4-H Teen Leaders are members of the county 4-H Teen Leader organization. Teen Leaders lead service projects and take on leadership activities in 4-H and serve as counselors at 4-H camps. 4-H Teen Leader Awards were given to (from left): Cameron Shore, Jade Ellison, Katie Daley, and Erin Carmicle. (Photo Provided)
MINERAL WELLS — Wood County 4-H honored its 4-H members at the annual Awards Ceremony on Dec. 11 at the Wood County 4-H Camp.
Wood County 4-H members received several awards and recognitions for outstanding project work, community service, and leadership in 2021.
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Club Awards and Honors
* American Brushpoppers 4-H Club received a blue ribbon, and Zoey Swisher and Layne Lockhart were honored as outstanding club members.
Wood County’s Prudential Emerging Visionaries Award winner, Emily Kent. The Prudential Emerging Visionaries Award honors young people for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. More than a volunteer service award, the Prudential Award also looks at innovative ideas and the amount of leadership involved in the community service projects. (Photo Provided)
* Belleville 4-H Club received a Club Award of Excellence, 1st Place National 4-H Week Exhibit, and Spencer Steele, Layton Sharpe, Jack Kinzy, Hollie Smith, and Austen Kinzy were honored as outstanding club members.
* Fairview 4-H Club received a Club Award of Excellence and Josiah Swiger Olivia Smith were honored as outstanding club members.
* Lubeck Lucky Clovers 4-H Club received a blue ribbon, and Landyn Moles, Savannah Tice, Chase Breen, Camryn McLain, Dalton Dearth, and Erin Carmicle were honored as outstanding club members.
* Rebels 4-H Club received a blue ribbon, and Remi Radcliff, Adyleigh Matheny, Mason Lewis, Emma Casto, Wyatt Eaton, and Emily Kent were honored as outstanding club members.
* Sand Hill Explorers 4-H Club received a blue ribbon, and Jennessa Lewellyn, Lucas Lewellyn, Isaac Lent, and Hannah Lent were honored as outstanding club members.
Each year 4-H members give thousands of hours of service to their communities. Annual records of service are turned into the county WVU Extension office and those records are then used to determine awards and recognitions. Community Service Awards – Front row from left: Martin and Malachi Sindledecker, Bonnie Lyons, Jaxon Swiger, Josiah Swiger, Emily Kent. Second row from left: Whitney Griffith, Bradyn Griffith, Cameron Shore, Erin Carmicle, and Katie Daley. (Photo Provided)
* Saulsbury 4-H Club received a blue ribbon, and Brayden Taylor and Jayla Riddle were honored as outstanding club members.
* Woodchucks 4-H Club received a Club Award of Excellence and Kenzy Biddle, Kole Biddle, Skylar Hart, and Julia Bland were honored as outstanding club members.
* Wood County 4-H Teen Leaders received a Club Award of Excellence, and Cameron Shore and Katie Daley were honored as outstanding club members.
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Teen Leader Awards
National Leadership Award Winner, Katie Daley with Lindsey Boso, 4-H Program Assistant. The I Dare You Award, also known as the National Leadership Award, recognizes extraordinary young leaders for their character and leadership potential. (Photo Provided)
4-H Teen Leaders are members of the county 4-H Teen Leader organization. Teen Leaders lead service projects and take on leadership activities in 4-H and serve as counselors at 4-H camps.
Teen Leader Awards are selected based on annual county 4-H and community service and leadership records.
* Emma Casto, Ali Evans, Shyanne Dearth, and Shayleigh Gard received their membership pins.
* Erin Carmicle, Cate Evans, and Audrey Sundstrum received Achievement in Service awards, and Hope Prunty and Cyleigh Sampson received Outstanding Service awards for their 4-H and community service.
* Byron Dearth and Jayden Dearth received Achievement in Leadership awards, and Tessa Prunty and Cameron Shore received Outstanding Leadership awards for their leadership in 4-H and the community.
4-H Royalty candidates complete a record of service, application, and references. An outside judge selects recipients solely based on their record of 4-H accomplishments. These individuals serve as ambassadors of the 4-H program for one year. From left: Zane Taylor, King; Whitney Griffith, Princess; Josiah Swiger, Prince; Cyleigh Sampson, Queen. (Photo Provided)
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Community Service Awards
Each year 4-H members give thousands of hours of service to their communities. Annual records of service are turned into the county WVU Extension office and those records are then used to determine awards and recognitions.
