Washington County 4-H volunteers, families, and community members were invited to “Be Our Guest” as the 4-H program made a musical return to their in-person annual awards night Sunday at the Washington Knights of Columbus Hall.

The event began with Sister Sledges’ “We Are Family,” concluded with Kool and the Gang’s “Celebration,” and brought some Disney magic to their intermission as the 4-H members gave table service with desserts generously donated by the families who attended. The night included the installation of the 2021-2022 county council and ELITE Project Team members. For the adult awards, CBI Bank & Trust received the Partner in 4-H Award, Ted Greiner was named 4-H Volunteer of the Year, Donnie Hiller received the 4-H Alumni Award, and 4-H Family of the Year went to the Scott and Renee Sieren family. For the senior special awards, Annie Morrison and Katie Leichty received the achievement award, Alex Murphy and Lilly Clark received the citizenship award, Kyleigh Dolan and Payton Peck received the livestock leadership award, and Bailey Rees received the leadership award. 2021 Washington County Fair Queen Carmen Sieren received the “I Dare You Award,” which is the highest honor given to a member in the county.

Washington County 4-H and Youth Coordinator Amy Green congratulated those who completed their first year of 4-H, and the seniors, which Green noted she has gotten to see much of their growing up through the program. She also remarked on the adversity COVID-19 brought to the organization, “Our traditional 4-H and some of our favorite events have had to look different in the last year or two and that’s been a hard adjustment at some times when we couldn’t always be physically together in the way we used to or not in the same ways. Personally, and from the bottom of my heart I want to thank all of you who stuck with us. You didn’t give up on us, you didn’t give up on your club, you didn’t give up on your kids who still wanted to be involved but it looked different. But instead you took the opportunity to honestly rise up and do things differently and stick with it.”

Of other awards, the Green Acres club received this year’s Community Service Award for their volunteering with the Washington Tree Committee. The Franklin Cubs also received an “Above and Beyond” recognition, as they spent countless hours during June and July helping the fair board prepare the grounds for the county fair, and did not submit an application for this recognition.