County honors departing 4-H members

Wayne County 4-H is saying goodbye this summer to more than three dozen 10-year or last-year members heading to work or advanced education for careers including agriculture, health, welding and cosmetology.

Memorable moments for the students included late nights working on projects and seeing their progress, winning ribbons, qualifying for Indiana State Fair, serving as royalty, helping younger members, and spending time with family and friends.

Gavin Melton recalled being “dragged down the aisleways by a pig.”

Austin Retter remembered a young boy looking at Retter’s replica of his family’s farm.

“I gave him tips about farm scenes because he was interested in 4-H, and he reminded me of myself at that age,” Retter said.

Honorees are listed below by their high schools, along with their 4-H projects and future plans, as supplied by 4-H; full responses were not available for all students.

Centerville

Andrew “AJ” Brock: Photography and construction toys projects. Studying business at Ball State University

Jocelyn Caves: Scrapbooking. Studying nursing at Indiana University Bloomington

Josephine Daniel: Cake decorating, horse/pony, fine arts, foods and miscellaneous crafts. Studying agricultural education at Purdue University

Serenity Hunt: Horse/pony and meat goat. Planning to earn certified nursing aide license and work in agriculture

Sydney Martinez: Horse and pony project

Rowan Mathews: Leather, sewing, needlecraft and photography. Studying early elementary education at Indiana University East

Kyleigh Rogers: Poultry project

Pacifica Smith: Horse/pony, ceramics, scrapbooking and sand art. Planning to work as a certified clinical medical assistant and study radiology.

Kendall Spears: Swine and photography projects and swine barn ambassador. Studying animal sciences at University of Findlay

Hagerstown

Dawson Bell: Swine and woodworking. Planning to join pipefitters’ union and work at Bader Mechanical

Leyton Berger: Beef and swine. Studying agricultural education at Wilmington College

Kendrick Herr: Sheep and swine. Attending Purdue University

Caleb Lester: Foods, gift wrapping, photography, animal posters and construction toys. Working at TF & T machine shop in Lynn.

Abigail Lumpkin: Swine, rabbit, photography and health. Studying nursing at Indiana University East

Taylor Lumpkin: Sheep, swine and photography. Planning to work at a salon specializing in hair and nails

Taylor Patterson: Arts and crafts, fine arts, and photography

Isaac Schmitz: Dairy goat. Studying actuarial science

Wyatt Mitchell: Rabbit, swine, beef and leather. Studying information technology at Purdue Fort Wayne with cybersecurity focus

Caden Wampler: Beef, sheep and swine. Studying agricultural systems technology at Iowa State University

Northeastern

Keirstyn Bulmer: Beef cattle and sand art. Studying dental hygiene at Ivy Tech Richmond

Rylan Frazier: Dog project

Rylee Gentry: Swine. Studying elementary education at IU East

Annie Hickel: Arts/crafts, dog, horse/pony, tractor operator skills, pets, photography and shooting sports

Greyson Longnecker: Electric, tractor, rabbit, archery and leather. Studying engineering at Purdue Polytechnic Anderson

Gavin Melton: Beef, swine and recycling. Planning to work as a pipeline welder

Johnieanne McDonnell: Swine, sheep, beef and meat goat projects. Studying agricultural communications at Lakeland University

Cody Wright: Dairy, dairy beef and recycling. Planning to pursue a welding career

Richmond

Grace Bunch: Basketry, wearable arts and ceramics. Studying nursing at Ivy Tech

Tessa Fansher: Electric, fine arts, ceramics, photography, basketry and foods. Studying nutrition at Miami University

Bryson Faulkenburg: Goats, sand art, photography, painting and collections. Planning to enter the workforce

Austin Retter: Farm scene project. Studying construction management at Ball State University

Indiana Digital Learning School

Grant Corder: Forestry, poultry, home environment, geology, beekeeping and aerospace. Planning to complete electrician apprenticeship

Homeschool

Luke Fagan: Arts and crafts, tractor operator skills

Alanna Ginn: Meat goat, arts and crafts, and photography. Studying pediatric nursing at IU East

Alexys Taylor: Horse/pony

Cabel Vandeplas: Goats, poultry and photography. Planning to go into carpenters’ union.

New Castle

Sophie Sutton: Horse/pony 

4-H members competing in Indiana State Fair

Dozens of Wayne County 4-H members have qualified for Indiana State Fair competition.

Wayne County 4-H provided a list of building project exhibitors. The names of livestock competitors were not available at press time.

Aerospace: Conner Munchel, Blake Munchel

Animal education: Emma Bledsoe-Ryan, Ella Summitt

Arts and crats: Vivian Bane, Riggin Klotz, Taylor Wright, Savannah Munchel, Pacifica Smith

Baked foods: Lydia Milholland, Ava Hardie-Burk, Alice Kostiuk, Ava Smock, Rylee Geerts, Lily Snyder, Ella Black, Ryleigh Oliger, Magdalen Williamson

Beekeeping: Elias Hollinger, Charley Drescher

Cake decorating: Brooklyn Toschlog

Child development: Alexandria Tice, Whitney Burkhart

Computer: Costin Koby

Construction toys: Silas Williamson

Consumer clothing: Lucille Byrum

Electric: Charlotte Wood

Entomology: Taylor Tice

Fine arts: Ella Black, Tessa Fansher

Floriculture: Audrey Byrum, Ava Hardie-Burk, Coraland Koby, Andie Rushing

Geology: Jada Coffin, Jaxson Coffin

Home environment: Liliana Hiltner

Model craft: Jensen Hazelbaker, Luke Wright

Needle craft: Emery Wade

Photography: Costin Koby, Arlow Angarita, Kian Derenski, Ella Summitt, Rayna Gehlhausen, Rhiannon Lambert, Mallory Summitt

Preserved foods: Michael Hunter

Rabbit Ambassador: Mabel Kitchel, Piper Davis, Madison Swoveland

Sewing (non-wearable): Gemma Schober, Piper Davis, Tessa Webb, Mackenzie Bane, Anna Webb

Sewing (wearable): Ava Hardie-Burk, Maebry Bell, Rylee Geerts, Aubrey Bihl

Shooting sports: Lucille Byrum, Miles Buckland, Whitney Burkhart

Sport fishing: Ryan Lafuze, Kynlee Power

Veterinary science: Charley Drescher, Mallory Summitt

Weather and climate: Kian Derenski

Wildlife: Arlow Angarita, Emersyn VanDuyne

Woodworking: Amelia Andrews, Gracie Andrews, Lucas Stout, Dawson Bell