The 2025 Scotts Bluff County 4-H Achievement Program was held on October 19 at the UNL Panhandle Research Extension and Education Center in Scottsbluff. The event recognized the progress and growth of 4-H members and encouraged them to continue their development in life and leadership skills to become productive citizens. Adults were also recognized for providing youth development experiences and leadership to our clubs and members.
“By participating in club and project work, trips offered through the county, state, and nation, youth get to meet many new people, have chances to work together in close group atmospheres, and enhance their life skills,” said Audra Brown, 4-H Assistant.
The awards and recipients are as follows:
4-H Diamond Clover Program
Level 1 – Amethyst Clover is designed for youth ages 8-9. Amethyst winners include: Lucian Brownlow, Madison Cleays, Bailey Duffield, and Kayson Keithley
The Level 2 – Aquamarine Clover is anticipated for members 10-11 years, and they must complete at least four accomplishments. Aquamarine clover winners include: Gage Creech, Ashlyn Duffield, Daisy Myers, and Tatum Pittman
Level 4 – Sapphire Clover winners must accomplish at least six requirements that challenge 4-H members to move from participation to taking an active leadership role in their 4-H program. Sapphire Clover winners include: Hunter Creech, Lillian Debus, Bryson Gaul, Madisyn Murphy, and Mariella Myers
Level 5 – Emerald winners must accomplish at least seven requirements that require more 4-H event involvement and evidence of high leadership skills. Winner is Allura Helphingstine
Achievement Application
The 4-H Achievement Application is the annual record-keeping system used by Nebraska 4-H youth. It is a composite of all 4-H and non-4-H projects and activities throughout the individual's 4-H career. The Achievement Application is required for members to be eligible for the county awards given today and for state awards.
Junior Achievement Application Recognition
Gage Creech
Daisy Myers
Harper Stephens
Hadlee Stephens
Intermediate Achievement Application Recognition
Corbin Anderson
Mattie Brown
Brooklyn Creech
Bryson Gaul
Mariella Myers
Madisyn Murphy
Senior Division members are eligible to apply to win a trip to represent Nebraska 4-H at National 4-H Congress, in Atlanta, Georgia, or National 4-H Conference at the nation’s capital.
Hunter Creech
Sheridan Ferguson
Jake Wilkinson
Overall Achievement Awards
The overall portfolio award recognizes two members at each level who have done an outstanding job in documenting their 4-H career. These members receive certificates and cash awards of $50 for 1st, and $25 for 2nd.
Junior Overall
1 - Gage Creech
2 - Daisy Myers
Intermediate Overall
1 - Brooklyn Creech
2 - Corbin Anderson
Senior Overall
1 - Hunter Creech
2 - Sheridan Ferguson
Herdsmanship Awards
The appearance of our animals at the county fair is often the first impression the public has of 4-H and the livestock industry. A group of volunteers observed and inspected the barns daily. They looked at the condition of the pens and animals, considering cleanliness and feed. They also looked at the kids’ enthusiasm toward their projects.
This year, an award was given daily. The recipients received a banner hung on their pens. Individuals can receive the award more than once. If the pen is shared, the award was given to the club or family.
In the large species, this year’s awards went to:
Beef: Riley Stricker, Lillian Debus, Mattie Brown, Armstrong Family, Zane & Chase Keller
Swine: Karlee Hinman, Bryson Gaul, Leah Urbanek, Alivia Relka, Emma Hayward
Meat Goat: Tenzley Libsack, Eli Allen, Jace Allen, Alexee Lohr, Fayth Engel
Sheep: Eddisyn Urwiller, Lyndie Fillingham, Jace Johnson, Parker Dudden
Dairy Goat: Shawnie Mason, Eain Peterson, Landen Heine, Blake LaTowsky, Heidi LaTowsky
Volunteer Recognition
Leaders are the foundation of the 4-H program. We take great pride in the quality of our Leaders.
