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4-H members celebrate during their awards night

“It’s just nice to see the progress that the kids make from year to year.” Joyce Winter, 4-H awards master of ceremonies
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4-H member Chase Fleck receives numerous awards during the 4-H Club’s annual awards night June 8.

Awards night for the 4-H Club of Ponoka brought all three clubs, east, west and central together at the Stagecoach Saloon June 8 for a night of recognition and thanks.

The night was an opportunity for 4-H members to receive their cheques from steer buyers and thank them for supporting the club. It was also a time to recognize the efforts of members. Master of ceremonies Joyce Winter also presented a video that the club is entering into a competition with.

The video, titled Why 4-H is Great, is a six minute clip that Winter hopes will win; the 4-H club submitting the winning video will receive a Gord Bamford concert in their community. Winter says the most ‘likes’ on Facebook on the video will secure a win.

According to Winter, 4-H Alberta will be picking three clubs’ videos and she hopes Ponoka makes the cut.

As for the awards night, Winter enjoys seeing how members have improved. “It’s just nice to see the progress that the kids make from year to year.”

This year was also an opportunity to recognize the club’s youngest members. It is a group called The Cleavers, which introduces young members aged six to eight years to 4-H.

“It’s so that they feel a sense of belonging,” said Winter.

She feels this will help create a familiarity with the club and its activities.

The front stage was full of trophies, gifts, awards and plaques that slowly started to dwindle over the evening as members received their awards. Members’ accomplishments ranged from good record-book keeping to showmanship and strong judging. Other awards presented recognized good grooming, public speaking and planning and organization.

Winter said the 4-H programs were known worldwide and that she would be chaperoning a member exchange trip to Finland with three Alberta 4-H members.

Interclub trophy awards

• Grand champion steer: Chase Fleck

• Reserve grand champion steer: Colter Bresee

• Grand champion carcass: Matthew Klimec

• Grand champion heifer: Tyson Matejka

• Reserve grand champion heifer: Kelli-Rai Sieben

• Grand champion cow/calf: Virginia Harvey

• Reserve grand champion cow/calf: Tyson Matejka

• Junior showmanship: Madison Fleck

• Intermediate showmanship: Julianna Harvey

• Junior grooming: Tade Tonneson

• Intermediate grooming: Julianna Harvey

• Senior grooming: Virginia Harvey

• Top rate of gain county: Madison Fleck

• Junior judging award: Dylan Giles

• Intermediate judging award: Kristofer Malterer

• Senior judging award: Samantha Stretch