TORRINGTON – Join us in congratulating and celebrating the accomplishments of the 2023 Goshen County 4-H members. While all 4-H members did an outstanding job this year, several members were selected from the clubs to be recognized for their special achievements. 

Recently, the Goshen County 4-H conducted its annual Achievement Program celebrating the member’s accomplishments throughout the year. 

The Outstanding Member Awards went to junior member Caleb Clark from the Southeast Cowpokes, intermediate member Daniel Bennett with the Happy Hounds and senior member Klacie Groene with the Gleaners Union. 

According to the Goshen County 4-H office, this year was the most competitive year in recent history. Being named an Outstanding 4-H Member is the highest honor achievable in Goshen County 4-H. These members serve as role models for others through participation in their club, county, state and national levels.  

“I know all our kids and they are all great,” Megan Brittingham, 4-H educator and county coordinator, told the Telegram. “[The nominations for the Outstanding Member Award are based on] what is their dedication to 4-H, are they a role model, and are they taking advantage of opportunities. Those are the kids we want to represent 4-H; they’re the best of us.”

These members represent the best of 4-H through their attitude, service, leadership and participation.

“[Caleb Clark] never failed to put a smile on your face and made an impact on several adult 4-H volunteers this year as they helped him learn his project,” members of the 4-H community said about Clark in nominations. “His 4-H projects included dogs, rabbits, dairy goats, gardening, visual arts, dairy cows and leather crafts. He frequently attended and learned at a variety of county-wide clinics and practices, but he also pitched in to help set-up and tear down every time.”

“[Daniel Bennet] enthusiastically strived for success in the show ring and never permits competition to interfere with his willingness to help others,” 4-H community members said about Bennet. “Around fair he helped with weigh-ins, count ribbons, set-up for just about anything and has even been known to show other member’s pigs. Daniel brings his same eagerness and willingness to county-wide robotic sessions, where he not only builds and programs his own robot, he also helps other members do the same.”

“As a 10-year 4-H member, Klacie Groene exemplified the importance of 4-H and learning new skills,” 4-H community members said about Groene. “She is an example that these skills can propel you in a positive direction. Klacie is always helping younger fabric and fashion members by teaching them to model. She has even gone to other members’ barns to teach them to clip cattle.”

In addition to the commemorative award given to each Outstanding Member, those selected also received a cash award from Casey Essert with Empire Realty.

Also recognized during the year’s achievement program was Gracie Case with Bear Creek Guys & Gals as a Happy Historian, Makenzee Bugher with Gleaners Union as a Terrific Treasurer, Cadence McDonald with Southeast Cowpokes as a Super Secretary and Dutch Ogburn with Bent Barrels Crooked Arrows as an Outstanding Club Officer. 

The Hard Luck Award was given to Remi Davis with Gleaners Union, and the Bill Yetter Memorial Outstanding Leather Craft Award was given to JD Johnson with Lingle Aggies. 

The Super Story Awards went to junior member Kassidie Myers with Gleaners Union, intermediate member Jack Sedman with Bear Creek Guys & Gals and senior member Kristina Hall. 

Champion Record Book Awards went to first-year and junior member Kassidie Myers with Gleaners Union, Intermediate member Zoe Baldwin with Gleaners Union and Bent Barrels Crooked Arrows and senior Kaycee Kosmicki with Bear Creek Guys & Gals. 

The 4-H Council Scholarship winners were Mareya Barkman with Bent Barrels Crooked Arrows, Abigail Frederick with Lingle Aggies, Amberly Froerer and Kristina Hall with Happy Hounds, Lucas Gara with Goshen Livestockers and Klacie Groene with Gleaners Union.

Each of these members was nominated by parents, volunteers or other members to be selected. After being nominated, the organization held a vote to select this year’s award recipients. The awards are presented to the winner in each age division: juniors (eight to 10-year-olds), intermediates (11 to 13-year-olds) and seniors (14 to 18-year-olds).

The Goshen County 4-H Office also announced that there were 23 new inductees into the Wyoming 4-H Honors Club this year. 

Those inducted into the honors club were: Kodie Andersen, William Knowlton, Colter McFarlin and Sully Wilson from Bent Barrels Crooked Arrows; Amelia Beck, Kaleb Booth, Carter Groene, Jaycee Hurley and Kassidy Hurley from Gleaners Union; Connor Coxbill, Emmett Coxbill, Brett Gara and Afton McIntosh from Goshen Livestockers; Emma Erskine, Anna Frederick and Addisen Teeters from Lingle Aggies; Hadley Evans, Kaycee Kosmicki and Brea Mills from Bear Creek Guys & Gals; Elli Froerer from Happy Hounds; Jami Garson and Terra Sanders from Prairie Center; Keana Llewellyn from Horseshoe Acres.

These members received the highest honor attainable in Wyoming 4-H. Each of these members admitted into the honors club earned a $500 scholarship to be used for a national 4-H trip from the Wyoming 4-H Foundation. 

“[Being inducted into the club], indicates your pride in the 4-H program and your engagement,” Brittingham said. 

The national trips are for the following experiences the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Georgia, National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C., Citizenship Washington Focus in Washington, D.C., Ignite by 4-H in Washington, D.C., Raton in Raton, New Mexico and the Wyoming International Experience.

“As a former 4-H-er, it was a big deal for me,” Brittingham said. “It just expands your horizons or what 4-H is and how 4-H in Wyoming may not look the same way [as in other states]. They also get to meet those people, so, it’s such a neat opportunity.”

This can be a unique experience for kids to get out of their comfort zone, travel and see the world. 

“[These trips] are more leadership focused,” Brittingham continued. “National 4-H Congress, in Atlanta, is hosted by our National 4-H Council, which is the nonprofit arm of 4-H. That one is motivated in service; so, every time you go, you’re doing a different kind of service project.”

The kids who are selected for the honors club have received at least 19 points with the Wyoming 4-H Member Achievement Program over the course of the member’s involvement in 4-H. Each year kids have to opportunity to receive up to three points through this program. 

Each year members can receive points by meeting certain criteria like recording what they have learned that year, new skills for projects and participating in 4-H community service. 

The Goshen County 4-H Council awards two $1,000 scholarships to members who achieved their induction into the honors club. 

For more information on how you can support or join Goshen County 4-H, please contact the Goshen County Extension Office at 307-532-2436 or by emailing mbrittin@uwyo.edu.