Big Y wins big prize at Extension Awards

 

 

By SCOTT MCKIE B.P.

ONE FEATHER STAFF

 

The Big Y Community had a lot to celebrate on Tuesday, Sept. 16 as it received first place in the Community Development Awards category at the EBCI Cooperative Extension Community Awards dinner held at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds.  Big Cove took second place followed by Tow String, Yellowhill and Birdtown.

Roy Lambert and Allen Oocumma received special recognition certificates from Janet Owle, EBCI Cooperative Extension interim director, for their volunteer work with the Extension office programs.  Robin Swayney received a certificate for her volunteer work with 4-H and Allen Groenewold, Deino Panther and Kendra Panther received special certificates for their volunteer work with the newly established Cherokee 4-H Archery group.

Sky Kanott, Cherokee Youth Council program manager, distributed awards to members of the Council in the following categories:

• Spirituality Award – Emily Welch
• Group Harmony Award – Grayson Cotes
• Strong Character Award – Keanu Crowe
• Honoring the Past Award – Eason Esquivel
• Sense of Humor Award – Lou Montelongo
• Educating the Children Award – Hannah Ledford
• Integrity Award – Jacob Long
• Community Service Award – Deliah Esquivel
• Most Improved Awards – Mary Ann Driver and Jullian Rubio
• Recognition Award – Simon Montelongo

Dawn Russell and Lori Rubio received the Cherokee Youth Council Most Involved Parent awards and Ralph Wright-Murphy and Joey Owle received the Cherokee Youth Council Most Involved Advisor awards.

Sarah McClellan-Welch, who handed out the garden awards, noted that a total of 55 gardens were judged for this year’s contest.  Harold and Nancy Long were honored with a certificate for their contribution to local foods in Cherokee.

Youth Gardens

6-8 years old

1^st – Boie Crowe, Big Y

9-11 years old

1^st – Jalen Motola, Wolfetown garden (Birdtown resident), and Jos Bridges, Tow String

2^nd – Evan Maney, Snowbird

3^rd – R.J. Radford, Birdtown

Special recognition to Jonah Edwards, Birdtown, for his garden built by Hunter Radford of the Cherokee Youth Council

12-14 years old

1^st – Ietan and Hayes Reed, Wolfetown

2^nd – Hunter Radford, Birdtown

16-18 years old

1^st – Cody Fuller, Birdtown

2^nd – Sarah Hyatt, Tow String

3^rd – Tristan Bottchenbaugh, Big Cove

 

Community Gardens

Youth Group Organic Community Gardens

1^st – Cherokee Youth Gardeners at Kituwah (Joey Owle)

2^nd – Birdtown Community Club Youth Garden (Arlyce Watkins)

Organic Community Garden

1^st – Betty’s Place Cancer Support House (Harold and Nancy Long)

Community Garden

1^st – Garden at Becky Boyum’s house, Birdtown

 

Adult Gardens

Cherokee County

1^st Adult – Irene Mathis

2^nd Adult – Phil Haigler

1^st Elder – Holt Palmer

2^nd Elder – Louise Davenport

1^st Senior Elder – Gertrude Kilpatrick

1^st Family Garden – Charles Raper and his three grandchildren: Christian (13), Clinton (10) and  Isaac Romesberg (6)

Snowbird

1^st Adult – Lily Bird and Ronnie Whisnant

3200 Acre Tract

1^st Adult – Allen Mills

1^st Family Garden – Michelle Evans and Brent Lambert

Big Y

1^st Adult – Jodi Adams

2^nd Adult – Laura Smith (Janie)

1^st Elder – Charlotte George

Wolfetown

1^st Organic Garden – Harold and Nancy Long

1^st Adult – Barry Reed

2^nd Adult – Tresa Sampson

1^st Elder – Mary and Ned Smith

Birdtown

1^st Organic Garden – Arlyce Watkins

1^st Adult – Merritt Youngdeer

1^st Elder – Kenneth Welch

1^st Senior Elder – Larry Haigler

1^st 90 years+ – Robert E. Owle

Kituwah

1^st Family Garden – Amy Walker

1^st Eder – Francis Sue Green

Painttown

1^st Adult – Jesse Dover

2^nd Adult – Abe Queen

Yellowhill

1^st Adult – Bill Smith

2^nd Adult – Robert Taylor

1^st Elder – Wilbur Paul

2^nd Elder – Ella Lossiah

Tow String

1^st Adult – Dewey Cochran

1^st Senior Elder – Ray Lambert

1^st Family Garden – Robert Matthews

Big Cove

1^st Organic Garden – Bernice Bottchenbaugh

1^st Adult – Davey Bradley

2^nd Adult – Tommy Bradley

3^rd Adult – Vita Nations

1^st Elder – Tom Bradley

1^st Senior Elder – Amy West

1^st 100 years+ – Sallie Bradley

1^st Family Garden – Mary Hill

 

To view and/or purchase more photos from this event, visit: https://onefeather.smugmug.com/EBCI-Cooperative-Extension/