* Jansen Dearth, Bonnie Lyons, Martin Sindledecker, and Malachi Sindledecker received Helping Hands ages 5-10 certificates for their community service.
* Erin Carmicle, Emma Casto, Byron Dearth, Jayden Dearth, Jordan Dearth, Shyanne Dearth, Ali Evans, Cate Evans, Shayleigh Gard, Zoey Gilmore, Whitney Griffith, Grace Hall, Jennessa Lewellyn, Lucas Lewellyn, Jayla Riddle, Jordan Riddle, Cameron Shore, Lily Sundstrom, Audrey Sundstrom, Josiah Swiger received a Making a Difference ages 11-15 certificate for their community service.
Various award winners from the recent Wood County 4-H Awards Ceremony held at the 4-H Campgrounds on Dec. 11 in Mineral Wells. Front row from left: Martin and Malachi Sindledecker, Jansen Swiger, Jaxon Swiger, Bonnie Lyons. Second row from left: Jade Ellison, Emma Daley, Katie Daley, Morgan Wicker, Emily Kent. Third row from left: Braydyn Griffith, Wyatt Eaton, Zane Taylor, Whitney Griffith, Josiah Swiger, Cyleigh Sampson, Cameron Shore, and Erin Carmicle. (Photo Provided)
* Emma Daley, Katie Daley, Dalton Dearth, Ambreia Griffith, Braydyn Griffith, Emily Kent, Hope Prunty, Tessa Prunty, Cyleigh Sampson, Austin Sponaugle, Alayna Wood received True Leaders in Service certificates ages 16-21 for their community service.
Presidential Service Awards are issued on behalf of the President of the United States to recognize the best in American spirit, and to encourage all Americans to improve their communities through volunteer service and civic participation.
Recipients receive a certificate, pin, and congratulatory letter from the president of the United States. Bronze, silver, and gold medals are awarded based on age and hours of service per year.
* Byron Dearth, Cate Evans, Lily Sundstrom, Josiah Swiger, Hope Prunty, Austin Sponaugle, and Alayna Wood received the Bronze Presidential Service Award.
* Jaxon Swiger, Katie Daley, and Ambreia Griffith received the Silver Presidential Service Award.
* Martin Sindledecker, Malachi Sindledecker, Jayden Dearth, Erin Carmicle, Ali Evans, Whitney Griffith, Cameron Shore, Audrey Sundstrom, Braydyn Griffith, and Emily Kent received the Gold Presidential Service Award.
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County Awards and Honors
County Awards are given for project and exhibit work, and community service and 4-H activity records. There were 116 youth exhibited projects in July at the first annual Wood County 4-H & FFA Summer Showcase. A complete list of award winners can be found at
Outstanding Showmanship and Best of Show winners are the top scoring youth in each project area.
* 10 and under Grand Champion Showmanship: Lorelei Dent, Sheep; Remi Radcliff, Market Goat; Spencer Steele, Swine; Alana Willis, Beef. Reserve Champion Showmanship: Lorelei Dent, Swine; Braxton Fordyce, Beef.
* 11-13 Grand Champion Showmanship: Tyler Lewis, Sheep; Gavin Pigott, Market Goat; Morgan Wicker, Swine; Brady Hofmann, Beef. Reserve Champion Showmanship: Morgan Wicker, Sheep; Jaron Barrett, Market Goat; Alana Willis, Swine; Morgan Wicker, Beef.
* 14-16 Grand Champion Showmanship: Hollie Smith, Sheep; Rochel Young, Market Goat; Hollie Smith, Swine; Zane Taylor, Beef. Reserve Champion Showmanship: Laekyn McLaughlin, Sheep; Hannah Lent, Market Goat; Reagan Parsons, Swine; Hollie Smith, Beef.
* 17 and older Grand Champion Showmanship: Jordyne Lockhart, Sheep; Taya Davis, Market Goat; Colton Parsons, Swine; Gracie Kent, Beef. Reserve Champion Showmanship: Alyssa Tennant, Sheep; Isaac Lent, Market Goat; Layne Lockhart, Swine; Colton Parsons, Beef.
* Rabbit and Poultry Grand Champion Showmanship: Lainey Lewis, Beginner Rabbits; Isaac Blair, Beginner Poultry; Miryan Lewis, Intermediate Rabbits; Remington Blair, Intermediate Poultry; Layne Lockhart, Advanced Rabbits; Kendyll Marshall, Advanced Poultry. Reserve Champion Showmanship: Makalyn Lewis, Beginner Rabbits; Miryan Lewis, Intermediate Poultry. Laekyn McLaughlin, Intermediate Rabbits; Emily Kent, Intermediate Poultry; Jordyne Lockhart, Advanced Rabbits; Wyatt Eaton, Advanced Poultry.
