Wayne County gives scholarships to 15 4-H members based on experience, communty activity

Fifteen Wayne County 4-H’ers will be awarded $10,000 in scholarships at the Wayne County Fair based on their 4-H experience, community activities and scholastic achievements.

Receiving the General 4-H Scholarship will be Anna Hovest, Lilee Mullen, Briar Muller and Cole Walenciak. The presentation will be before the Junior Fair Swine auction at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in the Event Center.

Hovest is the daughter of Andrew and Carrie Hovest of Rittman and a College of Wooster student majoring in Archaeology with a primary interest in geology.

A 13-year member of Sterling 604 Rangers, she served as a club officer, a Junior Leader and Junior Camp counselor. Her projects included rabbits, sewing, canning, photography and cake decorating. She was selected to compete at the State Fair with her cake decorating project.

She also has been involved in dance and theater, Girl Scouts and her church. As a Soapbox Derby racer, she volunteers her time for Soapbox for SuperKids, youth with mental and physical challenges.

She would like to study in Scotland and pursue a career in cultural resource management archaeology.

Mullen, the daughter of Chad and Angie Mullen of Wooster, is a Triway High School graduate and a member of the Wayne County Hoof ‘N’ Hide 4-H Club. She served as a club officer, Junior Leader and member of Wayne County Junior Fair Royalty. She was the 2023 Wayne County Fair queen and served as the rabbit and poultry superintendent for three years.

Her rabbit projects earned her Showman of the Day awards.

At Triway, she was a member of National Honor Society, Family Career and Community Leaders of America, gymnastics, cheerleading, French Club, Pep Club and Symphonic Band.

Mullen also teaches gymnastics.

She is attending Capital University to major in nursing with the goal of working in a hospital setting.

Muller is the son of Chad and Christina Muller of Creston and a graduate of Norwayne High School. He was an eight-year member of Canaan Country Cousins, served as a Junior Fair Board member and club officer. His swine and meat turkey projects taught him how to take care for and raise an animal as well as many life lessons.

He served as an officer in the Norwayne FFA chapter.

Muller is a freshman at Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute where he is studying agronomy.

Walenciak, the son of Clint and Deanna Walenciak of Wooster, is a Wooster High School graduate. A 10-year 4-H’er, Walenciak has excelled with his livestock projects, earning outstanding exhibitor and champion awards. He also had a State Fair qualifying exhibit about World War II.

He also was a Buckeye Boys State attendee, National Honor Society member, Wayne County Youth Foundation representative, member of a Wayne County High School 10-month leadership class and state qualifier on the school’s swim team.

Walenciak is a freshman at the Georgia Military College and will enter West Point in the summer of 2025. He plans a career in the United State military.

Two earn F. Doyle Findley Scholarship

The F. Doyle Findley Scholarship will be presented to Mason Johnson and Raelana Moore. The scholarship is given in memory of former Wayne County 4-H agent Doyle Findley and honors academic achievement and commitment to livestock projects.

Moore, the daughter Angie and Andy Moore of Burbank, is a freshman at Malone University. A nine-year 4-H’er, she was president of the Canaan Hoof ‘N’ Hide 4-H Club, served on Junior Fair Board, and was an Ohio State Fair exhibitor and Junior Camp counselor. She has earned top-ten honors and showmanship awards with her steers.

A Norwayne High School graduate, Moore was in National Society, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Student Council. She also completed an internship at her church where she has been involved in youth group.

She hopes to pursue a degree in nursing with a minor in social work or children’s therapy.

Moore will receive her scholarship before the beef auction at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, in the Event Center.

Johnson will receive his scholarship prior to the Market Auction at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the Event Center.

He is the son of Russ and Molly Johnson, a freshman at OSU ATI. A graduate of Smithville High School, Johnson was a 13-year 4-H’er who served as an officer in his club, was a member of Junior Fair Board, Junior Leaders, Junior Fair Royalty, and the Livestock Judging Team.

His projects included sheep and he has raised an exhibited purebred Hampshire and Tunis sheep. A highlight of his 4-H career was working alongside his sister and other 4-H’ers and learning from coaches on the Livestock and Meats Judging Team. Working with the livestock team helped him gain life skills such as public speaking, decision making and organizing reasons to defend his decisions as well as working with a group.

Johnson earned the State and American FFA degrees and was involved in his church youth group. He was a high school wrestler and played football.

His goal is to graduate with an associate degree in livestock production and management with a small ruminant specialization.

Armstrong, Caldwell receive 4-H/FFA Beef Committee Scholarship

Two Wayne County 4-H/FFA Beef Committee Scholarship also will be awarded before the beef auction to Sarah Armstrong and Haley Caldwell.

Armstrong is the daughter of Mark and Jody Armstrong of Wooster. She is a Norwayne High School graduate and a nine-year 4-H’er. She served as an officer in the Canaan Country Cousins, exhibited market beef projects and earned reserve and grand champion awards for her carcass steer entries. She also has taken still projects and earned Outstanding Exhibitor awards for market lamb and beef projects.

At Norwayne, she played softball, was a member of the National Honor Society and was involved in theater and band, serving as the band’s drum major. She also is involved in music and youth group at her church.

She is attending Liberty University to study music education.

Caldwell is the daughter of Jessica and John Gerspacher of West Salem. She is a nine-year 4-H’er and earned grand and reserve champion honors for her beef projects. She also has taken market lambs, rabbit and dairy feeder projects.

A Northwestern High School graduate, she played softball, volleyball, and participated in band and football cheer. She also is an FFA member.

