Prince Edward 4H honours those who Learn to Do by Doing

Administrator | Nov 01, 2015 | Comments 0

The Prince Edward County 4H Association celebrated the past and looked forward to the future at Awards Night Friday in Bloomfield.

The foremost leadership program for rural youth celebrates 100 years in 2015. Prince Edward 4-H reaches children and youth ages 5 – 18 through clubs, school enrichment programs, after-school programs, workshops, and volunteer led clubs.

At Pinecrest school, before members, families and friends, Shannon Langridge, as last year’s winner, and president Sherrie Brown, presented Kaitlyn Bell with the prestigious CIBC gold watch award as the most outstanding member of the organization this year. Bell was also the recipient of the Ron Everall $400 Bursary for a member enrolled in a post-secondary degree or diploma program.

Langridge this year was honoured for completing a record-breaking 106 projects in 4H. She was also selected as the most outstanding member of the Square Dance Club.

Connor Foster received the Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance Company Award for being this year’s most outstanding second year 4H member in the County. He also received the Beef Club’s Rising Star Award.

“He is an excellent example of the 4H motto ‘Learn By Doing’ as a member of eight clubs and holding positions including president, secretary and treasurer,” said Jeff Howell, company president, who presented the award. “His enthusiasm is an example for younger members.”

Myla Byers received the Monica Alyea Communications Award, presented by Alyea who said she thinks she might have “learned more in 4H than in school”.

The Ontario Ploughmen’s Association Outstanding 4H Member Award was presented by Lynn Ward to Chris Bell as a young agriculturalist in the making. Bell had already been on stage to be honoured by Giant Vegetable Club leaders Matt Rabbie and John Vincent who presented him with a Growers’ jacket and most outstanding club member. He grew the largest pumpkin shown at the Picton Fair at 684 pounds and won the Bill Greer Award for largest County pumpkin at the Wellington Pumpkinfest weigh-off at 861.5 pounds.

Misha Laundry Vader was selected most outstanding member of the Sheep Club. This year’s 16 members showed at the Milford Fair.

Michaela Zantingh won most outstanding member of the Quilting Club and the Flower Club. Kiandra Gibbons was most outstanding member of the Potato Club and Woodworking Club.

Maggie Lindsay was honoured by Region 3 rep Megan Burnside to receive the Gay Lea Award of Achievement for completion of 24 projects in five years. She was also honoured for completing 42 projects, as was Katlyn Wood.