(Atlantic, Iowa) – Cass County (Iowa) 4-H’ers and their families, volunteers and supporters gathered on Sunday, November 10^th to celebrate the 2023-2024 4-H year at the 2024 County Convention. Officials report 4-H leaders reaching milestones, were recognized for their service. Receiving five-year recognition were Diane Brahms of Union Leaders, Terri Hansen of Grant Guys & Gals Clover Kids, Carrie Ohms of Grant Guys & Gals Clover Kids, Toni Rieck of Grant Guys & Gals, and Laura Robinson of Washington GEM.

The 4-H Alumni Award, given to 4-H alumni that have stayed active in supporting the local 4-H program, was presented to Dale and Vickie Retallic. Dale and Vickie have been active in many parts of the Cass County Fair in all ways possible. Exhibitor, Parent, Superintendent, Volunteer, Cook, Assistant Superintendent, Grandparents are some titles they have had on the fairgrounds. They have raised two sons that are current fair department superintendents and have grandchildren now exhibiting on the grounds too. Dale and Vickie have created a deep-rooted tradition of being involved with Cass County 4-H at the county fair and continue to support youth in the program through many avenues.

Natalie Bierbaum recognized as Cass County’s newest Honorary 4-H Member. This is awarded to a member of the community who was not a 4-H member themselves but supports and assists the local 4-H program. Natalie has made photo backgrounds for youth to take photos of their awards out during fair, takes photos of many shows and award ceremonies at fair. Natalie was instrumental in the creation of our 75th Exhibitor T-shirts we got to show in this year and her help with the 75th Fair Celebration committee preparations. The Distinguished Service Award was presented to Lindeman Tractor. The team at Lindeman’s works with many of our 4-H families each month through their regular business. They stated how appreciative they are to see the next generation of our 4-H youth getting involved in the agriculture field.

They have been involved in Cass County 4-H and the county fair as far back as 1959 in multiple ways including, an entertainment sponsor, a livestock sale supporter, and a trophy donor. Behind the scenes, they provide equipment, storage, and trucking before, during, and after our Fair. During Fair week, Bob, Norma Jean, and their Lindeman’s family are often sharing meals at the food stand multiple times a day. Members and leaders of all 4-H clubs in Cass County were recognized for club activities, and project awards completed throughout the year. Intermediate and Junior 4-H members who completed a record book received project awards based on leaders’ recommendation. Record books are rated on organization, appearance, goals and learning, spelling, and grammar.

High school members turn in their record book at the club level, then leaders nominate records to be reviewed again at the county level. These project records should be well organized, neat, and show evidence of solid Citizenship, Communication, and Leadership activities. Points received determine if platinum, gold, silver, or bronze awards are given.

A ink to photos and a document that has names listed for each photo is available at: https://iastate.box.com/s/7m44pxq3an1c4m3hus4wg3epqi2ozf3q. Photos courtesy of Captured by Ashley Photography.

Awards given by clubs are as follows:

Bear Grove Blazers:

Club Awards: Top Historian Book, Top Treasurer Book, Youth Council Club Challenge Participant, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

Catherine DeBord: Home Improvement, Clothing & Fashion, Star Intermediate Record Book

Alyson Dreager: Swine (platinum), Dog (platinum), Goat (platinum), Home Improvement (platinum), Photography (gold), Sheep (gold), Gold Senior Record Book

Dylen Dreager: Swine (bronze), Silver Senior Record Book

Keagen Dreager: Home Improvement

Walker Gary: Poultry (platinum), Platinum Senior Record Book

Jamie Jacobsen: Citizenship, Health

Maggie Jacobsen: Citizenship

Hunter Kardell: Swine, Visual Arts, Star Junior Record Book

Lynsie Kardell: Photography, Star Intermediate Record Book

Macie Kloewer: Rabbits

Maggie Kloewer: Food & Nutrition, Rabbits

Mia Kloewer: Bronze Senior Record Book

David Retallic: Swine (gold), Platinum Senior Record Book

Sophia Retallic: Swine, Food & Nutrition, Sewing & Needle Art, Visual Arts, Rabbits, Photography, Star Junior Record Book

Nolan Sunderman: Self-Determined

Carter Witzman: Swine (gold), Silver Senior Record Book

Benton Franklin:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Youth Council Club Challenge Finisher, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

