Cooperative Extension honors participants and volunteers

By JEAN JONES

ONE FEATHER EDITOR

 

The participants in the Cooperative Extension program were recognized for their accomplishments at the Cooperative Extension Community Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Dinner held at the Cherokee Youth Center Boys & Girls Club on Tuesday, Sept. 10.

EBCI Extension Director Rick DeLoughery began the evening by stating, “I am impressed with the many meaningful local activities that our Community Clubs are conducting. Their scrapbooks are a great record of all this effort.”  On display the community scrapbooks were available for guests to see.

Sky Sampson, Cherokee Youth Council program manager, presented the Youth Council and 4-H awards.  “I’m so proud of our rising young leaders within the community,“ she stated, “and I want to encourage them to keep growing in a positive direction. Congratulations Cherokee Youth Council award recipients on all that you have accomplished in 2013.” She awarded a trophy to each participant.

Extension Agent Sarah McClellan-Welch presented the Youth Garden awards, Garden awards, and Special Recognition awards.  Kituwah was a new category added this year because of the farmers’ interest in the contest.

In her opening statement she announced, “We are celebrating the 2013 garden contests with the greatest number of Cherokee youths ever involved!”

Ninety-one (91) youth gardeners participated in the contest as individuals, families and youth groups. McClellan-Welch applauded community members for teaching and involving so many young people in gardening. Winners received cash awards.  In addition, youths received a teddy bear sporting a t-shirt that read, in syllabary, “This garden looks good!” provided by the Principal Chief’s Cherokee Family Garden Project and a generous donation from 4-Imprint.

Janet Owle, financial skills educator, announced the winners in the Community Development category.

“The awards presented,” DeLoughery further commented, “recognize those who are working hard to improve their lives and their community. The youth, the gardeners, and the community leaders all deserve recognition for this.”

The program concluded with the drawing of door prizes.

 

Cooperative Extension Awards

 

Youth Council/4H Awards

Hannah Ledford – Innovation Award/Gadugi Award

Faith Long – Most Enthusiasm

Jacob Long – Most respectful/Group Harmony Award

Gadusi Crowe – Completion of program/ Dedication Award

Simon Montelongo – Strong Character Award

William Paul – Dedication

Josh Taylor – Most Improved/ Community Service Award

Lou Montelongo  – CYC Award/ Spirituality Award

Amy West – Integrity Award/ Educating the Children Award

Eason Esquivel – Social Award/ Sense of Place Award

Kara Welch – Encouragement Award

Sharlotte Queen-Jackson – Most Involved

Emily Welch – Integrity Award

Kyle Chapa – Honoring the Past Award

Keanu Crowe – Found Your Voice Award/ Dedication Award

Chance Bryant – Sense of Humor Award

Seth Ledford – Encouragement Award

Reece Welch – Encouragement Award

Natasha Walk – Encouragement Award

Ayla Cruz – Ga du gi Award/ CYC Award

Advisory Awards: Kevin Jackson, Bo Taylor, Carmalita Monteith, Marvel Welch, Ralph Wright, Heather James.

 

Youth Garden Awards

5 years old & under                                                                                                                  

1^st place Noah Watty (Yellowhill)

2^nd Place Isabella Watty (Yellowhill) – cucumber patch

6 & 7’s

1^st place Boi Cowe (Big Y)

8 & 9’s

1^st Place Jalen Motola (Wolfetown garden)

2^nd place Josh Bridges (Tow String)

3^rd Place  Zaccheus Watty (Yellowhill)

10 & 11’s

1^st place Evan Maney (Snowbird)

12 & 13’s

1^st place Hunter Radford (Birdtown)

2^nd place Tristan Bottchenbaugh (Big Cove)

14 & 15’s

1^st Place Cody Fuller (Birdtown)

2^nd Place Jacob Long (Tow String)

16 and older:

1^st Place Joi Owle (Birdtown)

2^nd place Harleigh Parker (Cherokee County)

Youth Family Gardens members under age 12

1^st Place Jace & Lexi Daniels & Lolo & Tyce Hogner

2^nd place Hayes & Ietan Reed (Wolfetown)

3^rd Place Paytyn & Shalyn Barker (Tow String)

Youth Family Gardens members older than age 12

1^st place Madeline & Tsali Welch (Birdtown)

2^nd place tie Lidia & Ramiro Ramirez

2^nd place tie Haley Cooper, Jonas Trejo, Walker Cooper and Kennedy Cooper

3^rd Place Ashleigh Crowe & Bessie Swayney (Big Y)

Youth Groups

1^st place Snowbird Youth Center

 

Garden Awards

Big Cove

1^st Place Adult Gardener – Tommy Bradley

2^nd place Adult Gardener – Vita Nations

3^rd place Adult Gardener – Davey Bradley

1^st place Organic Garden – Bernice Bottchenbaugh

1^st Place Elder Gardener – Tom Bradley

1^st Place Senior Elder Gardener – Sallie Bradley

Big Y

1^st Place Adult – Nell Crowe

2^nd Place Adult – Peanut Crowe

1^st Patio Garden – Jodi Bradley

Birdtown

1^st Place Adult – T. Trejo

2^nd Place Adult  – Merritt Youngdeer

1st Place Sr. Elder – Larry Haigler

2nd place Sr. Elder – Robert Owle

1^st Place Adult Organic Garden – David & Jolene Sneed

Cherokee County

1^st Place Adult – Irene Mathis

2^nd place Adult – Phil Haigler

1^st Place Elder – Holt Palmer

2^nd Place Elder – Louise Davenport

1^st Place Senior Elder –  Fred Lunsford

1st Family Garden – Gertrude Kilpatrick

Kituwah

1^st Adult – Joseph French

1^st Sr. Elder  – Charles & Sue Green

1^st Family – Kevin Welch

Painttown

1^st Place Adult – Jesse Dover

Snowbird

1^st Place Adult – Lillie Bird & Ronnie Whisenant

3200 Acre Tract

1^st Place Adult – Eugene Howard

Tow String

1^st Place Adult Garden – Dewy Cochran

2^nd place Adult Garden – Luke Green

1^st place Elder – Ray Lambert

1^st Place Family Garden – Robert Matthews

Yellowhill

1^st Place Adult – Robert Taylor

2^nd Place Adult – Jessie Watty

1^st place Organic – Johnnie Sue Myers

1^st Place Elder – Ella Lossiah

Wolfetown

1^st Place Adult – Rhonda Pheasant

1^st Place Organic Garden  – Harold Long

1^st Place Sr. Elder – Ida Lee Arneach

2^nd Place Sr. Elder – Bill Kanott

Special Recognition to Kevin Welch, Jo Blalock, Janna Hyatt & the Harrah’s Heroes for their Community Garden for Manna Food Bank

Special Recognition to Rachel Sneed & Albert Cruz for starting a Community Garden at Soco Creek Village Apartments

 

Community Development Awards

First Place – Big Cove

Second Place – Towstring

Third Place – Big Y

Fourth Place – Snowbird

Fifth Place – Wolfetown

Sixth Place – Yellowhill

Seventh Place – Birdtown