Welcome New officers!
CONGRATULATIONS new officers for the Kankakee County 4-H Federation Club! The new officers have been chosen for the coming year. This is an honor and big responsibility. They have the responsibility of preserving the honor and dignity of 4-H. Good officers pledge their “Hands” to the service. They must be willing to accept these responsibilities, the confidence and trust given to them by their fellow members.
President Zoe Buza
The President is the he highest honor. It is Zoe's duty to call the meeting to order, preside and direct the business meeting. The enthusiasm and effectiveness of Federation will depend largely on how well the Zoe fulfills her responsibilities. As Parliamentarian, it is Zoe's job to help members and leaders learn how to conduct an orderly meeting and provide advice for motions, procedures of the meeting, and other parliamentary items. |
Vice President/Recreation Kylie Maas
As Vice President, Kylie's duty is to provide guidance and counsel to all committees as they make plans and decisions. Kylie will also be responsible for planning programs, inviting guest speakers, or assigning members to organize group programs. Kylie will work closely with the president, leaders and other officers in planning all club activities. Kylie will preside at meetings in the temporary absence of the president. As Recreation officer, Kylie's responsibility is to make recreation a part of the Federation meetings and make a special effort to consider the health and safety of all individuals. Kylie will work with other 4-H officers in planning interactive experiences with people in the group. |
Treasurer Jon Blanchette
As Treasurer, Jon must receive and be responsible for all Federation money and keep an accurate record of all money received and its source, all money paid and to whom and for what. As part of Jon's important responsibilities, Jon is responsible for paying bills only when approved by Federation and giving a treasurer’s report at each club meeting. |
Natalie Morris, Secretary/Reporter
As Reporter, it is Natalie's job to inform others about Federation news and achievements. Natalie can do much to increase interest in 4-H by writing articles about meetings and special events for the newspaper and county 4-H newsletter. As Secretary, Natalie is responsible for keeping accurate minutes of all meetings, reading the minutes at the monthly meeting, calling the roll, keeping attendance and handling all club correspondence. |
Club Awards
Illinois Standards of Excellence for 4-H Clubs |
Clubs Achieving 11 Standards of Excellence – Momence Troopers
Clubs Achieving 14 Standards of Excellence – St. George Dragons Clubs Achieving 14 Standards of Excellence – Town & Country |
Club Window Displays for National 4-H Week |
Cabery Specials
Chebanse Ag Momence Troopers St. George Dragons Town & Country All clubs who participated in Window Display received a monetary award from the Kankakee County 4-H Federation Club. |
Outstanding Treasurer Books |
All Around Kids
Cabery Specials Grant Park LLSS Herscher Hustlers Limestone Leaders Momence Troopers St George Dragons Town & Country Manteno Best Pioneers |
Outstanding Secretary Books |
Manteno Monarchs
Momence Troopers St George Dragons Town & Country |
County Awards
Outstanding Completed Records |
Listed below are all 4-H’ers that turned in a complete set of 4-H records.
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Experience Awards |
Listed below are the 4-H’ers that received Experience Awards
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Elizabeth Voigt, GPLLSS – Applied for State Emerald Experience Award and is being judged.
Cloverbud Exhibitors |
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Chicagoland Food Science Foundation Award |
Cailin Perez, GPLLSS
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County Medal Winner |
Needed 75 point to receive award
Joseph Butzen, SAS – Animal Science, Blue Award Jacob Costello, MT - Environment and Natural Resources, Blue Award |
“I Dare You” Award
Awarded to Samantha Ramirez
This young member was born to be in 4-H.She attended her first meeting around two weeks of age. She is the youngest of five siblings, some of them were in 4-H already when she was born. The club really got to see her grow up from her ornery years, her shy middle years, to the beautiful confident young lady she is coming to be. This member volunteers for everything our club does. She is very talented. She encourages and helps other members in the club and at the fair. This 4-Her explores many different projects each year besides her contents--Poultry, Visual Arts, and Photography. Several of her projects have been selected to be shown at the State Fair. Her records are always Outstanding. She has been Club Treasurer the last three years and has held other offices over the years. This member is a member of every band her school has along with choir and Drama Club. She recently started playing the violin. She is in the National Honors Society and FFA. Outside of school this member belongs to the Tri-K Pigeon and Bantam Club. With this award we dare you to share your confidence and talent with others. |
