Submitted photos Carla Lambert, Maggie Cooper, 2024 Outstanding 4-H Volunteer, and Hannah Fincham, WVU Extension Agent, present Dawn Swecker with her 40 Year Service Award.

Randolph County 4-H held their annual Achievement Night on Saturday, Nov. 9 to recognize numerous outstanding members and volunteers. This year’s Outstanding Volunteer Award was given to Maggie Cooper who serves as treasurer for the Randolph County Leaders’ Association and assists with the Teen Leader Organization.

Dawn Swecker was recognized with the Diamond Clover Award for 40 years of service to 4-H. Swecker is a leader for the Ski-Hi 4-H Club in Beverly and spearheads several committees including the Rabies Clinic, Ox Roast, and Achievement Night. Swecker is also a member of the Randolph County Parks and Recreation Board, which oversees 4-H Camp Pioneer.

This year’s Outstanding 4-H Member awards went to Logan Nixon and Aidan Lowther. Nixon has been a member of 4-H for nine years and serves as president of Teen Leaders. She has volunteered with her club to organize food drives for veterans, and she helps stock the blessing boxes in the community. She enjoys attending county and state 4-H camps throughout the year. Lowther has been a member of the Lucky Leaf Livestock 4-H Club for nine years. His 4-H project for the 2023-2024 year raised money and garnered community support to install three wheelchair accessible swings in Elkins parks. Lowther currently serves as the teen representative to the Randolph County 4-H Foundation and as a member of the WV 4-H Teen Council.

The “I Dare You” Award was first offered in 1941 by William H. Danforth, a successful businessman who dared young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of leadership and service. This year’s recipients of this prestigious award were Madalynn Ferguson and Bryer Mallow. Ferguson has been a member of the Ski-Hi 4-H Club for nine years, holding several different leadership roles in that time. She is passionate about serving others and has planned several service projects for her club including a winter clothing drive, safety bags for blessing boxes, and decorating cupcakes for nursing home residents. As part of her 4-H project for the 2024-2025 year, she organized and promoted a successful dress drive prior to homecoming at her high school. Mallow is a member of the Mount Vernon Colonial 4-H Club where he has served in several leadership positions including treasurer. He helps each year to plan the 4-H Holiday Party and Toys for Tots toy drive. He is a member of Teen Leaders and volunteers at the Ox Roast, the Celtic Festival, the annual Pumpkin Enrollment Party, and more.  As a livestock showman, he consistently helps younger livestock exhibitors with their animals and has earned the Helping Hand and premier showman awards. 

Numerous other 4-H members and leaders were recognized for excellent work on projects and years of service. This year’s Club of Excellence was Valley Livestock led by Jessica and Jamie Swecker in Mill Creek.

Several organizations and community members were recognized as Friends of 4-H. Mark and Marsha Doak, Davis Trust Company, Charles H. Muncy, Jr., and Sharon Reeves Cottrill were recognized for all that they do to educate 4-H youth and help clubs prosper.

For more information on how to get involved in Randolph County 4-H, you can contact the WVU Randolph County Extension Office at 304-636-2455.