* Grand Champion Showmanship: Marissa Hendershot, Senior Division Horse Contest; Audrey Kent, Senior Division Pony Western. Reserve Champion Showmanship: Rochel Young, Senior Division Horse Contest.
Colton Parsons won the honor of Master Showman this year. Senior showmanship winners competed in the Austin Shawver Master Showmanship Contest, a contest that tests individual’s skills and knowledge of showing beef, swine, sheep and rabbits. The winner of the contest is awarded a traveling plaque, donated by Saulsbury 4-H Club, a T-shirt and belt buckle donated by Shawver Show Pigs, and $1,000 donated by Ward’s Farm Supply and Kent Welding.
* Grand Champion Market Sheep, Morgan Wicker; Reserve Champion Market Sheep, Wyatt Eaton. Grand Champion Market Goat, Rochel Young; Reserve Champion Market Goat, Taya Davis. Grand Champion Market Hog, Colton Parsons; Reserve Champion Market Hog, Garrett Hofmann. Grand Champion Breeding Heifer, Blaine Garrison; Reserve Champion Breeding Heifer, Audrey Kent. Grand Champion Feeder Heifer, Brady Hofmann; Reserve Champion Feeder Heifer, Brayden Taylor. Grand Champion Feeder Steer, Zane Taylor; Reserve Champion Feeder Steer, Morgan Wicker. Grand Champion Market Steer, Bodee Walters; Reserve Champion Market Steer, Colton Parsons. Grand Champion Market Chicken Single Fryer, Miryan Lewis; Reserve Champion Market Chicken Single Fryer, Makalyn Lewis. Grand Champion Market Chicken Pen, Hannah Lent; Reserve Champion Market Chicken Pen; Collin Lewis.
* Grand Champion Market Turkey, Marissa Hendershot; Reserve Champion Market Turkey, Miryan Lewis. Grand Champion Market Rabbit Single Fryer, Maddison Lewis; Reserve Champion Market Rabbit Single Fryer, Lainey Lewis. Grand Champion Market Pen, Makalyn Lewis; Reserve Champion Market Pen, Miryan Lewis. Grand Champion Litter Pen, Layne Lockhart; Reserve Champion Litter Pen, Jordyne Lockhart. Best of Show – Layne Lockhart.
* Still Project Exhibit Best of Show winners received the highest honor in each project area. Layne Lockhart, Self-Determined; Kole Biddle, Technology and Engineering; Josiah Swiger, Natural Resources; Katie Daley, Leadership and Community Involvement; Josiah Swiger, Leisure and Cultural Education; Grace Hall, Individual and Family Resources; Ambreia Griffith, Communication Arts and Sciences; Cate McLain, This is 4-H; Lucas Lewellyn, Know Your State; Grace Hall, Animal Science; Owen Skinner, Livestock.
* Project Medals are awarded through an application process to 4-H members completing a minimum of two years in a project area. Project Medal recipients this year include Kole Biddle, Woodworking; Ali Evans and Katie Daley, Leadership; Ambreia Griffith, Financial Future; Martin and Malachi Sindledecker, Fishing.
* Gold Project Pins are given to 4-H members who apply and complete two-three years in a project area, and a club, county and state visual presentation. A Gold Project Pin recipient this year is Morgan Wicker, Swine.
* Emma Casto and Ali Evans were awarded the Rising Star Award in recognition of their leadership potential and excellence in 4-H project work and community service.
The Outstanding 4-H Member Award recognizes individuals who have actively participated in 4-H activities and served as role models to others. The winners are selected from club nominations and are based on activity and service records of the 4-H members. Josiah Swiger and Jennessa Lewellyn, Junior Outstanding 4-H Members; Lucas Lewellyn and Camryn McLain, Intermediate Outstanding 4-H Members; Wyatt Eaton and Katie Daley, Senior Outstanding 4-H Members.
The Prudential Emerging Visionaries Award honors young people for outstanding volunteer service to their communities. More than a volunteer service award, the Prudential Award also looks at innovative ideas and the amount of leadership involved in the community service projects. Winners are chosen at the county level, and those winners represent the county at the state level, and then the state winners advance to national competition.
Emily Kent was selected as Wood County’s Prudential Emerging Visionary for 2021. She was nominated for her outstanding service to the community and contributed hundreds of hours of time to the local Toys for Tots program, taking leadership for many toy drives, raising money, and serving as one of the program’s top representatives.
