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This year the 4-H members held their Annual 4-H Banquet at the Church of Christ in San Saba. This year’s banquet was decorated in a John Deere theme and was catered by Roadrunner Catering. Every year 4-H members come together one night to celebrate and recognize the achievements of the 4-H’ers hard work and determination. Many 4-H’ers were recognized and awarded this year.

Each year 4-H members learn to improve their record keeping skills by participating in the 4-H Recordbook Program. A Recordbook is a scrapbook of your 4-H activites, projects, and events that include a story, photo portfolio, and achievement record. It is very helpful in filling out scholarship applications while reflecting back on everything you have accomplished. Participants this year were Drew Daniel; Goat, Abby Dellis; Horse, Sara Hedley; Shooting Sports, Elizabeth Bryant; Horse, Maggie Alexander; Clothing, and Melanie Hedley; Shooting Sports.

Eleven 4-H’ers participated in the San Saba County 4-H Clothing Fun Day and ten at the 4-H Sewing Camp. These 4-H’ers gained knowledge about natural fibers; learned skills in buying clothes and accessories; clothing construction; doing laundry; and wardrobe planning. San Saba County had eight participants in the District 7 Fashion Show held in San Angelo. Those who entered the apparel division included Maggie Alexander, Riana Bass, Elizabeth Bryant, and Marissa Coffman. Participating in the Non Apparel Division were Marissa Coffman, Mykah McKinnerney, Abby Dellis, and Clover Kids Jacey Gossett and Jordan Gossett.

The 4-H’ers who participated in Food Fun Day this year learned many important things about nutrition, cooking, and meal planning. Activities included an experiment to find the sugar content in soda; making a food pyramid, and including all categories of food in your daily diet; and the importance of breakfast. These 4-H members got to show off their cooking talents and nutrition knowledge at the County Food Show. Participates included Elizabeth Bryant, Shelby Ledbetter, Emily Esquivel, Emilee Rogers, Melanie Hedley, Brett Shaw, Riana Bass, Jordan Gossett, Joely Haverland, Colton Shaw, Maggie Alexander, Marissa Coffman, and Clover Kids Jacey Gossett and Aleisha Skipping. Six of these 4-H’ers advanced to the District Food Show in Abilene including who advanced were Shelby Ledbetter, Jordan Gossett, Melanie Hedley, Riana Bass, and Joely Haverland.

The District Photography Contest had five participants from San Saba County this year. The five who entered were Drew Daniel, Jordan Gossett, Ron Gerhart, Bralei Lusty, and Melanie Hedley.

The San Saba County Shooting Sports Team was a new addition to the San Saba County 4-H program last year. This second year has been a very successful one for them and we are pleased with all they have accomplished. We were pleased to see our shooters participate in the 4-H Shooting Sports Extravaganza in Brownwood. Those who attended were Melanie and Sara Hedley and Ron Gerhart.

Drew Daniel and Haley Osbourn are two 4-H’ers that participated in the District Livestock Judging held in San Angelo this past spring. The 4-H’ers learned skills in livestock judging and teamwork. Thanks go to Jeffery Osbourn for assisting the team.

San Saba 4-H would like to say a special ‘Thank You’ to all the people who made this year’s Horse Play Days such a success. Commissioners Otis Judkins and Ricky Lusty, Mark & Cathy Amthor, Lynn Hamrick, and Brad Williams were a big help with the facilities and equipment. Parents and friends who worked so hard to produce Play Days are: Cissy Williams, Vicki Key, LewAnn Turner, Tom Epperson, Wade Allen, Dr. Charles Key, Troy Gilger, Tracy Womack, Arnold Castro, Amanda Gray, Terry & Amy Kitchens, Craig Pierce, Jeffery Osbourn, and Brad Williams. Another thanks goes out to all the family and friends who were faithful spectators. Thank you all very much!

There were 26 Horse Project 4-H members who qualified for Awards in 2008. The 26 members are: Mikayla Castro, Sara Little, Hallie Jo Hohertz, Kynedi Isham, Daylon Smith, Hannah Osbourn, Rydery York, Hagen Hohertz, Briana Parrisher, Elizabeth Bryant, Megan Schuman, Shaylee Jamison, Sammi White, Kayla Fry, Whitney Key, Jaci Lewis, McKenna Maxcey, Amanda Gray, Whit Kitchens, J.W. Allen, Drew Daniel, Morgan Gilger, Tate Carlisle, Ross Williams, Riley Epperson, and Dillon Epperson. Congratulations on all of your hard work!

