2015: A Very good Year for the Solano County 4-H Program

Julianna Payne (left) of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club receives the Diamond Clover Award, the highest rank in 4-H, from Solano County 4-H Program Representative Valerie Williams of Vacaville. Williams also received her 25-year 4-H tenure pin. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

By Kathy Keatley Garvey

FAIRFIELD-It was a very good year for the Solano County 4-H Program.

The Solano County 4-H Program recently honored its award-winning youth, leaders and alumni at an end-of-the-year celebration. The 4-H youth development program, a division of the UC Agriculture and Natural Resources, strives to make the best better.

All 11 Solano County 4-H clubs at the Achievement Night received a gold seal club charter award for completing a 4-H plan at the beginning of the year and setting and achieving their goals, said Valerie Williams, Solano County 4-H Youth Development Program Representative, based at the Cooperative Extension office, Fairfield.

The recipients: Dixon Ridge 4-H Club, Roving Clovers 4-H Club, Maine Prairie 4-H Club and Tremont 4-H Club, all of Dixon; Elmira 4-H Club, Vaca Valley 4-H Club and Pleasants Valley 4-H Club, all of Vacaville; Suisun Valley 4-H Club and Westwind 4-H Club, both of Fairfield-Suisun; Rio Vista 4-H Club; and the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo.

Julianna Payne of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club received the California Diamond Clover Award, the highest 4-H achievement award, It recognizes exemplary effort, learning and growth of 4-H members. Shannon Horrillo, associate director of the 4-H Program and Policy, had this to say about the Solano County recipient, read at the Achievement Night: “You can be very proud of your achievements to become a competent, confident, caring leader of character who is connected to others, and contributes to your community.”

Three 4-H’ers received the 11th annual Lynne Burns Memorial Scholarship to help finance their college educations: Emma Vogliano of Suisun Valley; and Kristina Judy and Lyle Glass of Vaca Valley. Burns (1948-1995), a resident of Rio Vista, was the longtime Solano County 4-H Club Program Representative in the mid-1980s and early 1990s. In her memory, Solano County 4-H Leaders’ Council developed a scholarship in her name for outstanding high school seniors.

Jordan Burkett of the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club is the 2015 recipient of the Alan Hamel Citizenship Award. The award memorializes Hamel who died of leukemia while in his mid-50s. A former Dixon 4-H’er, he was a Solano County All-Star 4-H’er in 1956.

Other countywide awards included:

Club historian award: Kate Frenkel, Suisun Valley 4-H Club

County newsletter editor’s award: Francis Agbayani of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club.

County club reporter’s award: Clairese Wright of the Suisun Valley 4-H Club.

Club secretary’s award: Ryan Liu of Westwind

Club treasurer award: Justin Means of the Pleasants Valley 4-H Club.

Three 4-H’ers--Makenna Caulfield of Roving Clovers, Sam Forbes of Suisun Valley and Amanda Kant of Sherwood Forest--received the Emerald Star, an advanced leadership opportunity for 4-H members at least 12 years old who already hold a silver, gold or platinum rank. This award helps members develop leadership skills, extends knowledge of 4-H and introduces new or expanded programs or projects into the Solano County 4-H program. Caulfield developed an Orphan Foal project working with 4-H families to train the wild babies and find them permanent homes. Forbes developed and taught an Embryology curriculum to Travis Air Force Base elementary classes, expanding the 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) footprint. Kant organized and presented a Field Day for primary 4-H members, to inform them of opportunities available to them.

4-H’ers can advance from bronze, silver, gold, platinum and emerald in their star rank awards. They are achieved through a 4-H member’s involvement is club, county, sectional and state activities.

Other Star Rank awards:

Platinum: Erin Tiernan-Lang, Elmira; Audrey Hennigan, Roving Clovers; Drake Delorefice, Olivia Frenkel and Carson Merodio, Suisun Valley; Falyn Voss, Vaca Valley; and Elizabeth Elder, Westwind.

Gold Star: Justin Means, Pleasants Valley; Jessica Burkett and Josephine Linan, Sherwood Forest; Samantha Forbes, Natalie Frenkel, Alex Merodio and Carson Merodio, Suisun Valley; and Cheyenne Miller, Westwind.

