Farmers' group presents awards

By CYNTHIA AUKERMAN

News-Gazette reporter

The Farmers Achievement Committee held its annual banquet recently at Union High School and presented an array of awards to local people involved in agriculture.

The Outstanding First Year-4-H Member Award, given in memory of Mary Snyder, went to Kayle Hill. She is the daughter of Brian and Constance Hill, of Union City. She is a member of the Union City Lucky Charms 4-H Club, and she exhibited projects in arts and crafts, child development, fashion revue, foods, gift wrapping, health, microwave cooking, personality, recycling and sewing. She received eight blue ribbons, nine blue awards, five champions, two reserve champions, two reserve grand champions and four State Fair entries.

The 4-H Livestock Awards went to Clayton Reinhart, Shelby Doughty and Alli Woodbury.

Reinhart, the son of Rick and Julie Fisher, is a 10-year member of the White River Blue Ribbon 4-H club. He has exhibited beef for eight years, swine for 10 years and sheep for one year. His awards include: Senior Swine Showmanship Champion; one grand champion; four first-place awards; and two second-place awards.

Doughty, the daughter of Bill and Susan Doughty, is a 10-year member of the Monroe Central 4-H Traditions. She has exhibited beef for 10 years and swine for five years. Her awards include: Reserve Champion Senor Beef Showmanship, one champion; six first-place awards; and two second-place awards.

Woodbury was named the Outstanding 4-H Livestock Exhibitor. The daughter of Dean and Kelly Woodbury, she completed her tenth year of 4-H in 2007. She was a member of the Randolph Riders and White River Blue Ribbon 4-H clubs. She participated in beef for eight years, sheep for two years and swine for one year. Her awards include: one reserve grand champion; two champions; eight first-place awards; one second-place award; Senior Beef Showmanship; and Round Robin Showmanship Champion. She received a plaque, a 4-H portfolio with calculator and pen, and her name will be inscribed on the trophy kept in Husted Hall.

The committee awarded four $250 scholarships to youth who are furthering their education in an agricultural-related field. The scholarships went to:

€ Sarah Armstrong is the daughter of Mark and Sheila Armstrong of Union City. A four-year member of FFA, she plans to attend Purdue University to obtain a degree in veterinary medicine. She hopes to have a small animal clinic and to also work with exotic animal research and rescue.

* Derek Calhoun is the son of Don and Dana Calhoun of Parker City. He is a 10-year 4-H member and four-year FFA member. He plans to attend Purdue University to study entomology, and he hopes to use his degree to create insect-like robots to do tasks and explore areas that humans can't.

€ Christopher Chalfant is the son of Doug and Diane Chalfant of Parker City. He participated in 4-H for two years and FFA for 2 1/2 years. He plans to attend Purdue University and then return to the family farm operation.

€ Joshua Price is the son of David and Jackie Price of Union City. He is a four-year FFA member and three-year 4-H member. He plans to attend Purdue University and is considering studying agronomy. He is not sure of his career plans but may use his degree to work for a seed company.

The 4-H Dairy Awards went to Cindy Mote and Landon Whitehead, who was named the Outstanding 4-H Dairy Honoree The son of Bruce Whitehead and Pam Whitehead, Landon completed his eighth year of 4-H in 2007. A member of the Monroe Central Showmen 4-H Club, he has exhibited dairy for eight years. His awards include: two grand champions; one reserve grand champion; two champions; two reserve champions; 11 first-place awards.

The daughter of Mark and Sue Mote, Cindy has completed seven years of 4-H and seven years in the Dairy Project. She is a member of the Union City Buckskins 4-H Club. Her awards include: one reserve grand champion; two champions; one reserve champion; herdsmanship; 13 first-place and eight second-place awards.

The Swine Producer Award, sponsored by the Clyde Shaffer family, went to Ted Hendrickson. A 1976 graduate of Purdue University, he worked for Wise and Wise Swine Farms in Delphi from 1978 to 1989. In 1988 he was chosen as swine manager of the year for the State of Indiana. In 1989 he moved back to Randolph County and was herdsman for Stoney Creek Farms until 1998 when he bought it from his brother, Dale. He sold breeding stock until his son, Daniel, bought him out in 2004. That year he started working as head serviceman for Maxwell Farms of Indiana.

A long-time member of the Randolph County Pork Producers Association, Hendrickson is the "master chef" behind the famous pork producer barbecue pork chops.

Some of the champions Hendrickson has raised include: grand champion barrows in Randolph County in 1996, 2001 and 2002; reserve grand champion barrow in Randolph County in 2003; champion Hampshire gilt Fall Classic Oklahoma in 2004; reserve Yorkshire boar Fall Classic Oklahoma in 2004; reserve Hampshire boar World Pork Expo 1998.

The Randolph County Beef Cattleman's Association presented its Beef Producer Award to Gordon Jackson. He has been involved in the beef industry since he was a 10-year 4-H member showing Red Poll cattle. He has shown Red Poll cattle with his family at the State Fair for 59 years. He has been secretary for the Indiana Red Poll Association and assists with the state fair show. He has five grandchildren who are continuing the family tradition. He is the adult leader assisting the Junior Leaders to organize the 4-H Beef Show at the Randolph County 4-H Fair.

Awards of Honor went to Noel (Bud) Carpenter and Mike Greene.

Carpenter was raised on a farm in "downtown Harrisville." A graduate of Union City High School and Purdue University, he became a driving force in organizing a tractor and engine show at the 4-H Fair and Union City's summer celebration. He played a major role in the founding of the Randolph County Antique Club. He is a member of the Union City Barbershop Chorus, the Lions Club and other civic organizations. His nomination cited Carpenter for his love of people and for helping others less fortunate.

Greene's nomination called him a dedicated and trustworthy volunteer who is always ready to lend a helping hand. He is a Sunday school teacher, treasurer, and song leader. He helps out with events at the 4-H Fair, especially if music is involved. He has helped with the Community Choir at the Extension Homemakers Time for Trees community service project. A member of the State Choral Teachers Association, he has been involved in entertaining for the Community Christmas Walk.

The speaker for the Farmers Achievement Banquet was Jill Riley, state FFA reporter. She spoke about the importance of a positive attitude.