Scholarships awarded to 4-H members
WAPAKONETA — Ahead of the Auglaize County Junior Fair livestock auction on Saturday, $9,000 was given to 4-H members through the Niki Schaub 4-H Scholarship.
The scholarship is named after Schaub, who lost her life in a car accident in 1991. At the time her lamb project went up for auction and the money was used to help establish the scholarship fund. The scholarship has given away more than $100,000 scholarships to 4-H members since 1992.
Niki’s family members noted recipients accomplishments, and Jim Schaub presented them with checks.
Recipient Kort Sutherland is a 10-year 4-H member, whose projects included market beef, goats and carcass steers, winning awards with beef projects,
He was on the junior fair board executive committee and was a member of the National Honor Society, FFA president and was involved in cross country track and football.
He will be attending Ohio Northern University and majoring in Engineering.
He maintained a 3.9 grade point average and learned hard work responsibility, patience from 4-H and said he would take lessons from 4-H with him wherever he goes.
He said 4-H has made a big impact, on his life and now he doesn’t know what he is going to do with his summers,
“I’ll still be involved though,” Sutherland said.
Morgan Leffel was in 4-H for 10 years and took swine and sewing, and has raised champion animals.
She has served as president of the Junior Fair Board and been the Auglaize County court queen. In school she has been involved in the
National Honor Society, FFA, volleyball and basketball. She was also a Sunday school teacher.
Her interest in pursuing an agricultural business degree developed from 4-H. She will attend The Ohio State University.
Leffel said the scholarship “means a lot to me because it is going to help me keep growing in my educational path,” Leffel said 4-H has also been a big part of her life since she was little.
“It’s definitely going to be a change, but I still plan to be here to
help these young exhibitors,” Leffel said. “I hope they love it as much as I love it.”
Recipient Abigail Schwartz has shown feeder calves, among quilting, sewing, ducks and woodworking projects.
She was secretary and vice-president of her 4-H club. She maintained a 3.8 GPA and was involved with the National Honor Society, student council, Spanish Club, band, FFA, Choir and teachers aide.
Schwartz worked with a food pantry, Relay for Life, Dancers for Cancer, ag day, and canal cleanup. In her application she said she believes in the 4-H motto to make the best better.
She is attending Wright State Lake University and majoring in agricultural science.
A nine-year member of 4-H, Samuel Wagner took lambs and woodworking projects and competed at the state fair. He was a member of the Junior Fair board and has served as president. In his application he said that being on the board taught him leadership skills and that 4H taught him that hard work and patience are important. He will be attending the University of Northwestern Ohio to pursue a business degree. He plans to own his own business.
Hyatt Kaufman is a long time 4-H member whose projects included goats, steers and lambs. In 2019, he received the 4-H Clover Award for outstanding livestock interview. He has held club recorder and health and safety leader positions in his club. He learned patience, persistence, and perseverance. In school he was a member of student council, was a varsity golfer, and played basketball and baseball.
He will be majoring in finance and real estate at Miami University and plans to be an investment banker.
Sydney Steinke has shown goats and has won the showmanship sweepstakes in the past. She has served as club Vice President and was the 2019 Auglaize County Goat queen. She was involved in Soccer, FFA, and band. Steinke was also involved with trash pickup efforts and was involved with youth ministry at her church. She learned that hard times and mistakes are just as important as accomplishments, because that is when you learn the most. She will be majoring in Agriculture Science at OSU at Lima,
Ashley Ruppert, 10 year 4-H member, shows goats and has held several offices in 4-H. She said 4-H gave her the opportunity to teach and help younger members. In school she was involved in the Honor Society, Octagon Club, band, and Spanish Club, while maintaining a 3.9 GPA. She said 4-H taught her how important responsibility is with raising goats, and led her to want to become a nurse. She has also served as 4-H president and plans to become an OB nurse and attend Wright State Lake Campus.
Brandon Paul is nine-year 4-H member who took rifle, pistol, archery projects as well as market and pygmy goats. He has won grand champion pygmy goat in shows. He averaged a 4.6 GPA.
He was involved in his church youth group, and Agape ministries. He will be attending The Ohio State University and major in Mechanical engineering.
John Kohler is an 11-year 4-H member, has taken swine, rifle and safe use of guns, projects, and has raised a reserve grand champion market guilt. He has served as president of his club and is on the Junior Fair board. In school he is involved in FFA, band and drumline and maintained a 3.95GPA. In his application he said 4-H has shaped his character and helped him become a leader. He will be attending Ohio State University in Lima and major in Agriculture engineering.