“I Dare You” Award
Awarded to Shelby Basham
Shelby Basham is a valuable member to our 4-H club; she has served in many leadership roles within our club as a junior leader, and treasurer this past year. She has done a wide variety of projects during her 4-H career. Besides her beef project she has shown dogs, clothing, foods, various general projects and public speaking. She represents our area on two statewide groups as a member of the Speaking for Illinois 4-H team and a member of the 4-H State Livestock Ambassador team. In our county, she has been a member of our youth beef team, which helps set up and organize our county beef shows and a youth member of our Extension Council. Shelby is the type of member who is open for new experiences and is willing to try new adventures. She also has been very active at her school as a Student Council member all four years and president her junior year and senior year. She was also the Prairie 8 District Student Council Vice President her junior and senior year, class president for 3 years, prom committee chair, and played basketball for two years. She participated in the school fall musical plays for four years and has been in the drama plays for three years. She has also been a member of National Honor Society, Spanish Club, SADD/Project Ignition, and Best Buddies. She has also been on the high honor roll all four years. FFA is a large passion of hers as she is currently serving as her Section President. She also received her State degree this past summer and served on the Major State Officer selection committee this past spring. In her chapter she has been on the leadership team for three years and received the chapter Greenhand award her freshman year and chapter star farmer her sophomore year. She has won her section public speaking contest the last two years and has won the section Job Interview contest and competed at the state level this past summer. She was also the section Beef Placement proficiency winner this past year and was on the section winning Vet Science team. Through FFA she has also participated in various community service activities such as kid’s day on the farm, food drive, winter clothing drive, and lessons on agriculture in the classroom. She is a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Chebanse, Illinois and has assisted at church sunrise Easter breakfast and bible school. She also maintains a part-time job at Prairieview Nursing Home in the Dietary department. She was selected to attend Purdue University’s Agriculture Discovery Program for two weeks summer of 2018 and was selected to attend Eastern Illini Electric Cooperatives Youth to Washington Trip Summer of 2019.This past summer she was selected as a Girls State Delegate Summer of 2020(unable to occur due to COVID). She is a very busy lady as you can see but she is truly a kind spirit and has great empathy and compassion for others and their feelings. Shelby’s leadership skills have expanded greatly these last few years and I look forward to seeing how she grows as she plans to attend either Purdue or Iowa State next fall majoring in Agriculture Communications. |
kankakee County Key Award
Awarded to Jacob Costello
This 4-H member has shown content leadership during his 4-H years. He has led his club as President the last 3 years and recruited new club members while he was club Reporter. He has continuously chaired or contributed to many committees. The only club event he has missed was because he was at a FFA Leadership Conference. This 4-Her encourages, challenges young members and leads by example always writing Outstanding Records. He goes above and beyond by applying for the County/Blue Awards and the Illinois Experience Gold Award. He gives talks and does demonstrations on his projects, completes his projects and represents his club at the State Fair. This member is involved in community, church, and school activities. In the community he has volunteered at Community Clean Up Days, the Community Auctions, and he is a blood donor. His extra-curricular activities at school include Basketball, Bass Fishing, National Honors Society, and FFA. He is vice president of his chapter. School extra-curricular activities now days have to be self-supporting. Jake has helped with plant sales, served brat meals and spaghetti dinners, and sold a variety of goods. Jake has helped his grandpa and uncle at their greenhouse for many years doing age appropriate jobs. The last couple years he has been helping his uncle full time in the summers. During the COVID shutdown of school Jake has worked full time and does his school at night. He has bought a used jeep and maintains it with wages earned and now is saving for college. He would like to study Agricultural Mechanical Engineering. Congratulations on your award! |