Silver Star: Carlin Cline, Sam Esperson, and Trevor Gomes, Rio Vista; Blake Boban and Braydon Caulfield, Roving Clovers; Jordan Burkett, Sherwood Forest; Ethan Brown, Christopher Lang, Alexis Taliaferro and Clarese Wright, Suisun Valley; and Benjamin Liu, Vaca Valley.

Bronze Star: Chase and Jared Tanaka, Maine Prairie; Maddy Farris and Maya Prunty, Pleasants Valley; Josie Hamilton, Emma Wright and Evelyn Young, Rio Vista; Olivia Wynkoop, Roving Clovers; Xavier Copeland, Melissa and Sophia Corona, Kate Frenkel and Spencer Merodio, Suisun Valley; Ryan Anderson, Tremont; Matthew Agbayani, Mackenzie Davi and Luis Laffite, Vaca Valley.

More than two dozen 4-H’ers received their presentation proficiency awards, for giving demonstrations or presentations to five different audiences in addition to entering their presentation at the Solano County Presentation Day:

Erica Lull, Elmira; Madison Farris and Maya Prunty, Pleasants Valley; Olivia Wynkoop, Roving Clovers; Jessica Burkett, Jordan Burkett and Amanda Kant, Sherwood Forest; Ethan Brown, Xavier Copeland, Melissa Corona, Sophia Corona, Jack Daly, Jake Forbes, Kate Frenkel, Natalie Frenkel, Oliva Frenkel, Christopher Lang, Alec Merodio, Carson Merodio, Spencer Merodio, Samantha Sullenger, Alexis Taliaferro, Clairese Wright and Robert Wright, Suisun Valley; Francis Agbayani, Matthew Agbayani and Ben Liu, Vaca Valley.

Trinity Roach of Westwind received a modeling proficiency award for participating in Fashion Revue and then modeling for five different audiences.

Dozens of youths won awards for the record books. Judges can award a county winner in the junior, intermediate and senior divisions, as well as medalists or runners-up.

Animal Welfare – Senior Division

First Medalist: Jessica Burkett, Sherwood Forest

Arts and Crafts/Jewelry – Junior Division

County Winner: Zoe Sloan, Elmira

Baking and Breadmaking – Junior

County Winner: Madison Meabon, Suisun Valley

Beef Cattle – Intermediate

County Winner: Jared Tanaka, Maine Prairie

Clothing and Textiles – Intermediate

County Winner: Kailey Mauldin, Elmira

Dog Care and Training – Junior

County Winner: Alexis Taliaferro, Suisun Valley

Dog Care and Training – Intermediate

County Winner: Ethan Brown, Suisun Valley

Fiber Arts –Knitting & Crocheting – Intermediate

First Medalist: Adilene Koelzer, Vaca Valley

Financial Literacy – Senior

First Medalist: Caitlin Estes, Suisun Valley

Foods Preservation – Junior

County Winner: Clairese Wright, Suisun Valley

First Medalist: Christopher Lang, Suisun Valley

Foods and Nutrition – Junior

County Winner, Irma Brown – Suisun Valley

First Medalist: Spencer Merodio, Suisun Valley

Foods and Nutrition – Intermediate

County Winner: Natalie Frenkel, Suisun Valley

Foods and Nutrition – Senior

First Medalist: Adele Phillips, Elmira

General Engineering – Intermediate

County Winner: Alec Merodio, Suisun Valley

Horse – Junior

County Winner: Jordan Burkett, Sherwood Forest

Horse - Intermediate

County Winner: Makenna Caulfield, Roving Clovers

Leadership – Intermediate

County Winner: Robert Wright, Suisun Valley

First Medalist: Sophia Corona, Suisun Valley

Leadership – Senior

County Winner: Jacob Hall, Suisun Valley

First Medalist – Josephine Linan, Sherwood Forest

Lego Engineering – Senior

County Winner: Ben Liu, Vaca Valley

Meat Goats – Intermediate

County Winner, Madison Farris, Pleasants Valley

Outdoor Adventure/Camping – Senior

County Winner: Cheyenne Miller, Westwind

Photography – Junior

County Winner: Matthew Agbayani, Vaca Valley

Photography – Intermediate

County Winner: Francis Agbayani, Vaca Valley

Photography – Senior

County Winner: Charlyn Agbayani, Vaca Valley

Poultry - Junior

County Winner: Blake Boban, Roving Clovers
First Medalist: Ashley Adams, Vaca Valley

Poultry –Intermediate

County Winner: Erica Lull, Elmira

Poultry –Senior

County Winner: Haile Pringle, Vaca Valley

First Medalist: Julette Pierce, Vaca Valley

Pygmy Goats – Junior

County Winner, Braydon Caulfield, Roving Clovers

Rabbits – Junior

County Winner: Trinity Roach, Westwind

Rabbits – Intermediate

County Winner: Justin Means, Pleasants Valley

First Medalist: Evelyn Young, Rio Vista

Record Keeping – Junior

County Winner: Samantha Sullenger, Suisun Valley.

