4-H Appreciation Night-Letting Our Lights Shine

 4-H Appreciation was scheduled as a drive in movie event.  Well that was the plan at least, until about 5:30 when we realized Mother Nature had other plans.  Quick thinking, and the help of busy hands at our Extension office allowed us to turn our drive-in into a sit down theater style evening.  As we came in for our family style, socially distanced seating, we watched on an indoor big screen what we would have seen outside.  

   We started with our awards program, talking about all our youth had accomplished this year, virtually and in person.  It is amazing the resilience of our youth and 4-H families.   As we recognized our competitive program winners we also recognized our youth who registered to attend this event.  Of course we have two big awards we give each appreciation night.  The first is the "I Dare You Award" which is the highest award we give to a youth.  Our Interim County Extension Director, Mac Malloy announced the award via video and then presented it in person.  This year for showing strength, determination, and poise we recognized Brooke Canady with this award.

    After cheering for our youth we moved on to our 4-H Volunteers.  Many people don't realize all it takes to be a 4-H Volunteer, not to mention the time and planning it involves.  We recognized our volunteers from their first year all the way up to 38 years of service.  For those celebrating five and ten year marks they received special gifts along with their certificates.  At the end of the evening Dr. Eddie Locklear announced the winner of this award via video and presented it in person.   This is the first year that the award was given posthumously to Charles Russ.  Mr. Russ's wife and son accepted on his behalf.  

   If you would like to view the slide show from that night you can access it here.  If you would like to see the video presentation from that evening you can view it here.  Photos from that night can be found here.

  After the presentations we all sat down and watched the original Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and enjoyed a moment to safely relax with each other again.   Our members, volunteers, and clubs took a moment to take photos at our photo wall to remember this night by.  We hope this night inspired our youth to celebrate their successes and challenge themselves to try new things in 2022.  We can't wait to see all they will do.