4-H ENDOWMENT SCHOLARSHIPS … As a part of the 4-H Spring Banquet held on March 5, 2022, these young people were awarded scholarships by the Williams County 4-H Endowment Committee. Back row, left to right are Grace Schroeder, Casey Leppelmeier, Holly Stark, Hohnathan Dorsten, Hannah Missler, Kaylee McCaskey, Abbigail herman and Joe Reamsnyder. Front row, left to right are Ella Calvin, Madison Freeman, Erika Grime, Chloe Wyllie, Aubrie Calvin and April Schaffter. (PHOTOS BY REBECCA MILLER, STAFF)
By: Rebecca Miller
With a great turnout of over 300 people made up of 4-H members and their families, former royalty and supporters of this very active program in Williams County, the Annual 4-H Banquet was a huge success.
From the scrumptious roast beef and chicken feast, served by Grant Catering out of Antwerp, Ohio, to the friendly battles over the Silent Auction items and the even friendlier Live Auction battles, the evening was full of laughter and fun.
For many it had the flavor of a family reunion, as they got to see people they don’t see very often. The 1964 Queen, Pat Yoh Weber, had come from down near Columbus for this special event and was well recognized in her place as the “most mature” royalty present.
Smiling faces were the top of the list for what could be witnessed when Williams County 4-Hers get together.
Jeff Dick, who recently moved back into the position of Williams County OSU Extension Educator, was the Emcee and enjoyed being back with his people.
Other than for a short time while the Silent Auction and the meal were being enjoyed, the stage, which was set up on the north side of the Gillette Building where they met, was kept busy.
An hilarious King and Queen skit was put on with boys dressed as girls and girls dressed as boys, running for the honor of being chosen King and Queen of the Fair.
All of the Kings and Queens present were brought up front to answer a question and get recognized by those at the banquet.
Some questions asked by Endowment Committee member Donna Missler were funny and brought laughter, but for a few their serious answers brought applause.
To recognize all these people who have been 4-H royalty from 1964 to the present was not only sweet, but shows the history of the importance of 4-H in Williams County, Ohio.
4-H ROYALTY … The records list Kings and Queens since 1962 (with a gap between ’68 and ’85) so there are close to forty of each of them in the history of Williams County Fair. Out of those eighty or so who have held the titles, twenty-eight were present for the 2021 4-H Banquet held on March 5, 2021. Not listed in the order they stood, but by the year they represent, these smiling folks were happy to be there: 1964 Pat Yoh Weber, 1986 Melissa Woolace Rupp, 1987 Jeff Dick, 1989 Brian Wieland and Tammy Beucler Harr, 1990 Shawn Sachs and Carolyn Sharrock Dorsten, 1991 Dana Missler and Shannon Sachs Carter, 1993 Matt Kunsman, 1994 Jamie Egler and Karie Missler, 1995 David Saul, 1998 Jessica Hullinger Runkel, 2001 Ashley Missler Youngpeter, 2003 Steven Hobeck, 2005 Stacey Perry, 2006 Jenalee Hullinger Frank, 2007 Ashley Herman, 2010 Abby Sloan Rethmel, 2011 Amanda Haines Long, 2018 Colton Friedel and Kaitlyn Saul, 2019 Erika Grime, 2020 Johnathan Dorsten and Chloe Wyllie and Reigning 2021 King and Queen Nathan Herman and Makinzy King.
JoAnn Skiles, from the WC 4-H Endowment Committee announced the winners of the Scholarships for the year with the $1000 awards going to Erika Grime, Johnathan Dorsten, Madison Freeman, Chloe Wyllie and Hannah Missler.
The Scholarships from $500 to $700 went to Grace Schroeder, Casey Leppelmeier, Holly Stark, Kaylee McCaskey, Abbigail Herman, Joe Reamsnyder, Ella Calvin, Aubrie Calvin and April Schaffter.
Stacey Perry, former Extension Educator who is now on the Senior Fair Board, shared with the crowd that there is a great need to raise $6000 more for the roof to be repaired on the 4-H building.
Following her explanation of the situation she thanked everyone for coming and “for helping us make the best better!”
The evening was brought to a close with a Live Auction. Bert Brown kept the numbers coming and items from the 4-H Symbol made out of gun shells which went for $85 to the grills that were in the hundreds, everything raised money for 4-H.
Every year there are a few items like the Peeps Cake and the Mystery Box that draw quite a bit of attention and this year was no different, causing much laughter as bidders “fought” over them.
As folks gathered their belongings, told each other goodbye, paid for the items they won, and headed for the door of the old Gillette Building, it was obvious that COVID is over enough to gather and have fun in large groups again.
They are all looking forward to the 2022 Williams County Fair.
Rebecca can be reached @ rebecca@thevillagereporter.com
BOOKENDS…These two lovely ladies held the places of the “most mature” and “the newest” Royalty present to celebrate Williams County 4-H at the Spring Banquet on March 5, 2022. Pat Yoh Weber was 4-H Queen in 1964 and Makinzy King was crowned last Fall as the 2021 Williams County Fair Queen.
HANDMADE AUCTION ITEMS…Many of the items in both the Silent Auction and the Live Auction at the March 5, 2022 4-H Banquet were homemade from cakes and quilts to this unique work of art. Cassidy James who made the 4-H symbol out of gun shells displayed it with Olivia Saul before it sold for $85.