Brock Henderson: Breeding beef (gold), Gold Senior Record Book

Zander Pieken: Rabbits (silver), Gold Senior Record Book

Blayre Steffen: Swine, Beef, Star Junior Record Book

Brookelyn Steffen: Self-Determined (silver), Gold Senior Record Book

Brylee Steffen: Home Improvement, Swine, Beef, Star Intermediate Record Book

C&M Champions:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Endowment Donation, Silent Auction Item

Cowpokes:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Youth Council Club Challenge Participant, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

AJ Barber: Beef, Horse, Welding

Shelby Hansen: Dog, Star Junior Record Book

Kayedance Sturm: Horse (bronze), Silver Senior Record Book

Grant Guys and Gals:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Endowment Donation, Top Window Display National 4-H Week, Rabbit Herdsmanship, Swine Herdsmanship, Youth Council Club Challenge Participant, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

Macy Burg: Gold Senior Record Book

Brayden Dawson: Beef

Colby Euken: Clothing & Fashion, Photography, Vet Science, Woodworking, Swine, Agronomy, Star Junior Record Book

Ada Hansen: Communications (platinum), Platinum Senior Record Book

Isaac Hansen: Swine, Beef, Food & Nutrition, Woodworking, Clothing & Fashion, Star Junior Record Book

Mack Hansen: Food & Nutrition, Swine, Animal Science, Visual Arts, Beef, Home Improvement

Kambry Langfelt: Beef

Kylee Wessling: Food & Nutrition, Rabbits

Griswold Clubsters:

Club Awards: Beef Herdsmanship, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

Raylea Amos: Beef, Star Junior Record Book

Blaine Buffington: Swine

Bristol Chambers: Beef, Star Junior Record Book

Josephine Millikan: Consumer Management (gold), Clothing & Fashion (silver), Sewing & Needle Art (platinum), Food & Nutrition (gold), Gold Senior Record Book

Grove H.O.T.:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, 2024 Banner Club, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

Hudson Brock: Communications, Star Intermediate Record Book

Parker Brock: Silver Senior Record Book

Conner Johnson: Poultry (platinum), Shooting Sports (gold), Woodworking (gold), Platinum Senior Record Book

Lily Johnson: Communications (gold), Citizenship (platinum), Clothing & Fashion (platinum), Dairy Goats (platinum), Food & Nutrition (platinum), Leadership (platinum), Photography (platinum), Poultry (platinum), Platinum Senior Record Book

Madeline Richter: Gold Senior Record Book

Claire Schroder: Rabbits (platinum), Sheep (platinum), Gold Senior Record Book

Independent Members:

Record Book/Project Awards: Grant Petty: Sheep (platinum), Swine (platinum), Platinum Senior Record Book

Pleasant Noble United:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Overall Herdsmanship, Youth Council Club Challenge Participant, Silent Auction Item, Highest club attendance at convention.

Record Book/Project Awards:

Conlan Amos: Poultry, Star Intermediate Record Book

Zoey Amos: Gold Senior Record Book

Emma Ritter: Dog

Gage Ritter: Ag & Natural Resources

Kailey Swain: Visual Arts (platinum), Goats (platinum), Poultry (platinum), Rabbits (platinum), Platinum Senior Record Book

Pymosa:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Top Secretary Book, YC Club Challenge Winner, Silent Auction Item, Highest 4-H member recruitment.

Record Book/Project Awards:

Olivia Olson: Platinum Senior Record Book

Claire Pellett: Food & Nutrition (platinum), Beef (gold), Dog (gold), Health (gold), Platinum Senior Record Book

Oakley Skow: Food & Nutrition, Dog, Poultry, Photography, Star Junior Record Book

Miraylie Stuart: Beef (platinum), Platinum Senior Record Book

Union Leaders:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Endowment Donation, Top Community Service Award, Sheep Herdsmanship, Silent Auction Item

Record Book/Project Awards:

Oliver Becker: Sewing & Needle Art

Tristan Becker: Beef (gold), Silver Senior Record Book

Bay Erickson: Rabbits, Visual Arts, Food & Nutrition, Photography, Clothing & Fashion, Star Junior Record Book

Gage Erickson: Visual Arts, Food & Nutrition, Clothing & Fashion

Avery Lee: Woodworking, Visual Arts, Photography, Food & Nutrition, Clothing & Fashion

