Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty Crowned

Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty was crowned Thursday during the annual Kosciusko County 4-H Showcase and Recognition Night at the Warsaw Community High School Performing Arts Center.
Lillian Henderson was crowned the 2026 Kosciusko County 4-H Queen, with Hudson Shepherd crowned King. Ella Jarrett was named the 2026 Kosciusko County 4-H Princess, and Beau Goshert the Prince.
Henderson is a 10-year 4-Her. For local clubs, offices she has held are vice president, local club president and secretary. For 4-H Junior Leaders, she has held the roles of vice president and secretary. Her favorite projects are goats, poultry, cake decorating, fine arts and vet science. She is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and 4-H Junior Leaders.
She graduated from WCHS. She plans to attend Huntington University this fall to study agribusiness and animal production and play collegiate golf.
After being crowned, she said it was a great honor. She was looking forward to meeting everyone at the fair and “being a part of the big things is really exciting.”
Shepherd is a 10-year 4-Her. Offices he has held for local clubs are president and health and safety leader. For 4-H Junior Leaders, he has held the position of secretary. His favorite projects are beef, swine, woodworking, consumer poultry, foods, foods preservation, shooting sports and rabbits. He is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers.
He graduated from Tippecanoe Valley High School. He plans to attend Purdue University this fall, majoring in agribusiness.
He said it felt pretty good to be named king. He served as the 2025 Kosciusko County 4-H Prince. He looks forward to the showings.
Jarrett is a 10-year 4-Her and has held the office of president, vice president, secretary and health and safety leader with local clubs. Her favorite projects are goats, rabbits, foods, cake decorating, animal education, microwave cooking, beef, fine arts and gift wrapping. She is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers and 4-H Junior Leaders.
She graduated from WCHS. She plans on attending Purdue University this fall, majoring in biomedical health sciences.
She said it was really surreal to be named princess. She looks forward to talking to everyone at the fair and meets new people.
Goshert is an eight-year 4-Her. He has had the offices of social media leader, health and safety leader, vice president and secretary in local clubs. His favorite projects are swine, shooting sports, Poss-ABILITIES, toy farm scene, American heritage, dairy and Legos. He is a member of the Leesburg Mighty Farmers.
He attends WCHS. After graduation, he plans to attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to pursue a degree in diesel technology.
He said it feels really good being named prince and, “I think I can represent my community really well and it feels really, really nice.” He looks forward to representing his community at what he feels is the biggest community event of the year.
Before the royalty court was named, Beth Lamb, 4-H Royalty Contest superintendent, gave a history of the 4-H Royalty Contest.
In August 1968, the 4-H Junior Leaders voted to select their king and queen. The first 4-H Royalty was 4-H King Gary Boggs and 4-H Queen Cathy Bryant Shipley.
“In the years following, the court was selected by the highest dollar amount collected by the contestants. In the 1980s, only the top 10 female and male 4-Hers in their eighth, ninth and 10th years of 4-H were invited to participate in the contest. Their applications were very detailed, included several essays and personal interviews.
“In 2005, the contest took on a new look. Today’s contest is open to all Kosciusko 4-Hers in 10th, 11th and 12th grade. Each 4-Her submits an application outlining their 4-H achievements, leadership and community service and their school and community involvement outside of 4-H. A panel of judges review blind applications and interview each candidate to select the court. This is the 58th year for this Kosciusko County 4-H tradition.”
Beth Rumschlag, 4-H youth development extension educator, said the Kosciusko County 4-H Showcase and Recognition Night, was a celebration of the hard work and dedication of the county’s 4-Hers. The event was to recognize the 4-Hers who invested so much into the program.
During the Kosciusko County 4-H Showcase and Recognition Night, 4-Hers were recognized, starting with seniors that were not 10-year members. They were Regann Finch, eight years; Zach Heinbech, three years; Aubrie Martin, eight years; Lyncon Saunders, nine years; Abigail Shelhart, seven years; Savannah Shepherd, nine years; Richard Smith, five years; Noah Swain, six years; Ashley Wake, four years; and Gabe Ward, seven years.
Ten-year members recognized were Mireya Alvarez, Allie Ayers, Landon Bewley, Nash Bouse, Airyana Bradley, Collin Deatsman, Jasmine Fuller, Karter Goon, Carter Grady, Evelyn Halas, Lillian Henderson, Melanie Hertzler, Ella Jarrett, Jude Kammerer, Corissa Knepper, Emerson Krull, Elena Lawrence, Hayden Lechlitner, Conner LeCount, Isaac Lortie, James Lortie, McKenna Lowe, Liberty Marsillett, Jessica McCoy, Audrey Miller, Rhonin Miller, Cruz Nunez, Landon Patrick, Lindsay Peterson, Myla Phillips, Cassie Rich, Wyatt Schager, Hudson Shepherd, Serenity Slone, Hailey Stookey, Hayden Stookey, Taelyn Tom and Kendra Williams.
The top 10 4-Her Achievement Point winners were named. The winners were the ones with the most points tallied over their 4-H career. They were Carter Grady, Lillian Henderson, Ella Jarrett, Corissa Knepper, Emerson Krull, Elena Lawrence, Hayden Lechlitner, Conner LeCount, Lindsay Peterson and Hudson Shepherd.
Scholarships and awards were also given out during Thursday’s event.
The Farm Bureau Legacy Award winner was Ella Jarret.
The 4-H Council Scholarships went to Ella Jarrett, Emerson Krull, Hayden Lechlitner, Lindsay Petersen and Hudson Shepherd.
The Anglin-Bishop Scholarship went to Carter Grady and Conner LeCount.
The Bob Stiffler 4-H Beef Scholarship went to Collin Deatsman, Carter Grady and Hayden Lechlitner.
The Shaylene Crites Memorial Scholarship went to Hudson Shepherd.
The Gene Milner Memorial Scholarship went to Carter Grady.
The 4-H Poultry Committee Scholarship went to Conner LeCount.
The 4-H Sheep Committee Scholarship went to Landon Bewely and Lindsay Petersen.
The 4-H Rabbit Committee Scholarship went to Ella Jarrett and Emerson Krull.
The Richard Morris Impact of 4-H Award went to Lindsay Petersen and Hayden Lechlitner.
The Indiana 4-H Foundation Scholarship went to Ella Jarrett, Hayden Lechlitner and Hayden Stookey.
The Indiana 4-H Accomplishment Scholarship went to Hayden Stookey.
Beth and Hubert Krull received the Friends of 4-H Individual Award. Interra Credit Union received the Friends of 4-H Business Award.