Member achievements highlight Prince Edward 4H celebration

The Ron Everall Memorial Bursary provides $400 to a Prince Edward County 4-H member enrolled in a post secondary degree or diploma program in a Canadian educational institution. This year, Mary Everall, Ron’s wife and their grandson Joseph Burley, presented the bursary to Shannon Langridge who has completed a record 84 projects and is enrolled in first year at Kemptville College.

The Prince Edward 4H Association honored achievements of about 75 members at its annual awards ceremony and acknowledged the 100th anniversary of the organization in Canada.

President Gaye Insley invited the 100th anniversary committee to present donations to both County food banks and the Cow for Kenya project. Funds were raised from proceeds of a charity barbecue held in honour of the 100th anniversary of 4H in Canada

Emcees Tory Van Uden and Amber Hessessy, representing the host Horse Club, introduced club leaders to comment on the accomplishments of their members and to award prizes and trophies to the most outstanding members.

These include: Spice of Life Club – Emily Arnold, Fishing Club – Sara Evans,  Flower Club – Evelyn Young, Horticulture Prize – Shannon Langridge, Log Cabin Quilt Club – Shannon Langridge, Rag Pillow Quilt Club – Nathan Carter, Goat Club – Alexa Prinzen, Woodworking   Woodpeckers- Tristan Leclerc, Woodworking Splinters – Grace Burris, Woodworking Level 2- Ryan McKenzie, Candy Club – Sara Evans, Dragon Boat – Leah Margeston, Scrapbook – Shannon Langridge and Emily Arnold, Dance – Sara Langridge,  Drama – all members, Fibre – Emily Algar, Sheep- Kaitlyn Bell and Dalton Wadfordth-Jeffry, Dairy – Resi Walt, Beef – Rising Star – Dalton Jeffry and Spirit Award – Jaret Parliament, Horse – Shae-Lynn Bell, Giant Pumkin and Vegetable – Jaret Parliament.

In addition to the County clubs, members also participated in regional and provincial events.  Top placing Prince Edward members at the Regional ‘Judge It Day’ competition held in Orono were: Novice – Maggie Lindsay, Junior – Shae-Lynn Bell,  Intermediate – Kaitlyn Bell, Senior – Matt Rabbie and Open – Alissa Goodfellow.

The Regional ‘Go For the Gold’ team members were Matt Rabbie, Emily Norton, Cori Goodman, Hailey Pounder and Codie Goodman.

Youth Adventure Camp participants Sara Evans and Becka Houghton told of making many new friends and enjoying a variety of leadership and team building activities during their four days at YAC.

The Picton Fair provides another opportunity for members to demonstrate their motto in how they have “Learned to Do by Doing”.  Winners in the club exhibit board competition included the Sheep and Scrapbook Clubs – first, Horse Club- second and Beef Club- third.  In the special classes for the scrapbook page, Evelyn Young, Cassidy Brown and Chris Bell placed first, second and third respectively, for the flower arrangement it was Shae Lynn Bell, Chris Bell and Cassidy Brown; homemade cookies Brianna MacKay, Bree Kaduc and Evelyn Young and a photograph, Emily Norton.

The evening concluded with the presentation of the major individual awards and achievements.

For completing 24 projects and five years in 4-H, Sara Evans, Brock Jones, Emily Norton and Jaret Parliament received the Gay Lea Award of Achievement – an original framed print.

The  Monica Alyea Communications Award for the best secretary’s book or newspaper article went to Emily Arnold.

Winner of the F.J. Webster Memorial Award as top dairy or beef show person was Graham Walt.

The Ontario Ploughmen’s Association’s Outstanding 4-H Agricultural Member was Jaret Parliament.

The Keitha Gilbert Award was given to the most outstanding first-year member, Jazmine Matier, by the Gilbert family in memory of their daughter, Keitha.

Representing the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Company, long time sponsor of 4-H, Art Wiersma, presented the award for the top second year member to Cori Goodman.

For more than 40 years, the Picton Branch of the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has presented a gold watch to the top senior member. This year, Matt Rabbie received the honour. During his 11 years as a 4-H member, Matt completed 46 projects including Beef, Sheep, Horse, Woodworking Square dancing, Relay for Life and Giant Pumpkin and Vegetable. In many of those clubs he held executive positions and also assisted leaders as a Youth Leader. This year he was a finalist in the Beef Showmanship competition at the Royal Winter Fair.

Graduates, (those reaching 21 years of age as 4-H members) honoured were Amber Hennessy, Megan Insley, Matt Rabbie and Tory Van Uden.

In his closing remarks, president Insley thanked the Friends of 4-H, the many individuals and sponsors whose contributions make programs possible.  He also reminded members to to register for 2014 clubs including the new Cloverbuds Club for youth ages six to eight by Jan. 1 2014.