5 Year - Laura Button, Montana Button, William DeWitt, Brianne Hubbard, Jayson Keller
10 Year - Samuel Mark, Tyson Marker, Lori Peterson, Ryan Schmidt, Ashley Shlutz, Spehar, Sharisa
15 Year - Joseph Huckfeldt, Alan Weinhold
31 Year - Janelle Anderson, Patty Pittman, Carolyn Thomas
37 Year - Val Baker, Cindy Schmidt
43 Year - Corlyus Treffer
44 Year - Michael Treffer
57 Year - Juanita Baker
Volunteer of the year
The Volunteer of the Year Award recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in giving service to the 4-H program. The recipient does not need to be an enrolled 4-H volunteer leader. This year’s award was nominated by Nathan Rice.
Amie Hessler - Amie stepped into one of the most difficult volunteer positions as Head Large Animal Superintendent and did an amazing job. This position sits through many difficult discussions that often get heated on both sides. What impressed me about Amie was the level of calm she brought to these intense moments. She has a talent for ensuring both sides feel heard and yet doing what is best for the program/youth. Amie put in countless hours this last year organizing meetings, planning events, and being available all fair long to ensure things ran smoothly. I can’t wait to see how her leadership grows the Large Animal program in the years to come.
The Friend of 4-H Award
The Friend of 4-H award recognizes someone who has been a true friend in providing support to the 4-H program.
Regional West Medical Center - New Regional West Medical Center President and CEO, Ned Resch, and the leadership team wanted to support the county fair in a different way this year. They did not have a large budget, so they divided the amount into $25 increments and attached it to individual projects with a special ribbon. Supporting youth in this inventive way left a greater impact because of the way it was distributed. We would like to thank the hospital leadership team for their support of the 4-H program and award them the 2025 Friend of 4-H Award.
Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Community Landscape Award
The Scotts Bluff County Courthouse 4-H Pollinator Garden has been awarded the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Community Landscape Award for 2025. The Community Landscape Award annually recognizes individuals who have significantly improved the green infrastructure in a Nebraska community. Project 4-H members include: Hunter, Brooklyn, Gage, Ember, and Drake Creech, Paisley Closson, Justine and Jake Wilkinson, Phoebe Behnke, and Copper and Kendall Gray.
The awards reception will be held on Friday, November 7, from 2-4 p.m. in Lincoln.
Outstanding Leader of the Year
The Outstanding Leader of the Year Award recognizes an enrolled 4-H volunteer leader. This person or persons may be a club leader, project leader, special interest leader, community leader or a resource leader. Rachelle Anderson nominates this year’s award:
Janeene Brown - Janeene is an amazing leader for the Mitchell Valley 4-H Club. She puts her full effort into helping the kids work to their full potential. She not only encourages all members to be leaders in the club, but she also spends time teaching them how to be leaders. She makes sure they are learning the proper way to run meetings and is constantly working to allow the kids to run the meetings rather than the adults, so it is truly their club. She works with the club officers to make sure there are activities planned for the meeting every month. She consistently demonstrates a high level of energy toward all things 4-H. Janeene has worked with the members and parents to develop a point system to encourage the kids to participate in the meetings, become leaders in the club, participate in other 4-H activities, and enter many projects in fair, which allows them to compete for prizes from the club. She also believes firmly in doing achievement applications and diamond clover awards and does all she can to get as many members as possible to enter them.
New Horizons – 4-H Alumni Award
We have many volunteers who are 4-H alumni. 4-H has made an impact on their lives, so they have decided to give back to the program as volunteers and are already making a difference in the 4-H program.
Jessica Wilkinson - As a 4-H alumnus, she has been a great help with Static since she has aged out of 4-H. She has been back to help with Clothing Day and Static Check-in Day. She has worked as a monitor and also as a judge's assistant. Jessica is able to give the judges detailed information about entries, looks up where items should be entered, and many other tasks. She makes Static Day proceed more seamlessly than it typically would.
