HPLC

The High Plains Livestock Classic (HPLC) Committee Meeting will be meeting TODAY December 16th @ 6:00pm at the Knights of Columbus Lounge (800 West Frontview Street, Dodge City, KS 67801) ***Please note change of location!!

Anyone interested in helping with this year's show is encouraged to attend the meeting, or contact and HPLC Committee member.  We would welcome and appreciate any

help we can get!!!
 

2012 Achievement Banquet

Here are a few highlights from the 2012 Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet on November 3rd. 

Greg Lix named 2012 Ford County 
4-H Alumni Award Winner

Mistress of Ceremonies and 4-H Council President, Nicole and 4-H Alumni Award winner, Greg Lix, at the 2012 Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet.

At this year’s Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet, the 2012 4-H Alumni Award winner was announced. This prestigious honor was awarded to Greg Lix of Wright, KS.

Lix was a past member of the Ford County 4-H Program. Growing up, he participated actively in club meetings, camp, club days, and at the fair. As a 4-H alumni, he has served as the Wright Wonder Workers Community Club Leader for 15 years and has been their Cloverbud Leader since 2000. He has also served as a Round Robin Judge and Dairy Superintendent. Every year, Greg donates his time as the Woodworking and Welding superintendent at the Ford County Fair.

Not only do Greg and his wife Regina spend endless hours helping their club, they also sponsor several trophies and awards for all Ford County 4-H’ers to enjoy. Lix was proud to be a 4-H’er back in his youth and still considers himself a 4-H’er today. Greg is an outstanding representation of the 4-H Alumni here in Ford County.

            The 4-H Alumni Award is presented to either a person(s) who was a previous 4-H’er and continues their involvement in the Ford County 4-H program.  The Ford County 4-H Council selects the winner from various club nominations.  A special 4-H Alumni plaque was presented to Lix at the 4-H Achievement Banquet on November 3, 2012.   It is with great pleasure to honor Greg Lix for his past and current involvement within the 4-H Program! 

 County 4-H’ers Earns State Key Award

Chance and Todd receive the 2012 Kansas 4-H Key Award underwritten by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and the Kansas 4-H Foundation at the Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet.

Chance Draper and Todd Durler have been selected to receive the 2012 Kansas 4-H Key Award.  The Award is unique to Kansas 4-H, and is given to recognize leadership, citizenship, and service to 4-H programs and the community, said Pamela Van Horn, coordinator of the state’s 4-H awards program.

            Recipients are selected through an application process. To be considered for the award, a 4-H member must be at least 16 years old, have been a 4-H member for four or more years, enrolled in the 4-H Leadership Project, and clearly have demonstrated leadership, citizenship, and concern for others in the 4-H programs and in their community.

            “The award was introduced in 1952 and is given annually,” she said.  “The goal,” Van Horn said, “is to encourage young people to explore opportunities for community service and begin building leadership skills as they contribute to their community.”

            Exploring such opportunities can lay a foundation for a lifelong commitment to citizenship and service that leads to building - and improving - community close to home, and in the larger work, she said.

            The 4-H award is underwritten by the Farm Credit Associations of Kansas and the Kansas 4-H Foundation.

Draper and Durler received their awards at the Annual Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet held November 3, 2012 at the Ford County Fair building.

Chance is a twelve year member of the Valley Boosters 4-H Club. He is the son of Neal and the late Tammy Draper of Ford, Kan. Draper has been active in his 4-H Club serving on several committees and is a member of the Ford County 4-H Ambassador/Exchange group.  He is active in many school and church activities.  Chance serves as a Beef Superintendent and shares his passion for the beef project with other younger 4-H members.

Todd is twelve year member of the Richland Boosters 4-H Club. He is the son of Kevin and Jeannie Durler of Dodge City, Kan. Durler has served as President of his 4-H Club and holds various leadership positions on the 4-H Council and in the Ford County 4-H Ambassador/Exchange group. Todd is an active member not only within the Ford County 4-H Program but also at the state level participating in many leadership events including the Kansas Youth Leadership Forum and Discovery Days.

Bill Heinz named 2012 Ford County 
4-H Meritorious Award Winner

Meritorious Award winner, Bill Heinz, admires his plaque that he received from Mistress of Ceremonies and 4-H Council President, Nicole Brauer, at the 2012 Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet.

