(Kiowa, Colo.) Elbert County 4-H members are today’s leaders, catalysts for positive change in our community, and embody the 4-H motto: Make the best better. With the help of area businessman Robert Lembke, three Elbert County 4-H’ers have done just that this past 4-H year.
Malachi Smith, Ryleigh Tunink, and Danielle Bogner were named recipients of the 2019-20 Lembke Scholarship, a fund started by Lembke to encourage Elbert County 4-H participants to be well-rounded members.
To be eligible for the $1000 scholarship, each member must complete at least one general project, one animal project and participate in one of the specialty contests such as creative cooks or speech arts, etc. This year’s specialty contests were cancelled due to COVID-19, so applicants were instead asked to write an essay describing their vision of the future of Elbert County 4-H and how they are willing to make that happen. The scholarships are held in trust by the Elbert County Leaders’ Council until the member graduates and goes off to college. A member may receive the award more than once during in his/her 4-H career.
Malachi, son of Chad and Rebecca Smith of Elizabeth, took top honors in the junior category (8-10 years old). Ryleigh, daughter of Josh and Kasha Hickmann-Tunink of Simla placed first in the intermediate (11-13 years old) section while Danielle, daughter of Michael and Lynnsey Bogner of Agate, snared the senior’s top award (ages 14-16).
Smith is a member of the Gold Creek 4-H Club; Tunink is with Rural Rustlers 4-H Club and Bogner is active with Elbert Creekside Boosters 4-H Club.
If you would like to enroll your child in Elbert County 4-H, the deadline is Dec. 31 so give the Extension Office a call at 303-621-3162 for more information as soon as possible. We can help you choose the right club and projects. Elbert County 4-H is a cooperative venture between Colorado State Extension and Elbert County government.
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Colorado State University Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.
Colorado State University Extension is your local university community connection for research-based information about natural resource management; living well through raising kids, eating right and spending smart; gardening and commercial horticulture; the latest agricultural production technologies and community development. Extension 4-H and youth development programs reach more than 90,000 young people annually, over half in urban communities.