Recognition of 4-H Dairy Club Members 2014 participation and achievements were highlighted during the recent Berks County 4-H Dairy Banquet at Virginville Grange Hall.
The Charles D. Care Memorial Rookie Award is presented to a first or second year member from each dairy club for being a “Rookie” of the year. Each club nominates a member who attends club meetings, participates in projects, helps out at the fair with good housekeeping and participates in showmanship and fitting. This year the club “Rookies” were: Reece Heckman from Eastern Berks 4-H Dairy Club, Mitchell Brett from the Northern Berks 4-H Dairy Club and Sara Haag from the Western Berks 4-H Dairy Club. The overall county Charles D. Care Rookie of the Year was Mitchell Brett.
The Joyce Miller 4-H Career Advancement Award was presented to Laura Lesher of the Western Berks 4-H Dairy Club. The Joyce Miller Award recognizes an outstanding Berks County 4-H dairy club member for their leadership experiences, participation in club and county events, and community service. They receive an award to be used for higher education, career training or career investment.
Laura has been a 10 year member of the Western Berks 4-H Dairy Club where she has served as President, secretary and a teen leader. She also participated in 4-H dairy judging and was able to compete at the World Dairy Expo as well as compete at the International Judging Contest in Scotland. Laura said “4-H has offered me so many opportunities like showing and dairy judging.” She is hoping that the skills she has learned in 4-H will help her after graduation from college.
4-H members keep records on their cattle all year long and complete either a record book or herd journal to show what they do with their animals. These books are then judged and the top 3 in each division are recognized at the banquet.
The 4-H Dairy Record Books were judged by Keith Buch a former Berks County 4-H leader. The winners were: Beginner Division 1st place Mackenzie Blatt, Northern Berks; 2nd place Peter Rohrbach, Eastern Berks; 3rd place Emma Rhode, Northern Berks; Intermediate Division 1st place Ayla Blatt, Northern Berks; 2nd place Nathan Younker, Northern Berks; 3rd place Isaac Rohrbach, Eastern Berks; Senior Division 1st place Madison Knepp, Northern Berks; 2nd place Taylor Pool, Northern Berks; 3rd place Tyler Schollenberger, Eastern Berks.
The 4-H Herd Journals were judged by Diana Dietrich a former Berks County 4-H leader. The winners were: Beginner Division 1st place Maya Bicksler, Western Berks; 2nd place Autumn Gamler, Northern Berks; 3rd place Tucker Sattazahn, Western Berks; Intermediate Division 1st place Kristin Johns, Western Berks; 2nd place Mark Balthaser, Northern Berks; 3rd place Mikayla Davis, Northern Berks; Senior Division 1st place Andrew Younker, Northern Berks; 2nd place Samuel Angstadt, Eastern Berks; 3rd place Joel Younker, Northern Berks.
Officer book awards were presented to: Secretary Book – Jenna Meyers, Northern Berks; Treasurer Book – Samuel Angstadt, Eastern Berks; Scrapbook – Western Berks Dairy Club
4-H members were also recognized for their participation in dairy judging at the Penn State Spring Contest and State Achievement Days, the Pennsylvania Junior Dairy Show, the All-American Dairy Show Showmanship Contest, and the All-American Dairy Management Contest.
Two 4-H members graduated out of the 4-H program this past year. They were Andrew Younker and Kurtis Rohrbach. Both participated in the banquet, Andrew was the master of ceremonies and Kurtis gave the invocation.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by Ashley Mohn, the Pennsylvania Dairy Princess and Alyssa Troutman, Berks County Li’l Miss Dairy Princess. Ashley played a game of “Dairy Feud” with members and leaders from each dairy club competing against each other.
Wrapping up the banquet was a “year in review” slide show put together by Ashley Mohn highlighting the 4-H members and activities from 2014.
