zorra-now-winter-2024

TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY INFORMATION TOWNSHIP COMMUNITY INFORMATION 28 Zorra Now | Winter 2024 Zorra Now | Winter 2024 29 The Terry Richardson Award was presented to Lauren Ball by Shirley Richardson and grandson Daniel with a certificate and cheque. The Oxford County Junior Farmers 4-H Scholarship was presented to Dakota Jones virtually by Elizabeth Bruce Oxford County Junior Farmer President with a certificate and cheque. Dakota is studying at Olds College in Alberta. The Norman Dickout Memorial Judging Awards were presented by Sandra Alyea & Virginia Reilly, sisters of Norman Dickout, to Lena Older (Novice), Jasmine Steen (Junior), Jade Dill & Keenan Grieve (Intermediate & Overall) and Amber Warboys (Senior). Each youth received a marble trophy recognizing their achievement. The Youth Leader Award, sponsored & presented by Kubota Canada Ltd Travis Grubb and Andrew Heida from D & S Downham Equipment Stratford was presented to Lauren Ball. The Oxford County 4-H Project awards were presented to Megan Ball, Ryan Ball, Julia Brekelmans, Nicole Danen, Meryl Kouwenberg and Grace Piper for 36 projects completed (wooden cutting board). Megan Ball, Lexi Dill and Grace Piper received a glass clock for 42 projects completed. Lexi Dill and AmandaWitmer received a blanket for 48 projects completed. Lauren Ball & Lexi Dill received a framed certificate for completing 54 projects. Jade Dill received framed certificates for completing 132, 138 and 144 projects. The Project of the Year award was presented to the Square Dance 4-H project by the Oxford Square Dance 4-H Club. Taylor Buckrell, Emma Pullen, Amber Warboys and Amanda Witmer received the Oxford County 4-H Youth Graduating Award. It was a framed collage picture of memorable experiences in their 4-H youth career. The Longstanding Graduating Youth Award, sponsored & presented by Kubota Canada Ltd Travis Grubb and Andrew Heida from D & S Downham Equipment Stratford was presented to Taylor Buckrell, Emma Pullen and Amber Warboys receiving a glass clock. And AmandaWitmer received a wooden pine mirror. 4-H Clubs spoke about their club activities for the past year throughout the evening. Grace Piper and Jade Dill made presentations of their experience at 4-H opportunities they attended in 2024. The Oxford Beef 4-H Club organized the Food Drive with donations excepted at the Oxford 4-H Awards Night or by e-transfer to oxford4htreasurer@gmail.com to be distributed to Oxford County Food Banks. Greetings fromTownship of Zorra Crystal Finch and 4-H Ontario Staff, Melinda Scott was given. To wrap up the evening, auctioneer Greg Kuepfer did a live auction of items donated by the Oxford 4-H Clubs, like a quilt made by 4-H members, frozen meat package, a pig to be butchered, a framed 4-H Club Leader picture, decorative outdoor pine arrangement, games night package and many more items. The emcees thanked everyone for making the event a great success. The Oxford County 4-H Association Annual meeting is January 29 at the Folden’s Hall. There will be a learning opportunity for 4-H volunteers following the AGM. There is an Oxford 4-H Volunteer Appreciation Night January 10 at theWoodstock District Community Complex for the Oxford 4-H volunteers. Oxford 4-H would like to thank their 2024 sponsors: George Thornton Bequest Fund, Oxford Agropro Ltd, Ayr Farmers Mutual, Township of South-West Oxford, Township of Zorra, ADM, Oxford County Plowmen’s Association, Your Neighbourhood Credit Union, Oxford County Junior Farmers Association, Ontario Mutuals, Rotary Club of Tavistock, Bernice Dickout & Family and Richardson Family. Oxford 4-H Club The Oxford County 4-H Association Awards Night was held Friday November 22nd at the Embro Zorra Community Centre, with Emcees Grace McKinlay, Grace Piper & MackenzieWestwood with the North Oxford Dairy 4-H Club organizing the special event for the 4-H youth and volunteers to be recognized for their achievements. Photographer for the event was Marian Sterk. The evening started with a catered dinner supplied by Village Catering Deli fromThamesford, ice cream from Shaw’s Ice Cream and milk sponsored by Oxford Dairy Producers. Thank you to the George Thornton Bequest Fund making it a wonderful celebration of 4-H in Oxford County!! The Oxford Cloverbuds 4-H Club returning members-- Danielle Langford, Hildie Langford, Henry McCoy, Maeve McGinnis, Isabel McKinlay, Leda McKinlay, Annabelle McLeod, Bodhi Sterk, AlainaWalker was presented their year plate; new Cloverbuds—Neville Deroo, Scarlett Green, Keira Harris, Natalie Harris, Alex Learn, Bennett Post, Olivia Socholotiuk, Leo Sterk, Addison Syvret, Jacob Van Roekel, Ruby Walker was presented their plaque. The 1st year 4-H youth participants stood up and were welcomed & congratulated on their 1st year in the Oxford 4-H program. 4-H volunteers in Oxford received acknowledgement of their involvement in the 4-H program. First year volunteers—Megan Buckrell, Katie Deslippe, Rebecca Haley & Jackie King; Five years—James Atkinson, Deb Bailey and Kaitlin McKay; 10 years—CaorlynWilson and 15 years— Jayme Emerson, Amy Reinhart & Amanda Vandergaast. There were six Oxford 4-H volunteers recognized for their long-time involvement with the 4-H program. 20 years- John DeBruyn, Chris Hart, Marilyn Lichti & Rachel McKinlay; 35 years-ShonnaWard and 40 years-Dwight Hargreaves. Each received a gift chosen for them from Oxford 4-H and a milestone gift from 4-H Ontario. The 4-H Ontario Outstanding New Volunteer Award sponsored by Gay Lea was presented by Steve Veldman & 4-H Ontario Staff, Melinda Scott to Jane Danen for Region 6. Jane received a framed print. The Oxford 4-H Volunteer Tribute Award was presented by Christy Brekelmans to Linda Humphrey. Linda received a pen & pencil set in a wooden box. She will have a tree planted or bench placed in her community in 2025 in recognition of her award. The 4-H Ontario Award of Achievement, sponsored by Gay Lea Foods Co-operative Ltd, was presented by Steve Veldman, Gay Lea Director, to Keeton Jones and Nathan Bean. The 4-H Ontario Award of Achievement is presented to youth who have completed 24 projects and five years in the 4-H program. The Rotary Club of Tavistock Outstanding 4-H Youth Awards were presented by Chee Peng Tan to Lena Older & Daniel Richardson (Novice), Megan Ball & Henry Brekelmans (Junior) and Sarah Bean & Keenan Grieve (Intermediate). Each youth received a certificate and cheque. The Your Neighbourhood Credit Union Outstanding Overall Senior 4-H Youth Award was presented by Steve McGregor, YNCUWoodstock Branch, to AmandaWitmer. Oxford County Plowmen’s Association Outstanding Senior Agricultural 4-H Youth Award was presented to Jackson Sim by Eric Howard. Jackson & Amanda each received a certificate and cheque. Marian Sterk presented the Embro Fair 4-H High Points Award to Jade Dill with a 4-H logo glasses and wooden picture frame.