At this year’s Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet, the 2012 4-H Meritorious Award winner was announced. This prestigious honor was awarded to Bill Heinz of Heinz Trucking, Dodge City, KS.

            For the past number of years, Heinz has volunteered his time and service to the Ford County 4-H Livestock Program. Every year, he willingly hauls 4-H’ers cattle after the Livestock Premium Auction to Cargill Meat Solutions and unloads them at no charge. Without his generosity, the 4-H Beef Carcass Show would not be as successful as it is.  Heinz also donates annually to the 4-H Livestock Premium fund.

            The Meritorious Award is presented to either a person(s) or a business that has provided outstanding service to the Ford County 4-H program.  The Ford County 4-H Council selects the winner from various club nominations.  A special meritorious plaque was presented to Heinz at the 4-H Achievement Banquet on November 3, 2012.   It is with great pleasure to honor Bill Heinz for his commitment and service to Ford County 4-H! 

FORD COUNTY 4-H MEMBERS HONORED WITH “NATIONAL LEADERSHIP AWARD”

Dakota  and Heather receive the American Youth Foundation’s National Leadership Award at the 
2012 Ford County 4-H Achievement Banquet. Not pictured is James Eaton.

Dakota Derstein and James Eaton of the Lucky Clovers 4-H Club, and Heather Trent of the Prairie Schooners 4-H Club have been awarded the American Youth Foundation’s National Leadership Award in recognition of personal integrity, balanced living and potential for leadership.  The honor was presented by Andrea Burns, Ford County Agriculture and Natural Sciences Agent at their annual 4-H Achievement Banquet held at the Ford County Fair Building on November 3, 2012.

The National Leadership Award is presented each year by the American Youth Foundation (AYF) in cooperation with principals, counselors, county 4-H agents, church groups and other organizations across the country.  The award was first offered in 1941 by the late William H. Danforth, founder of the Ralston Purina Company in St. Louis, who challenged young people to achieve their highest potential and to influence others through lives of service.  The award is inspired by the book, I Dare You! written by Danforth, in which he commends the balanced life of mental, physical social and spiritual development as the backbone of leadership.

The Neal Draper Family Named 
2012 4-H Family of the Year 

Chance, Neal and Braden Draper were presented with the honor of the 2012 Ford County 4-H Family of the Year Awar

At this year’s Ford County Achievement Banquet, the 2012 4-H Family of the Year Award was announced. This prestigious honor was awarded to the Neal Draper Family of Ford, KS.

The family has been involved with the Valley Boosters 4-H Club with their sons Chance and Braden for 11 years. Tammy, recently deceased, was the community leader for several years and she and Neal have served as county-wide beef project leaders.  The boys have been active members of their club, as well as members of the ambassador and exchange groups.  Chance and Braden have both served as officers of their club and led several committees throughout the years. The family has also been active county-wide. Tammy judged record books, helped at concession stands, served on the Ford County Fair Board, and etc. Rarely is there a 4-H event in Ford County that the Drapers are not a part of.  The entire family has been an integral part of the High Plains Livestock Classic held in Dodge City as well. 

The Draper family is heavily involved in the beef industry, selling 4-H project animals to many other families, as well as showing their own cattle across the state and country. The family has served as mentors to numerous young 4-H families, showing them the ropes and raising their boys in a way which will continue to be a model for all Ford County 4-H families for years to come. This award was selected by the Ford County 4-H Council before Tammy’s unexpected death and we know she’s looking down on our 4-H family with a smile. We are proud to have the Draper family call Ford County home and we’re proud to recognize them as the 4-H Family of the Year.

            The Draper family shows a true commitment to 4-H by “making the best better.”  The 4-H Family of the Year is designed to honor the tremendous contributions of time, dedication, and service to the 4-H program through the family’s leadership and involvement.  Families are nominated by local 4-H clubs and selected by a 4-H Council committee.  This award recognizes a family who has gone above and beyond the call of duty in helping our 4-H programs and still has at least one member of the family active as 4-H member or leader. 

Many other 4-H’ers received awards and recognition at the annual 4-H Achievement Banquet.  County project awards, achievement pins, leader awards, and member tenure awards were among the many given out.  Nicole Brauer, 12 year member of the Wright Wonder Workers and out-going Ford County 4-H Council president, served as the evening’s Mistress of Ceremonies.  The annual Achievement Banquet is a chance for 4-H members across the county to celebrate their many accomplishments, hard work, and leadership.