Katelyn Ackland, of Rochelle, joined 4-H eight years ago and has since grown in her leadership, passions and recently took top honors in Ogle County.

During Ogle County 4-H’s achievement celebration in November Ackland was awarded top county honors with the Co-op watch award. The watch award, sponsored by the Ogle County Farm Bureau and its affiliates, is given to two county 4-H’ers with the most impressive records of long-term leadership and service at the club level and beyond. Ackland is a member of the Ogle County Clovers.

“Throughout all of the years of being in 4-H, I would keep a binder with all of my accomplishments, awards, newspaper articles, and previous completed project records in it. At the end of each 4-H year, all of the 4-Hers up-date their record books and extension office leaders would examine all of the 4-Her’s record books. This determines how each 4-Her is awarded,” explained Ackland. “This is how they chose me for my top honors 4-H award. It was a very rewarding surprise to be acknowledged with top-honors. 4-H has been a large part of my childhood, and it feels great to be awarded for all of the hard, yet fun work.”

Ackland is homeschooled and attends the Greater Rochelle Area Christian Education co-op weekly. This is her senior year of high school and final year as a 4-H member as she plans to attend Kishwaukee College in the fall. She first joined 4-H with her sisters as way to make new friends, learn more and be active in the community.

“Each year in 4-H, I try to challenge myself a little more. Whether it be stepping up to more responsibilities at the 4-H meetings, or picking a new project area to work on, it is always exciting, fun, and challenging. That way I keep learning more and find new things that I enjoy,” she explained.

While she has been involved with many projects and service projects during her time in 4-H, each year Ackland looks forward to the 4-H fair.

“At this event, you get to make a display or project to show everyone what you learned throughout the year. Plus you get rated on the work that you put into your project. The fair gives you the opportunity to shine and possibly even win a trip to the state fair, which is always a blast,” stated Ackland.

Ackland’s favorite 4-H project she completed was a purple dress she sewed this past year.

“The sparkly purple dress was a challenge, but it was very rewarding to try it on and admire it once it was completed,” Ackland explained. “I made plenty of great memories while creating this masterpiece.”

A top memory of hers is participating in the state fair fashion review last year. Her project was a sparkly blue dress and she was wearing it while walking through the fair.

“I felt like a celebrity walking through all of the crowds in my sparkly blue dress that I had sewn,” she explained. “A mom with her little girl came up and asked me if she could take a picture of me with her daughter, because her adorable little girl thought that I was an actual princess. It was really sweet.”

While her favorite project and top memory include dresses that Ackland sewed, her time in 4-H has involved far more than attending meetings and completing projects at the sewing machine.

“4-H has given me my people-skills. I have met so many amazing friends through 4-H who have taught me what it really means to be a good friend and that we need others to help us get through tough times,” she explained. “4-H has also introduced me to new subjects that I would have other-wise not known that I loved, from cooking, sewing, and knitting to rabbit care, theatre arts, and traveling.”

As she has grown in 4-H in the past eight years, Ackland has stepped up in leadership positions each year. She has held officer positions in the Ogle County Clovers 4-H club and Federation 4-H club, served as a science ambassador, teen teacher and was a member of the Speaking For 4-H team. Ackland currently volunteers as a 4-H ambassador.

Along with the Co-op Watch Award, Ackland has won Top Vice-President, Top 30 Award, Certificate of Progression, Project Achievement, eighty-six county fair ribbons, four state fair ribbons, seven gold project area awards, the award of participation, the Service Achievement award, and the “I Dare You” Leadership Award.

“4-H is one of the best opportunities for kids to blossom and figure out what they enjoy. Throughout a 4-H career, you are able to find supportive friends, have great experiences, and life-long memories. 4-H is filled with amazing opportunities,” added Ackland. “I love that there is something for everyone in 4-H. You could choose to learn about animal science, traveling, cooking, art…and so much more.”

4-H

4-H is a youth organization that belongs to the members, their families, and other interested adults who serve as volunteer leaders. Professional leadership is provided by University of Illinois Extension staff. Support for 4-H programs is a joint effort of local organizations, county government, the University of Illinois, and the United States Dept. of Agriculture.

In 4-H, young people share, grow, and learn together from various projects, events, and activities in informal situations under the guidance of their families and other volunteer adult leaders. Members can choose projects that fit them and the places where they live. Group activities and events such as trips, camps, fairs, shows, and workshops provide additional learning experiences and opportunities.

4-H is open to all youth and adults regardless of their ethnic background, race, creed, or disability. Most 4-H clubs have meetings for the entire membership once a month. During these meetings, decisions are made about group sponsored activities such as community service efforts, project opportunities, and fund-raising efforts.

Regardless of the structure, a 4-H group may involve families, neighbors, relatives, and others. Participants have fun learning, working, and succeeding together in the home, community, and beyond.

Ogle County Clovers is led by Becky Ackland and meets the second Thursday of the month at Rochelle United Methodist Church at 6:30 p.m.