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Ohio 4-H Youth Development

Ohio State University Extension

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Ohio teens earn State Achievement Awards

The emcees for the evening, Bonnie Ayars and Melina Matics, dot the “I” before guests arrive.

Celebrating the accomplishments of our outstanding teen 4-H’ers was the focus of the 2023 Achievement Awards banquet earlier this month. Throughout the evening, 28 youth were recognized for their success in specific project areas and received a certificate of achievement for their hard work. In addition to their project work, 4-H’ers were evaluated on their leadership, community service experience, and their overall contributions to their county and state 4-H programs.

As each honoree was announced, videos played of the youth sharing what 4-H means to them and the impact it is had on their lives. “Through 4-H I have found a Madilyn Lawson, winner of the Leadership Achievement Award, smiles for a photo with Dr. Kirk Bloir, state 4-H leader.place where I feel successful and empowered. It has given me the experience and the confidence to make a difference,” said Madilyn Lawson, one of the winners of the Leadership Achievement Award. “I am so grateful to win this award because it is a reminder that I have lived my life by the 4-H motto.”

Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, the awardees will have the honor of attending National 4-H Congress in Atlanta as members of the Ohio delegation this November. For a full list of award winners and sponsors, visit our website.Sara Newsome speaks to guests about her experience at National 4-H Congress.

The evening was hosted by the Ohio 4-H Foundation at the Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center. Highland County 4-H alumna Sara Newsome served as the guest speaker. Newsome was the 2021 recipient of the Leadership Achievement Award and the 2022 recipient of the Ohio Township Association’s Local Government Award, and shared her experience at National 4-H Congress.

Ohio 4-H representatives to the Ohio State Fair Junior Fair Board and National 4-H Dairy Conference and the recipients of the Ohio Township Association’s Local Government Awards were also recognized at the banquet.