Tom Holman Spirit of 4-H Award (honoring a great member of 4-H)
Tatum Pittman - She is a third-year junior member of the Just Kidding Around 4-H Club. She has been a vibrant and dedicated participant in dairy goat and fiber animal projects for three years. She manages her goat herd, undertaking all aspects of feeding, housing, grooming, and breeding. Extending her knowledge and skills, Tatum mentors other club members in these livestock projects. Static projects such as floriculture, cookie jar, creative crafts, and gardening are part of her portfolio too. She enthusiastically volunteers in all pre-fair clean-up events as well as fair static area preparation events. Tatum has eagerly volunteered in a myriad of 4-H related community service events. Yearly, she wraps Christmas presents for Murdoch’s customers, assists with the flower garden at the fairgrounds, and participates in the Peaceful Prairie May open house JKA petting zoo by bringing animals and sharing her 4-H knowledge to the public.
Gage Creech - What a wonderful young man. He is involved in a great number of different 4-H projects, community service, Scotts Bluff County Courthouse Pollinator Garden Project, Robotics, Meat Judging, Animals, and numerous static areas. He is so willing to try something new. At our fabric collage workshop, he had forgotten his project at home, so he went a completely different direction and came up with a project that went on to the state fair! I suggested that I would like to see one with a burrowing owl displayed, and he made it work. It shows his work ethic and his ability to do different things, even if they are not his first choice.
I Dare You Award
The I Dare You Leadership Award was first offered to young people in the United States in 1941 by William H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis. He dared young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of leadership and service. Recipients receive a certificate and a $200 college scholarship. Please come forward when your name is called.
Landen Heine - A senior member of Scotts Bluff County 4-H. He has been a member of various clubs throughout his 4-H career, which began when he was a clover kid. As a clover kid, Landen’s projects were rabbits, chickens, and sheep. He joined robotics and was part of the First LEGO League club (various versions of the Gummies), resulting in a large portfolio of awards. Landen participated in three years of shooting sports (pistol and BB Gun). He has also done woodworking, clothing projects, and a LEGO puzzle box that earned him the 2021 grand personal development. While attending Scottsbluff High School, Landen’s activities have included Math Club, Mu Alpha Theta, tennis, swim, track, SkillUSA, and DECA. This year, he is a member of the Student Council. This year, despite being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and undergoing treatment, Landen completed his 4-H projects and showed his animals at the county fair while assisting JKA members with herdsmanship and stall/alleyway maintenance. His market wether won Grand Champion. His positive attitude and outgoing personality inspire club members to do their best with their projects without complaining.
Landen actively serves yearly at Camp Rock as a tech team member or on the general staff, assisting wherever needed. He is actively involved in a youth group at his church as a student leader. He often prays with the tennis team members before a match.
Landen is very deserving of the I Dare You Award, he is admired for his strength, resilience, and perseverance.
Outstanding 4-H Member Award
The Outstanding 4-H Member Award is the highest award a member can receive and is based on their activities and accomplishments in 4-H. The recipient receives a plaque and a $250 college scholarship.
Sheridan Ferguson - A senior at Scottsbluff High School and is taking classes at WNCC. She is involved in band, play-production, ed-rising, Tri-M, National Honors Society, link crew, and FCA. She is also working with Jana Schwartz with the Beyond School Bells Program, teaching youth about STEM. Through her 4-H experiences, she has developed skills that she will use throughout her life.
Her 4-H focus areas have been Communication and Expressive Arts – photography, Consumer and Family Science – Clothing construction, Style Revue, and Quilting, Healthy Lifestyles – Table Setting and Foods.
Sheridan has done well at the county level and has been able to take her projects to the Nebraska State Fair. Sheridan has helped with community involvement. One particular item this past year, she stepped up to help with the OTD’s Art Auction when they were looking for help at the last minute.
Sheridan is planning on pursuing a degree in Early Education with a minor in Special Education.