Finney earns Wayne County’s 4-H top honor

ORRVILLE, Ohio – Beth Finney of Marshallville received the Wayne County 4-H Award of Excellence during the recent 4-H recognition banquet at Orrville Christian Church.

This award, formerly known as the Equity Award, is based on the member’s project work, leadership and what the member gained through his 4-H experience.

Finney is a 10-year member of the Smithie Whiz Kids 4-H Club. She has been a member of the Wayne County Food and Fashion Board and has represented Wayne County at the Ohio State Fair, where she earned several outstanding awards on her projects.

Finney has been a member of the junior fair board and served as superintendent of the sheep department and was also on the royal court.

The daughter of Dr. Malcolm and Julie Finney of Marshallville, Finney is a graduate of Smithville High School and is currently a freshman at The Ohio State University.

Service award. Phil Shriver of Shreve received the 2003 Meritorious Service Award.

Shriver has been a 4-H adviser for 22 years. He has served on the rabbit and poultry committee and also on the 4-H advisory committee.

He is a member of the skillathon committee and is certified as a Pullorum tester for poultry and performs the tests on the birds at the fair.

Junior leadership. Three individuals were selected to receive the 2003 Outstanding Junior Leader award: Rhett Acker, Julie Acker, and Jaci Snyder.

Rhett Acker, a graduate of Triway High School, attends The Ohio State University, Mansfield. Julie Acker is a freshman at Triway High School and is also a member of the Springville Country Club. Snyder is a member of the Madisonburg Pioneers and a senior at Norwayne High School.

County awards. County medal award recipients include: Amy Hershberger, (achievement, leadership); Brittany McKelvey, (achievement, horse); Angela Gresser, (achievement, clothing);

Sherri Gress, (agriculture, dairy); Tiffany Burge, (beef); Denise Oser, (beef); Megan Neal, (bread, fashion revue); Kayli Hostetler, (cats);

Becky Gilkey, (citizenship); Jamie Ratzel, (clothing, fashion revue); Nicole Berry, (clothing, sheep); Megan Boley, (conservation); Randall Boley, (conservation);

Laura Gordon, (dairy, veterinary science); Jillian Yarnell, (dog care and training); Erica Lang, (swine, dog care and training);

Megan Jordan, (fashion revue, food and nutrition); Sarah Stahl, (goats); Dawna Beery, (goats); Katherine LeFever, (horse); Jena Lettelier, (horse); Amber Castella, (horse);

Eileen Gress, (wildlife and fisheries); Bethany Croskey, (sheep); Molly Smith, (rabbits, poultry); Jason Ullom, (poultry, leadership); Logan Hange, (poultry);

Renee Eggeman, (rabbits, leadership); Michaela Crumley, (leadership).