Ken Johnston
About 100 district residents were on hand for the annual 4-H awards banquet Friday night in Stratton.
Kim Desserre, treasurer of the Rainy River District 4-H Association, kicked off the evening by giving a brief overview of the organization.
“This year we were fortunate enough to have 50 members in the Rainy River District,” she noted.
“Of those, 14 were new members!”
The members participated in numerous clubs, as well as the Emo Fair and community events like the Rainy River “Relay for Life.”
4-H members R.J. McDonald and Nolan Short thanked the parents, volunteers, and leaders for getting them to and from 4-H and for making 4-H fun to be a part of.
Awards began with a recognition of some of those leaders/volunteers. Mitchell Haw was recognized as a youth leader while Chantelle Bragg, Louis Bujold, and Krista Williams all were given 4-H T-shirts for being first-year volunteers.
Long-time leader certificates then were presented to Desserre (five years) and Bud McQuaker (10 years).
All 14 first-year 4-H members were called to centre stage and presented plaques and T-shirts.
They included Ryan Bodnar, Aaron Bujold, Morgan Desserre, Alana Gerula, Evan Govier, Katie Hay, McKenzie Jolicouer, Morgan Kreger, Darby Steele, Cassidy Teeple, Taylor Vlotaros, Aynsley Williams, Madison Williams, and Elijah Zimmerman.
Milestones also are recognized annually as members complete 4-H projects:
•Six projects completed (presented a pin)—Morgan Haw and Savannah Hughes;
•12 projects completed (presented a pen desk set)—Riley Caul and Mitchell Haw; and
•18 projects completed (presented a travel alarm clock)—Julianna Donaldson
Riley Caul was honoured with a Bernie Brown print as he is retiring from 4-H this year.
Breed awards
•Ontario Junior Limousin Association—Cody Bodnar, Ryan Bodnar, Braydon Kreger, and Angel Nixon;
•Ontario Hereford Association—Aaron Bujold, Connor Bujold, Justin Bujold, Nathon Bujold, and Holly Nixon;
•Canadian Galloway Association—Julianna Donaldson, Jolene Stahn, and Samantha Stahn;
•Ontario Simmental Association—Ashley Croswell, Savannah Hughes, Ben Miller, Myan Miller, Kelsey McLean, Tyson McLean, Cassidy Teeple, and Nick Teeple;
•Ontario Angus Association—Alanna Gerula, Mitchell Haw, Katie Hay, Kylie Nordin, Aaron Short, Damon Short, Nolan Short, Darby Steele, and Ross Steele;
•Ontario Charolais Association—Riley Caul, Morgan Haw, and R.J. McDonald; and
•Easter Gelbvieh Association—Jessica Haw
Other awards
Best Beef Books
1. R.J. McDonald and Morgan Haw (tied)
2. Brayden Kreger
3. Jessica Haw
Life Skills Clubs
•Chocolate Club winner—Elijah Zimmerman;
•Community Involvement winner—Morgan Kreger
•Explore 4-H winner—Morgan Desserre
Special awards
•Rainy River Cattlemen’s Association (gift certificates for first-year beef members)—Ryan Bodnar, Aaron Bujold, Alanna Gerula, Katie Hay, Darby Steele, and Cassidy Teeple;
•Ontario Plowmen’s Association ($100 and certificate)—Samantha Stahn;
•Rainy River Hereford Association 4-H Carcass Award ($200 plus plaque to member with the highest grading market steer with Hereford influence)—Justin Bujold; and
•DeGagne Award ($100 to the beef club member who accumulates the greatest number of points in the past three years of beef club work)—Morgan Haw.
The Fort Frances Kiwanis Club has supported 4-H in the district since its inception.
Kiwanis board of directors Dr. Bob Lidkea and Scott Krienke-Turvey gave a brief overview of the history between the two organizations, dating back to the early 1920s.
To this day, the Kiwanis have continued to support 4-H annually and this year was no exception as the pair presented 4-H Association president Murray McDonald with a cheque for $500 on Friday evening.