Record Keeping – Intermediate

County Winner, Amanda Kant, Sherwood Forest

Record Keeping – Senior

County Winner: Carson Merodio, Suisun Valley

First Medalist: Melissa Corona, Suisun Valley

Reuse/Recycle- Intermediate

County Winner: Maya Miller, Westwind

Service Learning – Intermediate

County Winner: Ryan Anenson, Tremont

Shooting Sports – Intermediate

County Winner: Olivia Frenkel, Suisun Valley

Swine – Intermediate

County Winner: Maya Prunty – Pleasants Valley

First Medalist: Xavier Copeland, Suisun Valley

Swine – Senior

County Winner: Mackenzie Davi, Vaca Valley

First Medalist: Falyn Voss, Vaca Valley

Video Production – Senior

County Winner: Tiffany Lum, Suisun Valley

Woodworking – Junior

County Winner: Kate Frenkel, Suisun Valley

Dozens of 4-H’ers won junior and teen leader awards. Junior leaders are usually from 11 to 13 years old, and teen leaders, 14 to 19 years old.

First-year junior leaders:

Gabby Corona, Dixon Ridge; Katerina Bouzos, Elmira; Cody Ceremony and Madison Farris, Pleasants Valley; Evelyn Young, Rio Vista; Ethan Brown, Natalie Frenkel, Alec Merodio, Robert Wright, Suisun Valley; and Francis Agbayani and Adilene Koelzer, Vaca Valley.

Second-year junior leaders: Erica Lull, Elmira; Justin Means, Gracie O’Dell and Maya Prunty, Pleasants Valley; Samantha Forbes, Suisun Valley; and Maya Miller, Westwind.

Third-year junior leaders: Jared Tanaka, Maine Prairie; Amanda Kant, Sherwood Forest; and Olivia Frenkel, Suisun Valley.

First-year teen leaders: Krystina Corona, Dixon Ridge; Adele Phillips, Elmira; Chase Tanaka, Maine Prairie; Josie Hamilton, Rio Vista; Jessica Burkett, Sherwood Forest; Carson Merodio, Suisun Valley; Mackenzie Davi, Ben Liu, Julette Pierce, Halie Pringle, Vaca Valley; Elizabeth Elder and Cheyenne Miller, Westwind.

Second-year teen leaders: Kaitlyn O’Dell, Pleasants Valley; Carlin Cline and Kiley Witt, Rio Vista; Kaitlyn O’Dell, Pleasants Valley; Anthony Vogliano and Thomas Weisz, Suisun Valley; Megan Mraz, Tremont.

Third-year teen leaders: Audrey Hennigan, Roving Clovers; Josephine Linan, Tremont; Tiffany Lum, Suisun Valley; and Charlyn Agbayani, Vaca Valley

Several dozen 4-H’ers, both youthsand adults were honored for completing their Thrive work, or 4-H projects and programs focused around the core of citizenship, healthy living, and science, engineering and technology.

First-year Thrive participants:

Gabby Corona, Dixon Ridge; Katerina Bouzos, Ellen Lull, Adele Phillips and Emily Turner, Elmira; Josie Hamilton, Madison Myer and Evelyn Young, Rio Vista; Jessica Burkett, Sherwood Forest; Ethan Brown, Melissa Corona, Sophia Corona, Joshua Larricq, Alec Merodio, Carson Merodio, Anthony Vogliano and Robert Wright, Suisun Valley; Ryan Anenon, Audrey Ritchey, Roselle Ritchey and Maggie Swanson, Tremont; Athena Galope, Royce Guio and Maya Miller, Westwind.

