812-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 20, 2003
Lehigh County 4-H’ers Scoop Up Awards
ALLENTOWN (Lehigh Co.)
Four Lehigh County 4-H Club
members were named outstand
ing members at a recent 4-H
achievement awards event. Four
teens were recognized for their
work as outstanding club officers
and others received medals for
outstanding work in specific proj
ects.
Erin Brennan, 11, of Slating
ton, was awarded a scholarship
to attend 4-H Camp Shehaqua
next summer. She has done out
standing work as a young mem
ber of the Lehigh County 4-H
Equine Club.
David Harwich, 15, of Kemp
ton and Lorissa Lazarus, 13, of
Breinigsville were named out
standing boy and girl in the mid
dle school category. Harwich is
enrolled in beef, dairy calf, and
swine projects. He is also a mem
ber of the Lowhill Laurels 4-H
Club where he pursues food and
nutrition projects. Lazarus raises
dairy beef, swine, sheep, and rab
bits. They also were awarded
camp scholarships.
Jennifer Rassler, 16, of Kemp
ton raises dairy beef and dairy
cows. She will represent Lehigh
County 4-H’ers at the 2005 Na
tional 4-H Congress in Atlanta,
Ga.
Outstanding club officers hon
ored were Kristen Oplinger of
Wescosville, president of the
North Paws Seeing Eye Puppy
4-H Club; Jennifer Rassler, secre
tary of the Lehigh County 4-H
Beef Club and the 4-H Dairy
Lehigh County 4-H Recognizes
Auctioneer And Volunteers
ALLENTOWN (Lehigh Co.)
Ralph Zettlemoyer, Fogelsville,
was recognized for his contribu
tions to Lehigh County 4-H dur
ing the annual 4-H Achievement
Night. At the same event one vol
unteer was recognized for 40
years of service. Others won rec
ognition for 15, 20, and 25 years
of service.
Zettlemoyer, an auctioneer,
donates his services during the
annual 4-H livestock sale at the
Allentown Fair. He talks up each
animal’s qualities. He encourages
potential buyers to bid up the
price of animals as a way of
showing support for the youth
who raised the livestock.
When the Partner in 4-H
Award was presented to Zettle
moyer, he turned to share his
own recollections with the 4-H
members present. As a 4-H mem
ber many years ago, he raised
hogs and grew potatoes among
several projects. He also played
in the 4-H softball league. Later
he was a volunteer leader for the
Southern Lehigh Horse and Pony
Club and the Tractor Mainte
nance Club.
Robin Rassler of Lynn Town
ship, a leader for the dairy beef
project and a member of the Le
high County 4-H Development
Fund board, presented Zettle
moyer with the award. “His sup
port of the auction every year
helps the 4-H members realize
the best price for their animals,”
she said.
Jean Person Brown of South
Whitehall Township was award
ed a diamond 4-H clover for 40
years of service as a volunteer
leader of the Southern Lehigh
Horse and Pony 4-H Club. Over
the years Brown has seen the
club change from one dominated
by children with backyard horses
to those who board their horses at
a stable and take formal riding
lessons or who simply love horses
but don’t have access to one at
all. Her club meets at Person’s
Stable at the corner of Walbert
Avenue and Cedar Crest Boule
vard.
Outstanding 4-H’ers
Lehigh County: From left:
Kristen Oplinger, Wescos
ville; David Harwich, Kemp
ton; Lorissa Lazarus, Brei
nigsville; Jennifer Rassler,
Kempton; Kristin Hulshart,
Macungie.
Club; and in a tie for treasurer,
Kristin Hulshart of Macungie,
Lehigh County Country Cabbits,
and Diana Costello of Slatington,
Lehigh County 4-H Equine Club.
