
“In 4-H I acquired life skills
that I needed to become a well
rounded and responsible citizen,”
said Hershey.
Learning woodworking, for ex
ample, allowed him to make a
feed trough for his animals. Be
sides educating him on how to
raise animals, it “taught me the
art of keeping good records.” he
said, in addition to schooling him
in money management.
In his essay “What 4-H Means
to Me,” Hershey wrote that there
were two foundational aspects
that he learned in 4-H that
helped to change his life: leader
ship and responsibility.
“4-H opened a way for me to
try new things and pursue varied
interests,” said Hershey. He also
credits 4-H for helping him leam
people skills and parliamentary
procedure.
The organization “helps create
responsible leaders who will be
productive citizens the rest of
their lives,” said Hershey.
Through 4-H Hershey has also
attended state and national lead
ership conferences and events.
Other awards included this
year’s honor roll winners. In the
junior category winners were
Shelly Fairchild, Luke Hershey,
and Kelly King. Mackenzie
Crump, Hillary Grube, and Brent
Talbot won in the senior category
winners. These winners will get
their name on a plaque at the
Farm and Home Center, a $5O
savings bond, a certificate, and
comments the judges wrote about
their application.
Each year 4-H members have
the opportunity to earn schol
arships through 4-H. The $l,OOO
scholarship will be released after
the winners have completed his
or her first semester and has en
rolled for the second semester at
a higher learning institution. This
year’s winners me Sarah Graybill
and Lori Hess.
Additionally teen and adult
leaders were recognized for their
work in 4-H. Reid Fellenbaum,
Boots and Saddles 4-H club, and
Pygmy Goat Pride 4-H club, was
given the Club President Award.
Amber Sensing, Conestoga Val
ley community club, was given
the 4-H Club Secretary Award.
Kelsey Lenox, Boots and Saddles
4-H Club, was given the 4-H
Club Treasurer Award. Macken
zie Crump, Rough Riders 4-H
Horse Club, was given the 4-H
Club Social Chair Award.
Adult leaders who have served
one, five, 10, 15, and 30 years
were also recognized. Serving for
IS years were Eugene Bollinger,
Nancy Frey, Brenda Hershey,
and Marion Miller.
Stella Hess has worked as a
leader for 30 years. She considers
her efforts her students “reward
ing” and noted that “I’m now
teaching their (Hess’ former stu
dents) children.”
Also to honor leaders, two new
awards were given during the
evening as part of 4-H’s new Sa
lute To Excellence award pro
gram. The first Volunteer of the
Year Award went to Rob Sher
ick, Manheim, who recruited 32
leaders and 106 members to the
Boots and Saddles Club.
Additionally, Connie Rutt,
Quarryville, was recognized as
the recipient of the first Lifetime
Volunteer Award. Rutt has
worked, as a leader of a sewing
club for 27 years, besides working
with at-risk youth at the Lancas
ter County Youth Intervention
Center, where Rutt helps with a
4-H nutrition education program.
She has also spearheaded and de
veloped, according to Showman,
the 4-H international exchange
program, which allows 4-Hers
the opportunity to travel to Po
land and host Polish students.
Katina Showman gave a sum
mary of upcoming 4-H high
lights.
The 4-H Club Quiz Bowl the
second year for the event will
again take place during the 4-H
Fair, she said. There is a travel
ing trophy for the 2-4 club mem
bers who win the quiz bowl,
which includes questions of gen
eral knowledge.
Loren Hershey, Kirkwood, a senior at Lancaster Men
nonite High School, won this year’s 4-H Superior
Achievement Award. Loren, center, is pictured with his
parents, Les and Lois, and siblings, from left front, Luke,
Lisa, and Linford.
Honor roll winners include, from left, Hillary Grube,
Luke Hershey, Brent Talbot, Shelly Fairchild, and Kelly
King.
Suzanne Schmalhofer,
Penn State extension office
manager, won this year’s
Friend of 4-H Award.
The program is also offering
4-H items such as a t-shirt, fleece
blanket, and jacket. Orders for
the items are due to the extension
office by November 10.
Another opportunity, said
Showman, is the upcoming North
East States 4-H Leaders Forum,
which Pennsylvania will be host
ing in 2004. “If you have ever
thought about going to one of
these things, next year is the
time,” said Showman.
An open house for 4-H will be
conducted January 28. The event
offers the community an oppor
tunity to visit with club members
and leaders who will be available
the booths that represent each
club. A video at the event will
feature information available for
adults who are interested in be
coming a volunteer leader.
Auctioneer Harold Keller was
Stella Hess has worked
as a leader for 30 years.
She considers her efforts
for her students “reward
ing” and noted that she is
now teaching children of
her former students.
the emcee for the event. Keller
has been volunteering his services
at the annual 4-H Strawberry
Roundup since 1961.
During the evening members
of the 4-H program development
board were introduced. Formerly
the 4-H Leader’s Advisory Coun
cil and the 4-H Development
Fund Board, the two committees,
comprised of 4-H leaders, par
ents, and local business leaders,
were combined in January to
form the program develoment
board. The board, along with
Lori Little, 4-H animal science
agent, planned the recognition
banquet. Anyone interested in
serving on the board can call
Showman at (717) 394-6851.