Ashland Co. 4-H supporters thanked

ASHLAND, Ohio – Ashland 4-H members and volunteers honored friends and outstanding members and volunteers during their annual 4-H Recognition Banquet.

Top honors to five. Meritorious Service Awards were presented to Ron and Pat Shenberger, Bill Stepp, Jeff Jacobs and Sara Oxender for their support of the 4-H program.

The Shenbergers have sponsored trophies, assisted with Ashland County Earth Day, set up the educational booths and assisted with project judging.

A licensed auctioneer with Dilgard and Associates, Stepp has donated his services as an auctioneer to sell prize-winning baked goods.

Jacobs has worked with the tractor certification program for several years and has also served on the 4-H dairy committee and assists with the junior fair dairy show.

Oxender has been an adviser with the Ruggles Rangers for 28 years and has served on the Ashland County 4-H committee.

Other awards. Meritorious Support Awards were given to Geyer-Hawkins Fresh Foods, TSC-Tractor Supply Company and Town and Country Co-op.

Jeanene Stover was recognized as the Outstanding 4-H Volunteer. In addition to serving as a volunteer with the Stockmasters 4-H Club, she is also a master clothing educator for the county and has assisted with activities for local clubs as well as at the county level.

Youth awards. 2003 “I Dare You” Leadership awards were presented to Brennan Earick, Rusty Cook and Jarrod Pollard.

Earick, a junior at Hillsdale High School, is a member of the Loudonville Boys and Girls 4-H Club. Cook is also a junior at Hillsdale and is a member of Feathered Friends 4-H Club. Pollard is a junior at Loudonville High School and is a member of the Loudonville Boys and Girls 4-H Club.

Club awards. Honor club awards went to Brytes, Wide Horizon, Green Clover Kids, and Bunnies N Stuff.

County medal awards were presented to:

Aaron Fitch, (achievement, rabbit); Charity Massie, (achievement, agriculture), Kevin Spreng, (achievement, dairy); Brad McQuillen, (automotive, clothing and textiles);

Eric Kline, (beef, goats); Kelsey Litten, (beef); Kara Neer, (beef, citizenship); Sarah Swineford, (beef);

Jarrod Pollard, (citizenship, leadership); Elizabeth Ling, (clothing and textiles); Kristina Philips, (clothing and textiles, fashion revue); Ashley Pickering, (clothing and textiles, poultry); Vanessa Wallace, (clothing and textiles);

Nicole Zody, (conservation, other); Aaron Pittenger, (electric); Cohlin LeMaster, (entomology);

Emily Bennett, (food and nutrition, fashion revue); Karla Neer, (fashion revue); Allison Stover, (fashion revue);

Lisa Bicker, (food and nutrition); Melanie Fitch, (food and nutrition, leadership); Regina Hoover, (food and nutrition); Kaylee Schuster, (food and nutrition);

Rusty Cook, (forestry, horse); Christin Edwards, (goats); Janessa Jones, (goats); Rosemary Markel, (goats); Autumn Hines, (home environment, swine);

Rebekka Foreman, (horse, rabbit); Sadie Spidel, (horse); Zach Freer, (leadership, other); Sarah Bahntge, (leadership);

Tiffany Hoover, (other, rabbit); Ben Freer, (photography, wildlife and fisheries); Misty Bahntge, (photography, veterinary science); Glen Clevidence, (poultry); Jaron Rader, (poultry);

Amy Rice, (public speaking); Nella Blackford, (rabbit); Emily Massie, (recreation, sheep); Aaron Barr, (self determined, shooting sports); Jessica Kirkpatrick, (self determined);

Brandy Bennett, (sheep, swine); Heather Heffelfinger, (sheep, swine); Bryan Carr, (shooting sports);

Jessica Hoover, (wood science); Brock Kline, (wood science); Landry Kline, (wood science).