Project medals were awarded
to the following: Overall
Achievement, Renee Ruhe, New
Tripoli, Neffs Cloverettes 4-H
Club; Beef, Jennifer Rassler,
Kempton, Beef and Dairy 4-H
Clubs; Clothing and Textiles,
Emily Geiger, Schnecksville,
Neffs Cloverettes 4-H Club;
Dairy, Jordan Rassler, Kempton,
Beef and Dairy 4-H Clubs;
Electricity, Carol Fella, Schneck
sville, Neffs Cloverettes Club;
Fashion Revue, Alicia Nardo,
Coopersburg, Southern Lehigh
Helping Hands 4-H Club; Foods
and Nutrition, Jade Rauch, New
Tripoli, Lowhill Laurels 4-H
Ralph Zettlemoyer, Fogelsville, auctioneer, receives
Partner in 4-H Award from Robin Rassler, Lehigh County
4-H leader, Kempton. Some members of the Lehigh Coun
ty livestock clubs and another leader look on.
Ruby Gogel, Neffs, was hon
ored for 25 years of service with
the Neffs Cloverettes 4-H Club.
Until a few years ago Ruby was
happy to help the club with spe
cial activities like displays and
scrapbooks recording the club’s
activities. She has recently be
come the organizational leader of
a club that is now coed despite its
name from an era when it was a
girls’ club.
Diane Selig, Germansville, has
been a leader for the North Paws
Seeing Eye Puppy 4-H Club for
20 years. She continues to raise
Seeing Eye puppies herself and to
oversee the training of puppies
and the organization of this club.
The club includes youth and their
families who are all helping to
raise puppies who will be trained
later at the Seeing Eye Founda
tion headquarters in Morristown,
New Jersey, to lead people who
are visually impaired.
Bill and Imogene Dietrich,
Germansville, have jointly led the
4-H Dairy Calf Club for 15 years.
Although the club is small, they
challenge every member to learn
as much as possible about dairy
animals. This club’s members
regularly participate in dairy
Club; Gardening, Bill Rennie,
Center Valley, Southern Lehigh
Helping Hands 4-H Club;
Hobbies/Collectibles, Blaise Man
nino, New Tripoli, Lowhill Lau
rels 4-H Club; Horse, Dana
Clouser and Lauren Idleman,
both of Allentown and the Le
high County 4-H Equine Club.
Also, Leadership, Kristen
Oplinger, Wescosville, North
Paws Seeing Eye Puppy 4-H
Club; Rabbits/Cavies, Kristin
Hulshart, Macungie, Country
Cabbits and Emmaus Sewing
4-H Clubs; Seeing Eye Puppy,
Lindsay Anglestein, Fountain
Hill, North Paws Seeing Eye
Puppy 4-H Club; Seeing Eye
Puppy, Jillian Snyder, Allen
town, South Paws Seeing Eye
Puppy 4-H Club; Sheep, Chelsea
Stridsberg, Zionsville, sheep
club; Swine, Lorissa Lazarus,
Breinigsville, swine club; and
Wood Science, Eric Knauss,
Coopersburg, Southern Lehigh
Helping Hands 4-H Club.
The Beef/Dairy Beef 4-H Club
won a check for $25 for their ex
cellent club scrapbook. Neffs
Cloverettes 4-H Club and the Le
high County 4-H Equine Club
were awarded $25 checks as out
standing clubs, coming closest to
standards set for all 4-H clubs.
Thirty teens were recognized
for their leadership, both formal
and informal leadership, in their
individual clubs. Of more than
2500 youth enrolled in 4-H,
about 250 of those participate in
clubs that meet for six to eleven
months of each year.
judging activities. These activities
develop youth’s decision-making
skills and help them to raise bet
ter dairy cows.
Other 4-H volunteers were
also recognized for their service
to the organization. Ten year vet
erans are Darlene Wirth, Ore
field, currently a volunteer leader
for the Lehigh County Country
Cabbits 4-H Club, and Bob Soha,
Allentown, one of the leaders of
the county Shooting Sports 4-H
Club.