She is attending Stark State College to obtain an associate’s degree in assistant physical therapy.

4-H/FFA Dairy Committee Scholarship

The 4-H/FFA Dairy Committee Scholarship will be presented to Kelly Hawvermale, Cowen McKelvey and Audrey Sidle before the Dairy Products Auction at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, in the Coliseum.

Hawvermale is the daughter of John and Donna Hawvermale of Wooster and a freshman at Muskingum University. A 13-year 4-H’er, Hawvermale earned state and national honors for her dairy heifer and cow projects. She also took market goat, dairy feeder calf and sewing projects.

She is a graduate of Waynedale High School, where she was involved in choir and National Honor Society. She also has mentored and taught youth  how to properly care for and show their market animals in the Be You Livestock program.

She plans to become a therapist and compete at the college level in archery.

Mckelvey is a graduate of Wayne County Schools Career Center and Waynedale High School graduate. He is the son of Matt and Tonya Mckelvey of Fredericksburg. A nine-year 4-H’er, he served as an officer in Basically Bovine 4-H Club, earned champion honors with his dairy cattle and beef projects. The 4-H program has provided him a way to meet others who share his passion for livestock.

His high school activities include FFA, wrestling and baseball.

A student at OSU ATI, he plans to be the sixth generation to operate his family’s dairy farm.

Sidle is the daughter of Beth and John Matty of Smithville. She is a Smithville High School graduate and nine-year 4-H’er. She has been a Junior Leader and member of the Junior Fair Board, Livestock Judging Team, Dairy Quiz Bowl and Ohio State Fair exhibitor.

She has earned county and state champion honors for her dairy cow projects. She’s also shown market lambs and chickens.

Sidle was the 2021 Wayne County Senior Dairy Ambassador and this year represented Ohio at the National Holstein Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah.

In high school, she played basketball and was an officer in the FFA chapter.  She is pursuing a degree in agricultural business at OSU ATI with the goal of working as a sales representative for a local dairy supplier.

Rusmisel receives Pat Kanehl Memorial Scholarship

Olivia Rusmisel was selected to receive the Pat Kanehl Memorial Scholarship, given in memory of dedicated 4-H volunteer Pat Kanehl to honor a 4-H member’s leadership skills and strong equine background. Her scholarship will be presented prior to the Market Auction on Wednesday.

Rusmisel is the daughter of Thad and Sarah Rusmisel and is a freshman at the University of Cincinnati. She is enrolled online so she can continue to show her horses.

An eight-year member of Horses ‘R’ Us, she has shown her horse Stewie throughout her 4-H career. Her favorite memory with her horse was winning showmanship at the Wayne County Fair in 2023. She has captured Western, English and Champion of Champion of Showmanship awards. She has multiple championship titles from the Ohio State Fair.

A Triway High School graduate, she plans to major in marketing and use the degree in the equine field.

Two earn Bake Auction scholarships

Wayne County Bake Auction scholarships will be awarded to Cameron Carr and Kayla Lawson at the Bake Auction at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8, in the Event Center.

Carr is the son of Art and Jennifer Carr of Wooster and a 10-year member of 4-H. He has been an officer for the Smithie Whiz Kids, a Junior Leader, attended Buckeye Leadership Workshop and an Ohio State Fair exhibitor. He was a state fair representative with his small engines and woodworking projects. Carr also has shown pig projects at the State Fair.

His community activities include leading a team of teens for the tech operation for Sunday worship services at this church, working with an adult Sunday School class to help people in the community and a yearly work trip to the Salem West Virginia area.

A Smithville High School graduate, Carr was a class officer, president of a team that organized school activities, involved with Literacy Leaders and a mentor program that works with elementary students, cross country and track.

Carr plans to join the United States Air Force Academy or attend Ashland University to earn an industrial engineering degree.

Lawson is the daughter of Kevin and Kari Lawson of Dalton, and a Tuslaw High School graduate. She is a 10-year member of Dalton Equestrian and More 4-H Club and served as an officer in her club, Junior Leader, Junior Fair Board member, CARTEENS leader, Ohio State Fair exhibitor and Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council member.

She has earned champion honors and showmanship and horsemanship awards for her livestock and horse projects. She also competed at the State Fair with her cooking, sewing and dog projects.

Her school activities included FFA, gymnastics and volleyball. She is a member of Divine Mercy Parish and volunteers with Legacy of Honor assisting veterans and first responders. She takes her pony, goats and dogs to local nursing homes for residents to enjoy.

She is attending Midway University to major in equine rehabilitation and equine business and sales and riding with the university’s Intercollegiate Horse Shows Association Western Team.

Dianne Hange Scholarship recipient

Winner of the Dianne Hange Scholarship is McKenna Baney, daughter of Jamie Young and Michael Baney. She is a Waynedale High School graduate and an 11-year 4-H’er. She has been a Junior Camp counselor, Junior Fair Board member, Junior Leader and member of the Livestock Judging Team.

Her livestock projects earned her champion honors, outstanding market exhibitor awards at the local, state and national levels. Raising and showing market rabbits, lambs and steers and dairy goats and beef breeding cattle have helped her develop good work ethic and communication skills. She enjoys helping younger members fit their livestock projects. She also received an outstanding for a sewing project.

High School activities included track, basketball, soccer, National Honor Society. She’s an active member of Grace Church in Wooster and is attending Muskingum University to play basketball and major in animal studies with the goal of working as a veterinary technician.

Hange will present Baney the scholarship prior to the Bake Auction.

This article originally appeared on The Daily Record: Wayne County gives scholarships to 15 4-H members based on experience, communty activity