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The Antelope County 4-H community gathered at the fairgrounds, in Neligh, Nov. 15 to celebrate 2019 accomplishments.

This was a challenging year for many, but Antelope County 4-H families came together this summer to make it one of the best years yet at the Antelope County Fair. 4-H families proved their resilience, pride, commitment, dedication, kindness and support for each other to overcome the hardship the flood brought to the county.

A highlight of the evening was naming Taylor Bolling and Angel Qualset as 2019 Outstanding 4-H members.

Bolling, a Clearwater Public Schools senior, is the daughter of Nate and Cassie Bolling of Clearwater. She is a member of Hearts & Hooves 4-H Club and is a six-year 4-H member.

Bolling likes to show animals and exhibit home environment projects. Her favorite projects are showing horses, companion animals, home environment, portfolio pathways, sketchbook crossroads and design decisions.

"Bolling is a very positive role model for youth as she is caring, gives 110% and always has a smile on her face," said Tessa Hain, extension educator.

Taylor helps Clover Kids show bucket calves.

She would like to become a vet, because of her love for all animals, or an art teacher, for her love of taking anything and turning it into something of her own creation.

Qualset is the daughter of Curt and Brandi Qualset of Meadow Grove and is a senior at Elkhorn Valley Schools. Qualset has been an active 4-H member for nine years. She has inspired many youth by her active participation, her friendly smile and her kindness of helping others. Qualset has taken a wide variety of projects ranging from cooking, food preservation, photography, sewing, modeling and many home environment projects, along with showing rabbits and cats.

In 4-H, Qualset has helped younger youth show rabbits in peewee showmanship. She helped at the 4-H Open House, promoting 4-H and projects that are not as popular.

Hain said, "Angel is a dedicated 4-Her and gives it her all with everything that she does. She is always trying new unique projects and has an eye for detail, earning her numerous purples, blues, and projects being selected for state fair."

The Merry Maids & Muscles 4-H Club, of Neligh, was announced as the Outstanding 4-H Club of 2019. The club has 30 members, ranging from five to 18 years old.

"Merry Maids & Muscles 4-H Club has been very accepting to new members and has welcomed many first time 4-Hers, where they learned the ropes and lingo of the 4-H world. MMM has been in existence for over 50 years and has been a contributing organization to its community," Hain said.

During the night, years of 4-H membership were also acknowledged. In 2019, Antelope County 4-H welcomed 84 new members, with 51 being Clover Kids. There were 49 fifth-year members; 11 eight-year members, and 14 nine-year members.

Antelope County recognized six 10-year members: Breanna Carr (Oakdale), David Durre (Elgin), Christopher Kester (Clearwater), Damien Knight (Neligh), Alyssa Moser (Clearwater) and Codey Snider (Clearwater).

Eight 4-Hers were at their 11th and final year of 4-H membership, including Kendra Carr (Neligh), Rachel Higgins (Neligh), Marie Meis (Elgin), Amber Miller (Tilden), Kaleb Pofahl (Neligh), Travis Rudloff (Clearwater), Dalton Smutny (Meadow Grove) and Matthew Suckstorf (Meadow Grove).

The Annual Mark Hughes Memorial Award is awarded to a boy and a girl who exhibit exceptional and unique project(s) at the county fair. This year's winners were Bailey Ahlers from Clearwater and Evin Pelster from Neligh.

The Jolene Mosel Memorial Award was awarded during the fair to someone who goes above and beyond to help and empower lives of the Antelope County youth. This year's recipient is Chris Redding from Elgin.

Leaders play a crucial role in operating the 4-H program.

Leaders are volunteers who are club leaders, 4-H Council members and project leaders.

Megan Jacob, Neligh, was recognized as a first-year leader. Second year leaders are Anne Hemenway (Neligh), Jordyn Pofahl (Neligh), Kara Pelster (Petersburg) and Julia Suckstorf (Newman Grove).

Cassie Bolling (Clearwater) served for five years and Tilden's Mark Eggers received the 10-year service award.

Craig Sprout (Elgin) was honored for 25 years of service and 60 years of dedicated service to the Antelope County 4-H program was awarded to Vida and Lois Sprout (Elgin).

Vida and Lois' 4-H journey began in 1956 when these two young women from Neligh, married two young farmers, who happened to be cousins, from rural Elgin. After starting families, they decided the southwest corner of Antelope County needed a 4-H club focused on static exhibits, so in 1959, they started the Merry Makers 4-H Club.

Vida was a 4-H member as a youth, so becoming a leader seemed to be a natural next step. She served as organizational leader of the club, as well as the foods' leader. Lois was the sewing leader, as she had lots of sewing experience, making much of her family's clothing.

At each meeting, members present a lesson pertaining to their specialty. Under their guidance the Merry Makers - nearly 60 over the years - sewed, baked, decorated and created for almost 30 years. The club continued till 1986.

Vida and Lois continued by serving on the 4-H Council and working in the old food stand.

Lois was clothing superintendent for many years. She had a home-based wedding cake business and took an initiative to create a cake decorating project for Antelope County, serving as the only cake decorating superintendent for the fair.

Vida has served as foods superintendent for decades and helps on clothing entry day.

Vida, along with Lois and her husband, William, also served on the fair board. William and Lois were chairpersons for the Sunday morning pancake feed for many years. They also sold and took tickets at the demo derby for years.

The Sprout women each had two children who went through the Antelope County 4-H program and each had four grandchildren, also going through the program.

Lois' son, Craig, and his wife, Merry, were club leaders for a number of years. Craig continues to be the Antelope County 4-H engineering superintendent. Lois' daughter Sarah Harrod has been a dog leader and is currently co-superintendent for cake decorating. Vida's daughter Chris, and her husband, Jim, are club leaders. Chris is co-clothing superintendent, taking over for Lois a few years ago.

Certificates of appreciation were presented to the 2019 Antelope County 4-H Council.

Persons receiving the certificates were: Adults: Anne Hemenway (Neligh), Paige Redding (Elgin), Sonet Smunty (Meadow Grove), Dawn Nelson (Tilden), Jenny Higgins (Neligh), Megan Jacob (Neligh), Anne Meis (Elgin), Kara Pelster (Petersburg), and Abigail Frank (Brunswick).

All in the family • (l-r): Lois and Viola Sprout receive awards from Nebraska Extension-Antelope County for 60 years of dedication to the 4-H program.

Youth representatives include: Travis Rudloff (Clearwater), Alison Stineman (Norfolk), Trevin Hanson (Oakdale), Ashleigh Nelson (Tilden), Alyssa Moser (Clearwater), Kierra Bearinger (Clearwater), Gracie Park (Ewing), Sadie Smutny (Meadow Grove), and Ashton Higgins (Neligh).

New Antelope County 4-H Council members include Paige Redding (Elgin), Travis Rudloff (Clearwater) and Jenny Higgins (Neligh). Youth representatives elected to the council for one-year terms include: Trevin Hanson (Tilden), Lynae Koinzan (Neligh), Alyssa Moser (Clearwater), Ashleigh Nelson (Tilden), Sadie Smutny (Meadow Grove), Logan Mueller (Clearwater), Alexis Lind (Tilden), Taylor Bolling (Clearwater), and Alyssa Burenheide (Elgin).