Jenna Gilbert, Southern Plains Extension Educator, served as the mistress of ceremonies Sunday for the 4-H Awards Night.

Nathan Elledge and Chase Ostdiek, 4-H Ambassadors, led with Pledge of Allegiance and 4-H pledge.

Nuckolls County 4-H clubs and independent groups were recognized: Alban, Dry Creek, Farm Friends, Lucky Buckaroos, Oxbow, Rough Riders, Shooting Sports and 4-H Friends.

This year's Nuckolls County Ag Society officers are Dustin Cassell, president; Garrett Schroer, vice president; Caroline Himmelberg, secretary; Nicole Thayer, treasurer. Members are Cole Epley, Owen Grube, Shane Kohmetscher, Nick Kucera, Taylor Lynch, Amy Schroer, Kylie Kinley, Dakota Thayer, Kaci Schroer and Weston Winkers.

Cassell recognized Tammy Bargen, retiring Ag Society member, for her six years of service.

The 2023 4-H council members are Seth Going, president; Sam Rempe, vice president; Alishia Ostdiek, secretary; and Alesia Bauer, treasurer, Laura Elledge, Kevin Bogus, Leslie Behrends, Amanda Kohmetscher and Megan Murphy.

Long Term 4-H Members Honored at 4-H Night Activities

Three graduating seniors who have been in 4-H six years or longer were presented certificates and portfolios:

• Ella Gardner plans to attend North Dakota State University and participate on the track team. She is the daughter of BJ and Angie Gardner. Ella's favorite projects over the years were showing horses and cattle.

• Wyatt Hajny plans to attend EWC is Torrington, Wyo., where is plans to participate on the rodeo team. His parents are Jarrod and Lacey Hajny. Wyatt's favorite part about 4-H was the horse show and horse practice under the direction of Celia Fanning, leader, and helping with the younger riders.

• Sadie Rempel plans to attend Pratt Community College where she plans participate on the rodeo team. Her parents are Brent and Lea Rempel. Sadie's favorite part about 4-H was the horse show as well as exhibiting her leather work.

Sadie Rempel was the Senior Award recipient this year.

4- H high Point Horse Buckle Winners Announced

This year's recipient of the Junior High Point Buckle was Macoy Schoneberg. The award is

given in memory of Drew Cassell and was presented by the Cassell family.

Natalia Wehrman won the Intermediate High Point Buckle

which is sponsored and presented by the James Watts Memorial. She also won the Overall Trail Buckle. The buckle is for the high overall trail of all divisions. The award is sponsored by Danny Jacobitz Memorial.

Sadie Rempel won the senior High Point Buckle sponsored by Double O Lawn Care.

The Beef Champion Rate

The Rate of Gain Buckle is sponsored by the Frank Jones Memorial. The family of Frank Jones presented the award to Chase Ostdiek with an average daily gain of 5.16.

Brownfield Buckle Recipients

The Brownfield Buckle is

awarded to the top two individuals exhibiting the most ag related exhibits during the Nuckolls County Fair. Recipients were Chasity Ostdiek and Collins Porter.

Overall Large Animal Showman

An overall showmanship buckle was awarded in horse, beef, sheep, goat and hog between the champion junior, intermediate, and senior showman. This year's winners were Sequoia Wulf, horse; Collins Porter, beef; Chase Ostdiek, sheep; Maya Fanning, goat; and Addie Kohmetscher, hog.

Supreme Market Animals

The Supreme Market Animal Awards are given to each large animal species at the Nuckolls County Fair. For this award, the score is calculated on a combination of the exhibitor's live placing, the animal's ultrasound placing, and rate of gain.

Each recipient received a jacket.

Recipients were

• Lauren Kohmetscher - swine • Chase Ostdiek - lamb

• Whitlee Porter - beef

• Maya Fanning - goat

Stricklin Named

Outstanding Volunteer

Kasandra Stricklin was named the 2023 Nuckolls County 4-H outstanding volunteer during 4-H night activities at the Nuckolls County Fair. She has been serving as horse superintendent at the fair since 2014.

Ideal Market

Named Friend of 4-H

This year the Nuckolls County 4-H Council decided to recognize a business which has been crucial in providing for the county fair and events over the years. The business created the many monetary awards in the static building and for champion and reserve champion animals, as well as provided the smoked pork chops people enjoyed during the 4-H council BBQ. Ideal Market was the 2023 Friend of 4-H Award recipient.

(See Ideal Market awards given to 4-H champions in advertisement in this newspaper.)

Brockman

Named 4-H Ambassador

Cody Brockman will served as the Nuckolls County 4-H Ambassador this coming year.

Youth have the opportunity to apply for the position. The duties of ambassador include representing the 4-H membership on the Nuckolls County 4-H Council and helping throughout the fair.

Sadie Rempel was named the champion senior in pole bending, trail, barrels, reining, pleasure and western horsemanship. Each division earned her points toward winning the senior horsemanship buckle at the Nuckolls County Fair.

Ambassadors are selected based upon their application, a resume of projects and community service and two letters of recommendation.