Bryson Lee: Woodworking, Food & Nutrition

Eden Ohms: Clothing & Fashion, Sheep, Beef, Poultry, Food & Nutrition, Child Development, Visual Arts, Sewing & Needle Art, Star Junior Record Book

Leah Ohms: Food & Nutrition (platinum), Sewing & Needle Art (platinum), Beef (platinum), Sheep (platinum), Visual Arts (platinum), Photography (gold), Platinum Senior Record Book

Washington GEM:

Club Awards: 4-Her’s for 4-H, Goat Herdsmanship, Poultry Herdsmanship, Youth Council Club Challenge Finisher

Record Book/Project Awards:

Colton Anderson: Sheep, Star Intermediate Record Book

Maddy Anderson: Swine (gold), Platinum Senior Record Book

Natalie Boose: Visual Arts, Rabbits

Bentley Bruck: Photography (gold), Beef (gold), Platinum Senior Record Book

Jacquelyn Freund: Sewing & Needle Art (platinum), Gold Senior Record Book

Macy Freund: Home Improvement, Food & Nutrition, Sewing, Clothing & Fashion

Morgan Kirchner: Sewing & Needle Art, Poultry, Visual Arts, Clothing & Fashion, Star Junior Record Book

Quincy Robinson: Swine

Gentry Waters: Clothing

Paxton Wickard: Woodworking, Welding, Swine, Star Junior Record Book

Zach Zellmer: Swine, Rabbits, Star Intermediate Record Book

High School youth members can also apply for county level awards to show highlight the experiences they have demonstrating their leadership, communication and civic engagement through multiple project areas through their 4-H experiences.

The Merit award went to Ada Hansen of Grant Guys and Gals – She is well-rounded with her 4-H projects and leadership, citizenship, and communication capacities.

Achievement was awarded to Olivia Olson of Pymosa – Olivia has shown outstanding personal growth through participation in a variety of 4-H projects and programs.

Citizenship award going to Lily Johnson of Grove H.O.T. – Lily has learned the meaning of citizenship and has demonstrated that understanding through good practices.

Leadership this year goes to Maddy Anderson of Washington GEM – Maddy has acquired and demonstrated leadership beyond the local club level. Leadership is helping a group attain its goals.

Learning through Livestock award this year goes to Claire Pellett of Pymosa – Claire has made noteworthy progress toward maturity and leadership thorough her service as local club, county, area, and state livestock events.

There were seventeen third graders that are eligible to graduate into the 4-H program for the 2024-2025 program year. Youth who graduated from Cass County Clover Kids included: Ethan Retallic of Bear Grove Blazers Clover Kids, Parker Walter of Bear Grove Blazers Clover Kids, Bentlee Caceres of Cass County Creators, Calon Huddleson of Cass County Creators, Emma Kay of Cass County Creators, Lana Leyh of Cass County Creators, McKinley Sandbothe of Cass County Creators, Callen Waters of Cass County Creators, Olivia Weirich of Cass County Creators, Cade Wickard of Cass County Creators, Jase Ohms of Grant Guys & Gals Clover Kids, Brielle Wessling of Grant Guys & Gals Clover Kids, Breken Amos of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Laena Amos of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Adalyn Buffington of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Natalyn Smith of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids, Elsie Starlin of Griswold Clubsters Clover Kids

The afternoon concluded with the installation of thirteen senior level 4-H’ers onto the 2024-2025 County 4-H Youth Council. Members are Hudson Brock of Grove H.O.T., Alyson Dreager of Bear Grove Blazers, Jacquelyn Freund of Washington GEM, Ada Hansen of Grant Guys & Gals, Conner Johnson of Grove H.O.T., Lily Johnson of Grove H.O.T., Josephine Millikan of Griswold Clubsters, Leah Ohms of Union Leaders, Olivia Olson of Pymosa, Claire Schroder of Grove H.O.T., Miraylie Stuart of Pymosa, Kayedance Sturm of Cowpokes, and Kailey Swain of Pleasant Noble United.

For more information about joining the Cass County 4-H program as a 4-H member or adult volunteer, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/cass, call 712-243-1132, or email kbateman@iastate.edu to contact the Cass County Extension office.