Becker County 4-H held their Annual Achievement Awards Program. The county is proud to recognize accomplishments made by the youth and adult volunteers in the 4-H program throughout the last year.

Each year, 4-H members are asked to complete records of their projects, highlighting goals set and accomplished, ideas for next year, as well as income and expense reports. The Basic Division is for youth in grades 3rd-5th, the Experienced Division is sixth grade and above, as well as records for Cloverbuds members in Kindergarten-2nd grade. Youth who exhibited exceptional work in the completion of their records were recognized as Outstanding Record Award.

Many adults are involved in the continuing success of the Becker County 4-H program as volunteers. These volunteers were honored for the time and dedication they have provided with special “Years of Service” Awards and pins according to the year. 

Volunteers include: Silver Clover – 5 years- Kelli Mack (Independent); Gold Clover – 10 years- Angela Erickson (Cloverdale); Pearl Clover – 15 years- Skye Bjerke (Franklin), Sara Kleven (Franklin) Kelly Schlauderaff (Happy Hillside); Diamond Clover – 20 years- Mary Lewis (Independent), Sapphire Clover – 35 years, Denise Olson (Independent), Kevin Olson (Independent) and LeAnn Vetter (Independent)

Erin Lage was awarded the prestigious Educator’s Award for Volunteerism. Each year an exploratory adult volunteer is presented the Educator’s Award given to them for the tremendous amount of hours and support they provide to the county 4-H program.

Members who graduated out of the 4-H program in the past year were recognized. Graduation is based on grade and number of years involved. 

The graduates are: Blake Bigger- Franklin (13 yrs), Taylor Christensen- Height of Land 69’ers (13 yrs), Riyan Eckert- Wild Things (14 yrs), Ryan Erickson- Cloverdale (14 yrs), Mercedes LaFond- Busy Bees (4 yrs), Cody Madson- Franklin (14 yrs), Elaina Mattson- Franklin (11 yrs), Faith Pihlaja- Height of Land 69’ers (11 yrs), Erin Schauer- Franklin (13 yrs), Laura Schauer- Franklin (14 yrs), Victor Splonskowski- Busy Bees (14 yrs), Kylee St. Germain- Burlington Cubs (14 yrs) and Alivia Warling- Busy Bees (11 yrs).

Becker County youth who qualified for State 4-H events and attended the Minnesota State Fair were: 16 with general projects, 39 with livestock, 3 at the State Horse Show, 8 at the State Dog Show, and 7 at the State Shoot.

Special awards were presented to clubs, officers, and individual members.

Top Historian Awards. The basic factors used as a guide in selecting these top historians are completeness, attractive display and creativity. Winners include:  Franklin – Bernice Minske; Height of Land 69’ers – Macey Engel; Wild Things – Jen Skogen

Top Secretary Awards. The basic factors used as a guide in selecting these top secretaries are accuracy, completeness, organization of minutes and neatness. Winners include:  Franklin – Hannah Bigger; Happy Hillside – Alydia Mitchell; Wild Things – Sam Skogen

Top Treasurer Awards. The basic factors used as a guide in selecting these top treasurers are completeness of ledger, income and monthly reports, and reconciliation. Winners include:  Cloverdale – Elliana Okeson; Franklin – Hailey Schauer; Happy Hillside – Brady Mitchell

Iver Warling Memorial 4-H Council $100 Scholarship awarded to 4-H’ers planning to further their education after high school. 

Scholarship winner: Anna Ullmer – Busy Bees

Community Impact Award. Minnesota 4-H recognizes youth who are making a difference in their community through their 4-H project(s). Youth showcase community impact in a variety of project areas. Exhibits and presentations that demonstrate youth’s community impact efforts are judging in 3 areas: Direct Service, Indirect Service, Advocacy.

Alivia Buhr (Height of Land 69’ers) – Citizenship

Benjamin Buhr (Height of Land 69’ers) – Citizenship

Youth Leadership Awards presented by MN Red River Valley Development Association. This award was initiated to recognize a young person who has demonstrated outstanding ability in citizenship, leadership, character building through their involvement in community youth organization. The cash award recipients this year are: Allie Kelly – Franklin; Mya Moore – Wild Things

Key Award is given to top 4-H’ers in the county who are at least 16 years old, have completed 5 or more years of 4-H and 3 years of junior leadership and completed the application. They must have been involved in citizenship, leadership, and 4-H promotion in their club and county as well as being involved on the region and state level. Key Award necklace winner is: Allie Kelly – Franklin

The “Friend of 4-H” Award is given every year to a person(s) or business that provides generous support and assistance to the 4-H program, going above and beyond for Becker County 4-H. This years “Friend of 4-H” Award was given to Ag Country Credit Services, represented by Brad Erickson, for their continued support of the program. Ag Country provides “Ag Bucks” and all of the paper products at the Becker County Fair 4-H Foodstand.

The program concluded with the introduction of the new Becker County 4-H Council officers that will lead the county through the 2025-2026 program year. President, Elizabeth Ullmer (Busy Bees) Vice President, Samantha Skogen (Wild Things) Secretary, Hannah Bigger (Franklin); Youth Treasurer, Eleanor Lage (Franklin); Adult Treasurers, Karla Lindquist (Busy Bees); Erin Lage (Wild Things); Executive Co-Vice Presidents Karla Lindquist (Busy Bees); Katie Okeson (Cloverdale).