EMILY HOLMES . . . 4-H Gold Star Tax-free Participation in the 4-H club projects over the past year earned four youth the top awards presented at the annual Freestone County 4-H Banquet held Saturday evening.

The banquet, in which individual youth, clubs and adult leaders are recognized for their work, was at the Fairfield elementary school cafeteria.

Master of ceremonies was Taylor Edwards- Adcock, a 2009 graduate of Fairfield high school, 4-H Council President, member of the Fairfield 4-H Club and winner of the 2008 Gold Star Award, the highest award given at the county level.

Winner of the 2010 Gold Star is Emily Holmes, a senior at Teague high school, member of the Freestone County 4-H Council, former and reelected President of Freestone Community 4-H and previous winner of the “I Dare You” and Silver Star awards.

Miss Holmes has been a member of 4-H since she was nine years old, starting out as a Clover Kid.

SAMANTHA WINKLER . . . 4-H Silver Star She has shown steers at the County Fair for nine years straight, this year winning reserve champion.

Holmes is on a Senior Livestock Judging Team, which has earned several awards this year as it traveled throughout Texas. She also entered her record book in the beef awards program, and is a member of both the Texas Junior Livestock Association and Red Angus Association.

After finishing her senior year, Miss Holmes plans to attend college to earn a degree in animal science with an emphasis on genetics.

“Having a 4-H project is a big responsibility and a lot of hard work. I have learned showmanship while exhibiting my steer at the fair,” says Miss Holmes. “Being in 4-H has been a very important part of my life. This has been a great year and a learning experience for me. I look forward to going to the Texas 4- H Congress soon.”

COOPER BLACKWELL . . . 4-H Bronze Star She is the daughter of Scott and Melanie Holmes. She has an older brother and sister, Allyson and Grant.

The Silver Star Award goes to Samantha Winkler, secretary of Dew 4-H, who will start Fairfield high school this next week as a freshman.

Miss Winkler has been showing sheep since she was nine years old winning Showmanship, Grand Champion and Reserve Champion in years past.

This year however, she branched out by showing George, a halter horse, earning her second place at the Freestone County Fair.

She also entered her record book in the horse awards program.

“To me, 4-H isn’t about showing animals or hanging out with friends, although those are some good aspects of 4-H,” says Miss Winkler. “It’s about life, and making the right choices. It’s also about learning who you are, and accepting that.”

EAGLE COUNTRY 4-H member Jacob Sessions received the Danforth “I Dare You” Award at a county 4-H celebration Saturday. She is the daughter of Sam and Charlotte Winkler of Dew.

The Bronze Star is awarded this year to Cooper Blackwell of Dew 4-H who started Clover Kids while in the first grade.

Blackwell has shown mostly goats but has also dabbled in swine. He won reserve champion with one of his goats this year.

His newest and most favorite project is his heifer, Saphira. Together they earned the title of division champions at the 2010 fair.

He also entered his record book in the goat awards program and won reserve best of show with a landscape photograph.

“With so many things that are interesting to me, I don’t really know what I want to be when I grow up. I just know that it will be something that I like, and probably something that I learned about through 4-H,” says Blackwell. “4-H has already given me lots of opportunities to meet other people and a way to explore a variety of things that are interesting.”

4-H ADULT LEADERS for the year are Thomas and Sarah Corbin. Accepting the award for the Corbins was Brian DeVault. He is the son of John Blackwell and Ginny Blackwell, both of Dew and has an older brother, Travis.

Earning the “I Dare You” award this year is Jacob Sessions, 4-H Council 1st Vice President, member of Eagle Country 4-H and 2009 winner of the Gold Star award.

He has shown hogs and sheep at the county Fair, held several leadership positions on the council and in his club, and has attended leadership conferences.

Sessions graduated this spring and received the Richard Wallrath Foundation Scholarship. He plans to attend community college first and transfer to the University of Texas to pursue a degree in architecture.

FRIENDS OF 4-H award went to Encana Oil and Gas, Pictured are: l-r, Bridgett Gauntt of Encana and Justice Oates. “I have confidence as I face this new chapter in my life, and most of that I can attribute to my participation and success in 4-H,” Sessions says.

He is the son of Hammond and Carla Sessions and has nine siblings.

Named as “Friends of the 4-H” this year is Encana Oil and Gas.

Receiving the Outstanding Adult Leaders award are Thomas and Sarah Corbin who were unable to attend. Accepting their award is Brian DeVault.

Introduction of guests for the banquet was offered by Jacob Sessions. Pledges of allegiance to Texas and the United States flags were lead by Cody McQueen, 4-H Council parliamentarian and member of the Fairfield 4-H Club.

The 4-H Motto and Pledge were lead by Travis Blackwell, 4-H Council reporter and member of Dew 4-H Club.