Braydyn and Ambreia Griffith received merit recognition.
Emma Daley was honored with the Continuing Service and Leadership Award given to those who continue to lead and serve in the 4-H program beyond high school. Recipients of this award are graduates of the Teen Leader program and continue to serve as a mentor to others.
The I Dare You Award, also known as the National Leadership Award, recognizes extraordinary young leaders for their character and leadership potential. Dalton Dearth and Katie Daley were selected based on their 4-H service record, leadership, and activity records chronicling their 4-H careers.
4-H Royalty candidates complete a record of service, application, and references. An outside judge selects recipients solely based on their record of 4-H accomplishments. These individuals serve as ambassadors of the 4-H program for one year. They include: Whitney Griffith, Princess; Josiah Swiger, Prince; Zane Taylor, King; Cyleigh Sampson, Queen.
State and National Awards and Honors
In 4-H, members can compete at the State and National levels, and participate in state, national and international leadership conferences. Wood County 4-H was well represented at the State and National levels this year with 68 blue ribbon still projects/posters/photos on display at the State Fair of West Virginia.
State Poster Contest Winners were selected at the local level and competed in state competition.
Winning blue and gold ribbon posters were on display at the State Fair. Olivia Tice, Matthew Peck, Shayleigh Gard, and Conner Forshey all won blue ribbons. Brylee and Noah Forshey received gold ribbons for their posters. Josiah Swiger, red ribbon; Gavin Pigott, Ambreia Griffith, Jayden Dearth, and Josiah Swiger, white ribbons.
State Photo Contest winners receiving blue ribbons and displayed at the State Fair were Jade Ellison, Carter McLain, and Paul Smith.
State Dairy Poster Contest Winners were displayed at the West Virginia Dairy Cattle Show and Festival at WVU Jackson’s Mill. Jordan Dearth, blue ribbon; Alana Willis, red ribbon.
Blue ribbon project exhibits from Wood County that went to the State Fair included: Fishing: Martin Sindledecker and Gavin Pigott. My Hands to Larger Service: Audrey Sundstrom, Lily Sundstrom, and Hope Prunty. Cooking: Isabella Bland, Zoey Gilmore, Grace Hall, Cate McLain, Camryn McLain, Jayla Riddle, and Jordan Riddle. Teen Cuisine: Isaac Blair and Remington Blair. This is 4-H: Kenzy Biddle, Bonnie Lyons, Jansen Dearth, Emma Fisher, Brylee Forshey, Sara Stoneking, and Olivia Tice. Self-Determined: Layne Lockhart, Jordyne Lockhart, Jayden Flinn, Cierra Richter, and Paul Smith. Know Your State: Lucas Lewellyn and Carter McLain. Veterinary Science: Grace Hall. Beef: Lily Skinner and Owen Skinner. Swine: Lily Skinner, Owen Skinner, and Conner Forshey. Meat Goat: Sara Stoneking. Horse: Kyra Bell. Woodworking: Kole Biddle and Braydyn Griffith. Trapping: Noah Forshey. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Camryn McLain. Trees: Josiah Swiger; Entomology: Josiah Swiger. Leadership: Byron Dearth, Jayden Dearth, Ali Evans, Dalton Dearth, Cate Evans, and Katie Daley. Finance: Ambreia Griffith. Sewing: Emma Daley, Jordan Dearth, Shyanne Dearth, Shayleigh Gard, and Cate McLain. Exploring 4-H: Josiah Swiger and Jennessa Lewellyn. Art: Ambreia Griffith.
Morgan Wicker received a county blue ribbon and a red ribbon for the state 4-H competition for her swine project visual presentation titled, “Everything but the Squeal.”
Josiah Swiger was honored at the state level for his Entomology project exhibit. His project was selected by the West Virginia Entomological Society for this year’s student prize.
Teen Leaders from Wood County attended the virtual National 4-H Healthy Living Summit this year. Katie Daley, Audrey and Lily Sundstrom, Erin Carmicle, Mallory Marks, Cyleigh Sampson, and Hope Prunty all represented Wood County and West Virginia, and along with other members from the state were selected to receive a $1,000 grant to host a teen mental health conference this spring.
The 4-H program in Wood County is conducted by the West Virginia University Extension Service, Suite 408, Wood County Courthouse. For information about 4-H, visit the Wood County Extension Web site, www.extension.wvu.edu/wood, or call 304-424-1960.