The Blaine County Journal News-Opinion - We've Got The County Covered

Juli Snedigar, MSU Blaine County Agriculture and 4-H Extension Agent, announced that this Sunday, November 3, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at the Blaine County Fairground’s Commercial Building, the local 4-H Club members, their leaders, their families, and various other supporters will gather to celebrate 4-H Achievement Night. Achievement Night is the annual awards and recognition event for 4-H members and adult volunteers for the past year.

According to Snedigar, the 4-H program exists to build character and to develop life-changing skills in the youth who participate. Each fall the 4-H program reviews the past year and then uses the Annual 4-H Achievement Award Ceremony to honor 4-H members receiving Project Medals, cash prizes, certificates, trophies, and other awards. “We like to honor all of our supporters as well as recognize our kids’ achievements,” Snedigar said, “And it has been another outstanding year of achievements.”

This year the White Pine 4-H Club will act as the primary host of the event and will supply the main course for the meal, which will feature three soups—one of which will be cheeseburger soup. The Bear Paw Buddies and the Big Flat 4-H Clubs will contribute veggie trays, Harlem Variety will provide beverages, Valley Clovers will furnish dessert, and the North Chinook Boosters will set-up and decorate.

Entertainment will include door prizes and a slide show, which will highlight various club activities and events from 2019. The Key Leader for the Blaine County 4-H Ambassadors and Teen Leaders, Shandel Fouts led her crew of Ambassadors and Teen Leaders in creating a slide show for the evening. “It’s fun to look back and see all that everyone has done throughout the year,” Fouts stated.

Although the cumulative efforts of all of Blaine County’s 4-H Clubs will be on display at the Blaine County Fairgrounds this Sunday, those in attendance will see several special awards conferred. According to Brenda Jones, MSU-Extension 4-H Assistant and Office Administrator, these awards include buckles, herdsmanship, and carcass awards as well as some less “animaly” awards like the Block Builder’s Quilt Guild Award, the Irene Kleinjan Needlework Award, and the Super Sweepstakes Home Economics Award.

In addition, the Blaine County 4-H Ambassadors and Teen Leaders will receive acknowledgement, along with the Cloverbuds—those youth who are five to seven years old as of October 1 and who represent future 4-H members.

While many youth will be accepting awards, adults, too, will receive recognition. The Business Partner in 4-H Award is awarded each year to a local business for its support of the Blaine County 4-H program. The Individual Partner in 4-H Award is given to the individual who goes beyond the call of duty to assist the 4-H program, and the Alumni Partner in 4-H award is presented to a person who is not only a Blaine County 4-H alumna or alumnus but one who willingly continues to support the Blaine County 4-H Program.

Another of the prestigious awards, the “I Dare You Award,” is awarded to an up-coming young leader in Blaine County. This 4-H Youth Leadership award recognizes leadership shown at the club, county, and state level. Attendance at club and county events, holding an office, helping out at fair, and assisting younger members with any aspect of 4-H are some of the qualifications taken into consideration in selecting an honoree.

Snedigar hopes that community members will join her this weekend to show support for the 4-H Youth. “Everyone is welcome to attend,” she said, “So, come out, enjoy a good meal, and see all the amazing things our local 4-H Clubs and their members have accomplished. We hope to see all of our 4-H youth, families, volunteers, and supporters at this year’s event.”

Snedigar asks that those wishing to attend please RSVP by calling the Extension Office at 357-3200 by Friday, November 1.

“4-H would not happen without our supporters.” Snedigar added. “We have so many individuals and businesses that provide support to our program. We invite these folks to attend as well so we can thank them for their generosity.”