4-H families and volunteers celebrate accomplishments

Chase County 4-Hers, family members, volunteers and friends gathered on Feb. 9 to celebrate the 2020 4-H Achievement Program at the Imperial Crossroads Wesleyan Church.
The 4-H Achievement Program is held each year to honor and celebrate the accomplishments of 4-H youths, as well as recognize the numerous leaders and supporters to the Chase County 4-H Program.
A big part of 4-H is giving back to the community through community service projects. The following Chase County 4-H Clubs were recognized for their community service efforts:
Challengers—Birthday Fun at the Imperial Manor/Heights; Pajama Program, books and pajamas for kids in foster care and homeless; American Ag Week Awareness, made table tents for restaurants in Imperial to promote Nebraska Agriculture; fair set up and clean up.
Silver Spurs—Volunteered to work at the Imperial theatre; Parade of Lights; food pantry; Vision of Trees; hosted Silver Spurs Horse Show; served meal for the horse sale; Horse Safety and Vaccination Day.
Spring Creek—Wrote Christmas cards to 32 Wauneta Care and Therapy Center residents; promoted new membership in the community in February by asking youth to think about 4-H; wrote thank you notes to Imperial Bomgaars for providing 4-H members discount cards to help with their projects.
Chase County 4-H leaders recognized for their years of service were:
2 years—Regan Gittlein.
3 years—Daniel Hogsett, Kelsey Kunkel.
5 years—Beth Loop.
6 years—Chris Johnson, Samie Johnson.
8 years—Jodi Spady.
11 years—Nathan Vitosh.
15 years—Amy Gittlein.
21 years—Gene Heathers, Tracy Heathers, Dave Hogsett.
22 years—Rita Hogsett.
29 years—Arlys Cupp.
34 years—Susan Spicer.
Chase County 4-H volunteers recognized for their service were Becky Bernard, Jeni Lotspeich, Marissa Smith, Preston Smith, Traci Space, Julie Sparrow, Shaylee Heathers, Chris Krausnick, Wayne Krausnick, Trent Spady, Brandon Zadina, Penny Zadina, Amy Prior, Kelly Vitosh, Lori Mendenhall, Kristine Smith, Jippi Milner and Chris Tomky.
The Nebraska 4-H Foundation sponsors the Friend of 4-H, Outstanding Alumni and Outstanding Member awards. Chase County 4-H Council selects local recipients and presents these awards annually.
Friend “Heart” of 4-H—Imperial Auction Market.
Outstanding Alumni—Glen and Sue Knobbe.
Outstanding 4-H Members—Morayah Cupp and Lindsey Mendenhall.
Each year, a Sportsmanship Award is presented to a shooting sports member who exhibits responsibility, displays courtesy for others and demonstrates safety practices in the BB gun, air rifle, and pistol practices and competitions. This award, sponsored by Vickie Beard in memory of Burton Beard and Jim and Jan Trupp, was presented to Brice Vitosh.
Awards of achievement on 4-H Achievement applications were presented to the 4-H members for their accomplishments over the years. They are as follows:
Jr. Awards—Jayme Gittlein, beef; Taylor Maddux, sheep; Luke Kuenning, swine; Andrew Davis, rabbits; Odessa Zadina, horse and communications/public speaking; Violet Sparrow, cake decorating and child development; Bennett Kuenning, dog; Miranda Spady, cat and foods/nutrition; Annaly Ramirez, vet science; Sawyer Sauder, woodworking and BB gun; Rodrigo Robles, aerospace; Damon Spady, wildlife and fishing; Max Bernard, quilting.
Junior Overall Program Area Awards—Jayme Gittlein, agriculture; Sawyer Sauder, STEM; Violet Sparrow, healthy lifestyles.
Senior Awards—Austin Bernhardt, beef and 11th Year Pin; Ashley Bubak, swine and 11th Year Pin; Kathya Aragon, horse and 6th Year Pin; Lindsey Mendenhall, dog and 9th Year Pin; Brice Vitosh, trap and 8th Year Pin; Iris Robles, photography and vet science; Krystal Smith, cake decorating and 7th Year Pin; Morayah Cupp, leadership and 10th Year Pin; Kendall Prior, sheep/goat and 9th Year Pin.
Senior Overall Program Area Awards—Austin Bernhardt, agriculture; Brice Vitosh, STEM; Lindsey Mendenhall, Morayah Cupp, Brice Vitosh, leadership.
    Members completing horse levels were:
Level 1—Miranda Spady.
Level II—Navy Havel, Abby Spicer, Odessa Zadina.
Outgoing council member Traci Space was recognized for her council service. Geoff Beemer was elected to serve as a council member representing District 3.
The 2021 council members are: Lori Mendenhall, Brandon Zadina, Rebecca Bernard, Geoff Beemer, Jeni Lotspeich, Kelly Vitosh, Chris Johnson, Julie Sparrow, Kayla Sauder, Brice Vitosh and Jesse Krausnick.