AMES, Iowa - Iowa 4-H youth showcased their leadership, communications, and college and career readiness skills in the annual State 4-H Recognition Day interviews in late March. Interviews were held in person at Iowa State University and virtually. This statewide event, held each spring, culminates the year’s recognition process.
Senior 4-H members in grades 9-12 apply to be selected to pursue state and national leadership opportunities, trips and awards. Iowa 4-H members selected to be State 4-H Council members, National 4-H Conference delegates, National 4-H Congress delegates, Safety and Education in Shooting Sports Ambassadors, Iowa 4-H Reporters, Iowa 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors, and project area award recipients are selected and honored. On State 4-H Recognition Day, they participate in hands-on cover letter writing and interviewing activities to demonstrate their skills.
“Each year, youth from around the state share their experiences in and out of 4-H through a resume and cover letter, which is judged by volunteers from 4-H and industry partners around the state,” said Bonnie Dalager, 4-H educational design and development manager. “The recognition process provides additional skill development opportunities that help young people prepare for future college or career processes such as writing a cover letter, resume or participating in a panel interview.”
The State 4-H Recognition Day coordination team worked with 4-H volunteers to review written applications and conduct panel interviews, delivering an engaging skill-building experience for 4-H participants.
“I have been volunteering at Recognition Day for over 20 years, and each year, the 4-H members teach me something new. Whether it is a new event they organized in their county or a new way to do their projects,” said Kathy McCormick McCoy, State 4-H Recognition Day volunteer. “It’s always exciting to see what new and innovative things our 4-H youth are doing. State 4-H Recognition Day is a wonderful opportunity for members to experience the real world of applying for something and being interviewed.”
Awards are made possible by donors to the Iowa 4-H Foundation. The event ran smoothly with the support of over 100 caring adult volunteers across Iowa. They reviewed 4-H award applications and interviewed the youth participants. Approximately half the participating youth were interviewed in person, while the rest chose to be interviewed virtually using video teleconference platforms. The 2023 award winners included the following youth and are organized by honor and county.
For more information on Iowa 4-H State Recognition Day, contact Bonnie Dalager at bdalager@iastate.edu.
National 4-H Conference:
National 4-H Conference engages young people in a week-long focus group in Washington, D.C., where they share their perspectives on important issues with national leaders, including members of Congress.
- Saylee Gingerich, Johnson County
- Charles Schrader, Linn County
- Kaci Vanlaningham, Polk County
- Elijah Westercamp, Van Buren County
- Conner McCoy, Warren County
- Monica Osborn, West Pottawattamie County
National 4-H Congress:
Youth applied for National 4-H Congress, a week-long trip to Atlanta, Georgia, which promotes leadership, community service, team building and cultural issues.
- Kysa Klein, Bremer County
- Jack Elsamiller, Bremer County
- Brody Kuhse, Bremer County
- Casey Leerhoff, Butler County
- Kinley Mims, Calhoun County
- Molly Freese, Carroll County
- Lily Schulenberg, Cherokee County
- Gensley Ball, Clay County
- Brooke Hansel, Clayton County
- Asha Goodman, East Pottawattamie County
- Anna Egan, Fayette County
- Madison Singbeil, Johnson County
- Carly Cox, Marion County
- Alyson Ball, Plymouth County
- Colin Giles, Polk County
- Autumn Schmitt, Winneshiek County
- Addison Wicklund, Winneshiek County
- Maria McGowan, Woodbury County
- Sydney Schilling, Worth County
- Addyson Runde, Worth County
State 4-H Council:
State 4-H Council members work directly with Iowa 4-H, representing the program across the state. They also plan the annual Iowa 4-H Youth Conference held at the end of June, which hosts over 700 Iowa youth on the Iowa State University campus.
- Kysa Klein, Bremer County
- Abby Elsamiller, Bremer County
- Brody Kuhse, Bremer County
- Casey Leerhoff, Butler County
- Pacey Bogue, Carroll County
- Molly Freese, Carroll County
- Parker Brock, Cass County
- Claire Sampson, Cerro Gordo County
- Hadley Shatek, Cerro Gordo County
- Haley Heinselman, Cerro Gordo County
- Lily Schulenberg, Cherokee County
- Kierstin Smith, Clarke County
- Gensley Ball, Clay County
- Brooke Hansel, Clayton County
- Sophia Costello, Clinton County
- Ophelia Skaggs, Davis County
- Anna Egan, Fayette County
- Nolen Steiner, Hardin County
- Lydia Harpenau, Woodbury County
- Charles Schrader, Linn County
- Aubree Boender, Lyon County
- Ailey Marburger, Mills County
- Alyson Ball, Plymouth County
- Kaci Vanlaningham, Polk County
- Colin Giles, Polk County
- Emma Lihs, Polk County
- Nora Pickhinke, Sac County
- Elijah Westercamp, Van Buren County
- Grace Van Oosbree, Warren County
- Sasha Hess, Webster County
- Grant Farnham, Webster County
- Aiden Anderson, Webster County
- Monica Osborn, West Pottawattamie County
- Autumn Schmitt, Winneshiek County
- Addison Wicklund, Winneshiek County
- Maria McGowan, Woodbury County
- Brigid McGowan, Woodbury County
- Sydney Schilling, Worth County
- Benaiah Meier, Worth County
- Harley Charlson, Wright County
Healthy Living Ambassadors:
These youth will be immersed in a community health and wellness learning experience addressing issues such as hunger and food insecurity, nutrition and physical health, and mental well-being.