Five year awards were given to
Patty Engler, Allentown, volun
teer for the Bth Ward Tropical
Jungle Club; Kathy Lichten
walner of Macungie, volunteer
for the Emmaus Sewing 4-H
Club; Donna Wolfe of New Tri
poli, volunteer for the Lowhill
Laurels 4-H club; and Tim Billig,
New Tripoli, volunteer for the
county 4-H Swine Club.
First year awards were made
to Linda Frisby, Allentown, Bth
Ward Tropical Jungle club; Julie
Lichtenwalner, Coplay, Neffs
Cloverettes; Debbie Snyder, A
South Paws Seeing Eye Puppy
4-H Club; and John C. Straw
bridge, Whitehall, 4-H Sheep
Club.
I 4-H Members And Leaders
Recognized In Union County
LEWISBURG (Union Co.)
The 2003 Union County 4-H Rec
ognition Event took place recent
ly at St. John’s United Church of
Christ in Lewisburg.
Serving as Master of Ceremo
nies for the evening was last
year’s Outstanding Senior 4-H’er,
Andrew Richard, member of the
Lucky Clovers 4-H Club. Douglas
Richard, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, and Heidi Eppenbach of
the Green Pride 4-H Club led the
American and 4-H pledges.
The 2003 Outstanding Junior
4-H’er Award was presented to
Ellen Benfer, daughter of James
and Debra Benfer of New Berlin,
a six-year member of the Lucky
Clovers 4-H Club.
Receiving the 2003 Outstand
ing Senior 4-H’er Award was
Douglas Richard, son of Steven
and Fay Richard of Mifflinburg,
a seven-year 4-H’er and a mem
ber of the Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club.
Adult 4-H volunteer leaders
recognized for years of service
with the Union County 4-H pro
gram were Clint Erdly, Grace
Hockenberry, and Paula Wise for
one year of service; Mary Berry,
Melinda Erdley, Ben Messimer,
and Jolene Nunn five years;
Margaret Oberlin, Rebecca Ris
hel, and Carrie Walter for 10
years of service, and Anna Wolfe
—l5 years.
In addition, leaders who have
provided more than 15 years of
service to the Union County 4-H
program were also recognized;
Nancy Messimer of the Green
Pride 4-H Club 16 years of
service; Lee Spangler, Sharp
shooters 4-H Club 18 years;
Carol Nunn of the Green Pride
4-H Club 22 years; and Martha
Hockenberry, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club 23 years of service.
The 2003 Union County 4-H
Club Community Service Award
was presented to the Lucky Clo
vers 4-H Club for service to the
community. In addition, the
Lucky Clovers 4-H Club earned
the 2003 Union County 4-H Su
perclub' Award for the highest
overall club performance based
on point totals.
Best of Show ribbons for com
pleting outstanding 4-H Round-
Up projects were presented to
Scott Benfer, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Wildlife All Around Us-
Winter; Bethany Berger, Kelly
ites 4-H Club, Ceramics 8; Dian
na Kroft, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Dog 1 and Separates; Re
becca Mapes, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Theatre Arts; Kenetha
Markle, Green Pride 4-H Club,
Recreation and Theatre Arts;
Catherine May, Kelly-ites 4-H
Club, Basketry; Andrew Nickel
son, Green Pride 4-H Club,
Woodworking; Luke Petrc, Kelly
ites 4-H Club, Orienteering and
Citizenship in Action; Andrew
Richard, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Collectibles and Leadership
Skill Development 2; Douglas
Richard, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Canoeing and Let’s Can
Tomatoes and Fruits; Amanda
Wagner, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Dog 2; and Zachary Wise,
Greed Pride 4-H Club, Wood
working.
