Since the 4-H Banquet moved from its time at the end of the fair to later in the Fall, it has tried to avoid overlapping with sports as much as possible, but even with Friday’s Football game starting halfway through the evening, the Event Center was still a packed house as the 4-H leaders and Extension Office celebrated the successes of Oneida 4-H kids throughout the year.  At this year’s event, Wendy Thomas was named the 4-H Leader of the Year by the State, and Tresie  Carter was named Volunteer of the Year by Oneida County.  There were of course a lot of other fun awards given out over the course of a great evening.

Wendy Thomas, who has been involved with 4-H for many years, was officially awarded the state’s Leader of the Year award by Sawyer Fonnesbeck.  She will be presented with a plaque from the state office.  In remarks prepared by Becky Cox, she said “Wendy has always loved her dairy goats.  The highlight of spring for her grandkids has always been the birth of many baby goats.  They were always involved with the milking and chores anytime they could visit.  As they got older, her granddaughters joined goat 4-H and the opportunity came for Wendy to become the 4-H leader.  It was the perfect opportunity for her, since she had several granddaughters and several dairy goats.  Having them in 4-H meant that they had to commit to helping milk the goats.  At the beginning of summer in 2024, Wendy fell and broke her wrist.  This means there would be months Wendy would not be able to do her chores.  Her granddaughters and even some of the friends stepped up and did the milking every night.  Wendy is a very organized 4-H Leader.  At the first meeting she gives each member a calendar with dates and weekly meetings.  She wants each member to know how to show their goats through practice shows.  She loves to make goat milk items for the members to try—sugar goat cheese, ricotta, sugar goat’s milk.  She has started the tradition of giving the kids a white dairy goat shirt for the fair.  Then the week after they tie-dye the shirts and have a pizza party.”   While Wendy didn’t immediately know how long she had been involved with the 4-H, that speaks to her long history of commitment to the organization.

Tresie Carter, who has consistently led a very successful swine club, was presented with the Oneida County Volunteer of the Year award.  Remarks written by her mother stated in part: “When she was younger, she was happy and helpful and would try anything once.  When she was first involved in 4-H she was in a baking group and had a lot of fun.  Next was the Lamb adventures, which she tried for a couple years.  Next, she and her brother decided to show pigs.  She always thought each one was so cute.  She always picked the perfect names.  One that sticks out on her pig is Loretta.  She always got attached to each pig, and the sad time was the end of the fair.  She had to clean up and gather things, and most importantly say goodbye to the pig she had cared for all those months.  That always made her cry.  Now she’s a boy-mom, rancher’s wife, hair stylist, and member of the school board.  And it doesn’t end there –she works at the Malad Hospital as a Surgical Tech and an EMT.  Last but not least certainly, she is a 4-H leader.  She cares for each person in her group.  This past year there was a group of kids who lost their pigs due to illness, and she would call and say how bad she felt for those who could not participate.   I’m not sure where she gets all her energy—no matter how tired, she still smiles that big smile and carries on.”  

“Tresie, thank you for all you do,” Fonnesbeck said.

The Best decorated Club award went to the Sheep Peeps, who will get a pizza party out of the deal.

Throughout the course of the evening, each of the leaders presented a series of awards to their own groups. Alaina Schrenk led the Wooly Wranglers, Regene Jones led Crochet 1 and 2 and Art, Robert Bullcreek and Tina Bullcreek led Bullcreek Swine, Callie Werk led the Chicken Clucks.  Ginger and Allison led Beef’n it up, Wendy Thomas led the Dairy Goat Club, and Tresie Carter led the When Pigs Fly group.  Geanna Roes led the sheep peeps. 

Additional  awards that were given include the “Most Animal Project Award” won by Kennadee Thomas (who had six animals in the fair this year), and the “Most Misc. Projects Award” which was won by Adilee Daniels.

The Youth Service Award was given to Rawzen Munns, in acknowledgment of his help to the staff and his fellow competitors during the fair.

The “Beef Quality Assurance Sportsman’s Award” was presented to Trevor Allen.

Average Daily Gain awards of $75 each went to the following: Paige Eliason, steer; Bayli Nesbit, swine; Morgon Blaisdell, sheep; Kate Carter, goat.

Livestock Showmanship Awards and Buckles were given out as follows: Alivia Waldron, Sheep Showman Champ; Samatha Schrenk, Sheep Showman Reserve Champ; Caleb Roe, Goat Showman Champ; Katy Carter, Goat Showman Reserve; Ira Carter, Swine Showman Champ; Cale Carter, Swine Showman Reserve; Draylyn Jones, Steer Showman Champ; Pasilee Davis, Steer Showman Reserve.

Market Animal Fair Buckles were given to the following: Alivia Waldron, Market Sheep Grand Champion; Kyler Price, Market Sheep Reserve Champion; Caleb Roe, Market Goat Grand Champion; Katy Carter, Market Goat Reserve Champion; Cale Carter, Market Swine Grand Champion; Ira Carter, Market Swine Reserve Champion; Draylyn Jones, Market Steer Grand Champion; Rawzen Munns, Market Steer Reserve Champion.

Dairy Goat, Chicken, and Rabbit buckles were awarded as follows: Dairy Goat Showman Champion—Abbie Cox; Dairy Goat Showman Reserve Champion—Kelty Thomas; Dairy Goat Quality Champion—Harper Maughan; Dairy Goat Quality Reserve Champion—Caysten Williams.  Chicken Showman Champion—Wynn Werk; Chicken Showman Reserve Champion—Maliah Hansen; Chicken Quality Champion—Harper Maughan; Chicken Quality Reserve Champion—Maliah Hansen.  Rabbit showman Chapion—Helenna Kronvall; Rabbit Showman Reserve Champion—Abby Smith; Rabbit Quality Champion—Paisley Maughan; Rabbit Quality Reserve Champion—Harper Maughan.

Youth also received banners, insulated cups, Bamma Wamma cards, and animal brushes. 

Individual Show awards were made official.  In the Dog show, Lyndee Nimer was the Showman Champion, as well as the Obedience Champion.  Saige Cox was the Showman Reserve Champion.  Kennadee Thomas was the Obedience Reserve and well as the Rally Reserve Champion.   Eva Coleman was the Dog Rally Champion.  

In Working Ranch, the Unit 1 Champion was Paris Carter.  Unit 2 Champion was Ira Carter.  Unit 3 Champion was Kimball Carter.

In the Horse Show, the Showmanship Champion was Lyndee Nimer.  Maudee Leavitt was the Showmanship Reserve Champion.  1st year high point champion was Lydia Clark.  Junior highj point champion was Austin Schrenk.  Intermediate high point champion was Cassidy Schrenk.  Senior high point champion was Samantha Schrenk.  Trail in hand champion was Ira Carter.

Brookell Nimer was the high point champion in Mini Horse.

In Breeding Heifer, Showman Champion was Alivia Waldron.  Showman Reserve was Maudee Leavitt.  Quality Grand Champion was Alivia Waldron.  Quality Reserve was Maudee Leavitt. 

In Breeding Ewe, Aubrey Shulz was the Showman Champion, and the Quality Reserve Champion.  Alivia Waldron was the Showman Reserve Champion, and the Quality Champion.  

An overflowing dinner was provided by volunteers and 4-H parents, as well as donations from Broulims and Oxford Packing.  

During the awards, those receiving awards and buckles signed thank you cards for the many people responsible for continuing to support the 4-H program in Oneida County.