- Jack Elsamiller, Bremer County
- Brody Kuhse, Bremer County
- Trinity Konsbruck, Harrison County
- Elijah Westercamp, Van Buren County
- Weston Willand, Worth County
- Madison Ingebritson, Wright County
Iowa 4-H Reporters:
Iowa 4-H Reporters receive hands-on training in video production, radio and journalism from 4-H partner organizations and then work in teams covering events at the Iowa State Fair.
- Casey Leerhoff, Butler County
- Miles Bogue, Carroll County
- Emma Deppe, Madison County
- Samantha Wilbur, O’Brien County
- Garrett Von Stein, Polk County
- Lilah Forbes, Story County
- Conner McCoy, Warren County
- Jubilee Cunigan, Webster County
- Samantha Williams, Woodbury County
Safety and Education in Shooting Sports Ambassadors:
These individuals will advocate for the Safety and Education in Shooting Sports program at the county, regional and state levels while gaining leadership, public presentation and public relations experience.
- Wyatt Silhanek, Iowa County
- Megan Swartzendruber, Johnson County
- Lauren Keller, Tama County
Project Award Winners:
Fifty youth were selected around the state to win project area awards. These young people have demonstrated mastery, leadership, communication and service in a specific project area throughout their 4-H career. Winners will receive an Iowa 4-H Foundation cash award of $125 with the support of project area award sponsors Glen and Mary Jo Mente.
- Sarah Stock, Allamakee County – Beef
- Lydia Knight, Black Hawk County – Communication
- Halle Heyer, Boone County – Home Improvement
- Erin Barnes, Boone County – Communication
- Kysa Klein, Bremer County – Poultry
- Abby Elsamiller, Bremer County – Sewing and Needle Arts
- Brody Kuhse, Bremer County – STEM
- Leah Bean, Buena Vista County – Beef
- Kinley Mims, Calhoun County – Communication
- Mara Woolsey, Carroll County – Dogs
- Parker Brock, Cass County – Rabbit
- Rio Johnson, Cass County – Poultry
- Derek Goth, Cherokee County – Agronomy
- Brooke Hansel, Clayton County – Communication
- Kiersten Knobbe, Guthrie County – Leadership
- Morgan Paulson, Hamilton County – Horse and Pony
- Amanda Ostrem, Hamilton County – Communication
- Olivia Johnson, Howard County – Dairy Cattle
- Taylor Deppe, Jackson County – Beef
- Briana Steele, Jefferson County – Food and Nutrition
- Belle Netolicky, Johnson County – Beef
- Megan Swartzendruber, Johnson County – Dogs
- Kaylee Nicholas, Linn County – Visual Art
- Addie Burkett, Madison County – Leadership
- Emma Deppe, Madison County – Civic Engagement
- Taryn Peffers, Marion County – Dairy Goat
- Sara Rosener, Monona County – Music
- Kensley Paul, Muscatine County – Beef
- Matthew Turley, Poweshiek County – Music
- Mazee Henningson, Sac County – Civic Engagement
- Mya Henningson, Sac County – Sewing and Needle Arts
- Nora Pickhinke, Sac County – Sewing and Needle Arts
- Grant Petersen, Shelby County – Communication
- Brooke Sorensen, Story County – Poultry
- Madison Geater, Story County – Visual Art
- Gabriel Kramer, Story County – Photography
- Lauren Keller, Tama County – Food and Nutrition
- Elijah Westercamp, Van Buren County – Rabbit
- Nehemiah Westercamp, Van Buren County – Communication
- Sasha McCoy, Warren County – Leadership
- Conner McCoy, Warren County – Food and Nutrition
- Kara McGonegle, Webster County – Food and Nutrition
- Sierra Hagar, West Pottawattamie County – Dogs
- Addison Wicklund, Winneshiek County – Communication
- Grace Flannigan, Woodbury County – Communication
- Maria McGowan, Woodbury County – Leadership
- Sydney Schilling, Worth County – Woodworking
- Logan Kauffman, Worth County – Communication
- Harley Charlson, Wright County – Rabbit
- Madison Ingebritson, Wright County – Rabbit