We are proud to announce that we had two 4-H’ers participate in state events this past year. Abby Dellis competed and placed in Sweetwater at the District 7 4-H Horse Show placing first in the three year old category, seventh out of thirty in Western Pleasure, third in Halter, and ninth out of twenty in Horsemanship advancing her to the State 4-H Horse Show in Abilene. In Abilene Abby placed fourth in the three year old stock horse division then the next day placed ninth in the same category. Statewide Abby placed fifth in the three year old stock horse division. She represented San Saba County 4-H beautifully and received a special award for advancing all the way to state competition! Congratulations Abby! Another 4-Her who made it all the way to state competition was Ron Gerhart in the photography contest. He received a red ribbon for his photograph. Congratulations Abby and Ron for making it all the way to state!!!!

In an effort to encourage more youth to participate in 4-H activities a new policy was established in 2006. The following criteria had been set for these Achievement Award Hoodies: If a 4-H’er is an active member for 2 years by: (1) Participating in at least one project per year (2) Attending at least one district event per year and (3) Attending 50% of the club meetings per year. Those who meet these criteria were awarded a 4-H hoodie with their name and San Saba County 4-H on it. This year’s recipients are: Sara and Melanie Hedley, Maggie Alexander, Abby Dellis, Riana Bass, Shelby Ledbetter, Marissa Coffman, and Eliazabeth Bryant. In effort to encourage 4-H’ers to continue their hard work participating in activities, club meetings, and district events 4-H awards Achievement Award T-Shirts to 4-H’ers. This year Maggie Alexander, Marissa Coffman, Emilee Rogers, Jordan Gossett, Sara Hedley, Haley Osbourn, Riana Bass, Drew Daniel, Emily Esquivel, Joely Haverland, Shelby Ledbetter, Brett Shaw, Elizabeth Bryant, Abby Dellis, Ron Gerhart, Melanie Hedley, Colton Shaw, and Bralei Lusty were awarded the Achievement Award T-Shirts.

4-H Member Awards are given each year to 4-H’ers who complete a certain set of requirements along with completing a Recordbook and going through the award interview. Green Clover plaques are given to 4-H’ers who have completed three or more projects in the past year. Those who received this award were Abby Dellis, Elizabeth Bryant, Drew Daniel, Maggie Alexander, and Melanie and Sara Hedley. The Silver Star Award is given to a 4-H’er between the ages 9 and 15 who were active in leadership positions and community service. This year’s recipient was Sara Hedley. The Danforth Award “I DARE YOU” focuses on a 4-H’ers leadership, and this year Maggie Alexander was recognized for her leadership skills.

The Friend’s of 4-H Award is given to individuals or businesses to recognize them for their support of the San Saba County 4-H. This year’s Friend of 4-H Awards go to Judge Byron Theodosis, Atty. David Williams, and Mike Edgmon for being instrumental in allowing the 4-H Archery Program to use the Airport Hanger for practices. Other businesses who gave a donations to help with the cost of the banquet expenses include: San Saba Pecan, Arrowhead Bank, City National Bank, Baxter Sand & Gravel, Childress & Shook Law Offices, Wal-Mart Supercenter in Lampasas, Gene Stewart Real Estate, G&R Grocery, Pecan Valley Hardware, Frank’s Watch & Trophy Shop.

For many years San Saba county 4-H has recognized leaders that go above and beyond the ‘Call of Duty.’ Leaders that were recognized were picked for their unselfish service were Valerie Gossett, Sherrie Smith, Shana Paddie, Mark Hedley and Mike Edgmon.

The Annual 4-H Awards Banquet was a great success and thanks go out to Charlotte Spence, Shana Paddie, and Margie Benner for help with decorations. Another thanks goes out to all those who came and supported our 4-H’ers. The support you have shown to our program is seen in the successes of the youth involved in the San Saba County 4-H program.