Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty was crowned during the annual 4-H Royalty, Fashion Revue and Awards night Thursday at Lakeview Middle School.
Morgan Himes, daughter of Matt and Rachelle Himes, was named the 2024 Kosciusko County 4-H queen.
She is a 2024 graduate of Warsaw Community High School. This is her ninth year in 4-H and is a part of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers 4-H Club and Junior Leaders. Her 4-H projects include swine, beef, Junior Leaders, Poss-ABILITIES, photography, homemade ice cream, arts and crafts general, communications and cake decorating. Her future plans include are to attend Purdue University and study nursing and psychology.
Riley Shepherd, son of Joel and Karla Shepherd, was named the Kosciusko County 4-H King.
He is a 2024 graduate of Tippecanoe Valley High School. This is his 10th year in 4-H and is a part of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers 4-H Club. His 4-H projects include beef, swine, foods, dairy foods and fire education. His future plans are to attend Huntington University and study agribusiness, as well as play basketball.
Jasmine Fuller, daughter of Chad and Tara Fuller, was named the 2024 Kosciusko County 4-H princess.
She is going to be a junior at Tippecanoe Valley High School. This is her eighth year in 4-H and is a part of the Mentone United 4-H Club. Her 4-H projects include goats, DCFS and consumer clothing. Her future plans include getting her Masters in Accounting and to get her CPA.
Carter Grady, son of Matt and Wendy Grady, was named the Kosciusko County 4-H prince.
He is going to be a junior at Wawasee High School. This is his eighth year in 4-H and is a part of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers 4-H Club and Junior Leaders. His 4-H projects include aerospace, beef, DCFS, electric, goats, Junior Leaders, LEGOs, shooting sports, swine and tractor. His future plans include attending college to major in an ag course of study.
Also, during Thursday’s event, several awards and scholarships were given out.
The Kosciusko County 4-H Council Scholarship program is to award 4-H members for outstanding achievement, service, leadership and citizenship in the 4-H program. The scholarship is awarded to members to help them further study at an accredited college, university, trade or technical school, said Rozlyn Bishop, 4-H program assistant for Kosciusko County.
The winners were Libby Haab, Morgan Himes, Caleb Lechlitner, Cooper LeCount and Riley Shepherd.
The Anglin-Bishop Award and Scholarship was created in memory of two junior leaders, Mike Bishop and Jeremiah Anglin, who died during their 4-H careers. It is meant to recognize a junior leader who exemplifies what it is meant to be a junior leader, 4-H member and for outstanding achievement, service, leadership and citizenship in the junior leader program, Rozlyn Bishop said.
The award winners were Libby Haab and Morgan Himes.
The Farm Bureau gives special recognition every year to Tenure Award winners. These are the top two members overall for achievement points, number of projects completed, club participation, community service, leadership activities and excellent commitment through their 4-H career.
The award winners were Lechlitner and Charlie Krull.
Other award/scholarship winners included Cheryl Van Laeken, wining the 2024 Friend of 4-H individual Award; Janelle Deatsman, 2024 Friend of 4-H Individual; Deatsman Grain Farm, 2024 Friend of 4-H Business; Cooper LeCount, the Indiana 4-H Foundation Endowment Scholarship, sponsored by the Dennis Polk Family; Hannah Burkholder and Morgan Himes, the Indiana 4-H Foundation Endowment Scholarship, sponsored by the Creighton Brothers; and Caleb Lechlitner, the Indiana 4-H Foundation Endowment Scholarship, sponsored by the Purdue University College of Agriculture.
Before the 4-H Royalty was crowned, the 4-H seniors were recognized.
The final year members are seniors who joined the 4-H program later than some, “but we recognize their experience as just as valuable and appreciate that they jumped into the program with both feet - no matter when they joined!” Rozlyn Bishop said.
The seniors recognized were Leah Henderson, Morgan Himes, Caden Holloway, Raill Miller, Luke Ransbottom, Allie Ridenour, Joe Sponseller, Dom Ward and Cale Wise.
The 10-year 4-H members were also recognized. Those members were Chase Bays, Dean Boggs, Devin Boggs, Jennifer Brace, Hadley Burbrink, Hannah Burkholder, Austin Craig, Emma Engelhaupt, Kendall Gibson, Libby Haab, Samantha Hartman, Annalisa Hertzler, Kylie Keirn, Abbi Kohler, Charlie Krull, Caleb Lechlitner, Cooper LeCount, Sarah-Ann Marshall, Abbylene McCoy, Macy Peterson, Austin Polk, Lucy Redman, Porter Rich, Ariel Ross, Zackary Schultz, Riley Shepherd, Harrison Stofer and Andon Zehring.
The Most Influential Volunteer recipients were also recognized. Those recipients were Macy Peterson, Zackary Schultz, Jennifer Brace, Cooper LeCount, Annalisa Hertzler, Libby Haab, Emma Engelhaupt, Caleb Lechlitner and Riley Shepherd.