Second-year Thrive participants:

Krystina Corona, Dixon Ridge; Erica Lull, Elmira; Carlin Cline, Noelle Gomes, Kiley Witt and Emma Wright, Rio Vista; Josephine Linan, Annabella Rodrigues, Sherwood Forest; Traci Estes and Thomas Weisz, Suisun Valley; Isabelle Speer, Tremont; Ryan Liu and Tom Zheng, Westwind

Third-year Thrive participants:

Sandy Means, Dixon Ridge; Gloria Gonzalez, Natalie Greene, Amanda Kant, Kara Payne and Lily Schandelmier, Sherwood Forest; Caitlin and Samantha Forbes, Olivia Frenkel, Heidi Hall, Jacob Hall, Tiffany Lum and Rachel Weisz, Suisun Valley; Megan Mraz, Tremont; and Sue Bohannan, Alice Elder, Elizabeth Elder, Daniel Liu, Cheyenne Miller, Westwind.

Youths who helped with the award presentations were Solano County 4-H Ambassador Jacob Hall of the Suisun Valley 4-H Club; Makenna Caulfield, Dixon area representative to the Solano County 4-H Leaders’ Council and Emerald Star recipient; Samantha Forbes, Fairfield-Suisun area representative to the Solano County 4-H Leaders’ Council and Emerald Star recipient; Jessica Burkett, Vallejo area representative to the Solano County 4-H Leaders’ Council; Kaitlyn O’Dell, Vacaville area representative to the Solano County 4-H Leaders’ Council. Toni Tucker of Rio Vista serves as president of the Leaders’ Council.

Adult Awards

Heidi Hall of the Suisun Valley 4-H Club is the recipient of the 2015 Solano County 4-H Leader of the Year award. Highly regarded for her teaching skills, she exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding leader--someone who draws out the best in 4-H members through her patience, and project preparedness, the judges said. Hall, a project leader for 15 years, serves as a community club leader and record book committee chairman.

Ellen Lull of the Elmira 4-H Club, Vacaville, is the recipient of the 2015 Solano County 4-H Alumni Award, which honors a former 4-H member who returns to the program to serve in adulthood. A former member of the Tassahara 4-H Club in Alameda County and active in the dairy goat project, Lull currently serves as a project leader and community club leader. She was praised for her positive, can-do attitude and serves as an inspiration.

Numerous adult leaders received tenure awards. They were praised for “giving so selflessly of their time.” Leader awards went to:

Twenty-five-leaders: Valerie Williams of Vacaville, countywide; and Vicky Petersen, Westwind 4-H Club, Fairfield-Suisun.

Fifteen-year leader: Sheila Bakke, countywide

Ten-year leaders: Edward Coffelt, Maine Prairie 4-H Club, Dixon; Toni Jones, Nathan Patterson and Linda Talken-Burke, Roving Clovers 4-H Club, Dixon; William “Dale” Payne, Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo; Amy Weisz, Suisun Valley 4-H Club; Helen Ritchey, Tremont 4-H Club, Dixon, and Gary Glass and Victoria Pringle, Vaca Valley 4-H Club.

Five-year leaders: Jennifer Aguilera, Dixon Ridge 4-H Club, Daniel Havlin and Julie Tanaka, Maine Prairie 4-H Club, Dixon; Suzanne Cline, Joanna Myer and Marilyn Riley, Rio Vista 4-H Club; Karl Ferreira, Roving Clovers 4-H Club, Dixon; Jim Folsom and Janeen Hermon; Tremont 4-H Club, Dixon; Joannalyn Agbayani and John Pringle, Vaca Valley 4-H Club; and Arthur Crawford Jr. Alana Gibson and Ginger Gibson, Westwind 4-H Club, Fairfield-Suisun.

The 4-H Youth Development Program is a non-profit youth educational program administered through the UC Cooperative Extension. In 4-H, youths from ages 5 to 19 learn skills through hands-on learning and have fun doing it. The international organization draws youth from all ethnic, racial, and socio-economic backgrounds who live in rural, suburban, and urban communities. The four H’s in 4-H stand for head, heart, hands, and health.

Age appropriate projects within each club are the heart of 4-H’s hands-on learning. Each project focuses on a topic, anything from A (art) to Z (zoology). Among the many projects: animal sciences, bicycling, camping, computers, drama, entomology, leadership, music, photography, quilting, rocketry, textile arts, and woodworking.

For information on the Solano County 4-H Program, access http://cesolano.ucanr.edu or contact Valerie Williams atvawilliams@ucanr.edu or (707) 784-1319.