Award certificates were also
presented to 4-H’ers who had
participated in regional, state,
and national events. Alisha Cox,
Danielle Cox, Natalie Reese, and
Ryan Russell were recognized for
serving as regional camp counse
lors. For participating in Region
al Fashion Revue, Diana Kraft,
Kenetha Markle, and Amanda
Nickelson received award certifi
cates. Other 4-H’ers who were
recognized for participation in
clude: Chelsie Walter, Aulii Wa
timar, and Justine Zerbe for Re-
gjonal Horse Production Show;
Quincy Herrold, Laura Peffer,
Miranda Swartzlander, Cayce
Walter, Chelsie Walter, Aulii
Watimar, Sarah Welteroth, and
Justine Zerbe for District Horse
Performance Show; Crissa John
son, Anna Spangler, Joseph
Spangler, Cayce Walter, and
Chelsie Walter District Dairy
Show; Joseph Spangler, Cayce
Walter, and Chelsie Walter for
State Dairy Show; Laura Peffer,
Chelsie Walter, Aulii Watimar,
and Sarah Welteroth State 4-H
Achievement Days; Luke Petre,
Sally Petre, and Andrew Walter
for State 4-H Forestry Field Day;
and Luke Petre was recognized
for participating in National 4-H
Forestry Invitational.
Club Officer Awards were
presented to Mark Benfer, Lucky
Clovers 4-H Club, Ist place
club president; Andrew Richard,
Lucky Clovers, Ist place club
vice president; Ellen Benfer,
Lucky Clovers 4-H Club, Ist
place club treasurer; Amanda
Wagner, Lucky Clovers, Ist place
club secretary; Douglas Rich
ard, Lucky Clovers, Ist place
social chair/game leader; and
Scott Benfer, Lucky Clovers 4-H
Club, Ist place club historian.
Junior Blue Form completion
awards were presented to Ben
Hartley, Ist place for Cloverbuds;
Michaela Murphy, Ist place, and
David llgen, 2nd place for first
year members; Kelsey Benner
and Melanie Hartley, Ist place
for second year members; Scott
Benfer, Ist place, John Kroft, 2nd
place, and Robert May, 3rd place
for third year members. For
fourth year members, Amanda
Nickelson took Ist place, and Re
becca Mapes, 2nd. Kenetha
Markle placed Ist, Travis Kulp
2nd, Dianna Kroft 3rd, and
Catherine May, Honorable Men
tion for fifth year members. For
sixth year members, Ellen Benfer
and Amanda Wagner took first
place.
Senior Blue Form completion
awards were presented to Mark
Benfer, Lucky Clovers 4-H Club;
Ashley Kulp, Cowan Ag; Krista
Mack, Y.E.A.H. 4-H Club; An
drew Richard, Lucky Clovers;
and Douglas Richard, Lucky Clo
vers 4-H Club.
A Presentation/Demonstration
certificate was awarded to Ashley
Kulp of the Cowan Ag 4-H Club
for a presentation she gave at the
county’s Presentation Event.
Luke Petre, Andrew Walter, and
Natalie Reese were recognized for
earning 2003 Union County 4-H
Scholarships toward their post
secondary educations.
Teen Leadership Project com
pletion pins and award certifi
cates were presented to Andrew
Richard and Douglas Richard of
the Lucky Clovers 4-H Club, and
Cayce Walter and Sarah Wel
teroth of the Valley Riders 4-H
Club.
For the evening’s entertain
ment, the SIMON House 4-H
School Club showed a video
about their school project activi
ties, and the Green Pride 4-H
Club presented a puppet show.
Serving on the 2003 Union
County 4-H Recognition Event
Committee were Heidi Eppen
bach, Sue Eppenbach, Ben Mes
simer, Carol Nunn, and Douglas
Richard.
Additional volunteers and staff
who helped organize, set-up, or
conduct the event include Kath
ryn Hockenberry, Martha Hock
enberry, Mary Beckley, Judy
Clayton, Patricia Grenoble, An
nette Kratzer, Commissioner
Robert O. Brouse Jr., Teresa
Spangler, Mark Spangler, Steven
Richard, and Jill Broschart.
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