Judging Events Winners |
4-H Breeding Beef Champions
4-H Market Beef Champions
4-H Dairy Cattle Champions
4-H Dog Champions
4-H Horse and Pony Champions
4-H Poultry Champions
4-H Rabbit Champions
4-H Sheep Champions
4-H Wether Lamb Carcass Champions
Master Showman
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State Fair Delegates |
Clothing & Textiles
Communications – Public Speaking
Dogs
Entomology
Foods & Nutrition
Forestry
Horticulture
Interior Design
Natural Resources
Photography
Veterinary Science
Visual Arts
Weather
Woodworking
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Illinois State Fair Results For Kankakee County |
Photography – Zoe Ault, HH Award of Excellence, Inspire Award
Veterinary Science – Joseph Butzen, SAS Award of Excellence, Champion Award Entomology – Zoey Cieszynski, MM Award of Excellence Visual Arts – Kaitlyn Costello, MT Award of Excellence Visual Arts – Aiden Cote, AAK Award of Excellence, Reserve Champion Award Visual Arts – Kaylee Cote, AAK Award of Excellence Photography – Sophia Dubravec, SGD Award of Excellence, Inspire Award Vegetable Gardening – Matthew Gereaux, TC Award of Excellence Interior Design – Evelyn Goers, HH Award of Excellence, Reserve Champion Award Visual Arts – Alex Lyle, MM Award of Excellence Foods and Nutrition – Emily Lyle, MM Award of Excellence Visual Arts – Kylie Maas, SGD Award of Excellence Foods and Nutrition – McKinley Parchim, MT Award of Excellence Foods and Nutrition – Cailin Perez, GPLLSS Award of Excellence, Champion Award Visual Arts – Emily Pierce, MM Award of Excellence Photography – Samantha Ramirez, MT Award of Excellence Photography – Alexis Roberts, GPLLSS Award of Excellence Visual Arts – Allison Roberts, GPLLSS Award of Excellence Forestry – Allison Savoie, MM Award of Excellence, Inspire Award Natural Resources – Brooke Savoie, MM Award of Excellence Entomology – Molly Savoie, MM Award of Excellence Clothing and Textiles – Emma Schnitzler, MBP Award of Excellence Weather – Elizabeth Voigt, GPLLSS Award of Excellence, Champion Award Dogs/Dog Obedience – Kaitlyn Costello, MT Blue Ribbon, Reserve Champion Dogs/Dog Obedience – Sophia Dubravec, SGD Blue Ribbon, Champion Dogs/Rally Novice – Abigail Carstens, MT Blue Ribbon Dogs/Rally Novice – Kaitlyn Costello, MT Blue Ribbon Dogs/Rally Novice – Sophia Dubravec, SGD Blue Ribbon, Champion Dogs/Rally Novice – Zakkary Lux, AAK Blue Ribbon |
Thank you to our Adult Volunteers...
4-H Alumni Award
Awarded to William VanWassenhove
4-H Alumni AwardWilliam VanWassenhove is an outstanding 4-H alum. He exemplifies the spirit of avolunteerto the fullest. He is eagerto go the extra mile and never says no when asked to help. He has a big heart for 4-H and it shows! As a young 4-Her he was an eleven year member with Herscher Hustlers, Junior Leader for 6 years, and received almost all awards possible: Key Club, “I Dare You”, Livestock Judging Team Top Ten Percent, Outstanding Records and County Awards in Achievement, Agriculture, Beef, Conservation, Forestry and Swine. Today, heis giving back to his 4-H community. He is Chairof Kankakee County 4-H/Youth Foundation,Chair of the Livestock Auction Committee, member of Ag Committee, 4-H Youth Program Committeeand teaches the YQCA course for youth in the county. We congratulate you and thank you for your service to Kankakee County 4-H! |
Friend of 4-H Award, Kankakee County
Awarded to Greg & Beth LaPlante
Beth and Greg LaPlante have been loyal contributors to 4-H in the county for many years. Both served University of Illinois Extension and retired. They encouraged growth for youth in the county through their work at Camp Shaw Waw-Nas-See. We greatly appreciate their long service to the community. Thank you for being a part of 4-H! |
2020 Hall of Fame Foundation Award, Kankakee County
Awarded to Gary Kohl
Gary served as a dedicated volunteer for 23 years. Retiring in August 2017, he served on the Youth Program Committee, 4-H Livestock Auction Committee, 4-H Ag Committee and was the 4-H Swine Superintendent. He was a tireless volunteer with 4-H youth. He can still be seen supporting 4-H and encouraging his grandchildren with their 4-H projects. Congratulations Gary!” |
Leader Recognition
One Year Leaders
Michele Blanchette, KCF Kamber Johnston, CS
Katelynn Ohrt, HH Tami Savoie, MCC
Kristi Todd, HH
Five Year Leader
Julianne Thompson, GPLLSS
Ten Year Leaders
Mary K O’Brien, TC Joelle, Rich-Warwick, MT
Dustin Wright
Twenty Year Leader
Melissa Saathoff, MBP
Twenty Five Year Leader
Peggy Regas
Forty Five Year Leader
Ronald Meyer, MBP
Sixty Year Leader
John Adams, CA
Michele Blanchette, KCF Kamber Johnston, CS
Katelynn Ohrt, HH Tami Savoie, MCC
Kristi Todd, HH
Five Year Leader
Julianne Thompson, GPLLSS
Ten Year Leaders
Mary K O’Brien, TC Joelle, Rich-Warwick, MT
Dustin Wright
Twenty Year Leader
Melissa Saathoff, MBP
Twenty Five Year Leader
Peggy Regas
Forty Five Year Leader
Ronald Meyer, MBP
Sixty Year Leader
John Adams, CA