Thirteen Wayne County 4-H members have been awarded $8,000 in scholarships. The scholarships recognize their 4-H experience, academic achievements and community involvement, according to a community announcement.
The recipients include Mackenzie Hartzler, Kara Jones, Abigail Steen, Olivia Stoudmire and Caden Zimmerly, who earned General 4-H Scholarships. These scholarships will be presented before the Junior Fair Swine Auction at 8:30 a.m. Sept. 11, in the Wayne County Fair Event Center.
Hartzler, a Smithville High School graduate, is studying early childhood education at Ashland University. She was an officer in her FFA chapter and the Smithie Whiz Kids 4-H Club. Hartzler also participated in livestock projects and served on the Junior Fair Board.
Jones, a Central Christian High School graduate, is attending Ohio State University to study sustainable plant systems. She was a member of the Trailblazers 4-H Club and won the Outstanding Club Member award. Jones also raised and showed market and fancy poultry.
Steen, an 11-year 4-H member, graduated summa cum laude from Chippewa High School. She is pursuing a nursing degree at the University of Akron-Wayne College. Steen’s market rabbit projects won Champion honors, and her Pocket Pets still project won Best of Show.
Stoudmire, a Norwayne High School graduate, is a freshman at the Ohio State University Agricultural Technical Institute in Wooster. She is studying animal science with a minor in agribusiness. Stoudmire won Outstanding Market and Breed Exhibitor awards for her goat projects.
Zimmerly, a Smithville High School graduate, is attending OSU ATI to earn an associate degree in crop management and soil conservation. He served on his FFA chapter’s officer team and was a member of the Smithie Whiz Kids 4-H Club.
Alayna Perdicas will receive the Pat Kanehl Memorial Scholarship at the same auction. This scholarship honors a 4-H member’s leadership skills and equine background. Perdicas is a certified equine massage therapist and operates her own business, Balanced & Barefoot.
Madison Wade and Emma West are the winners of the F. Doyle Findley Scholarship. This scholarship honors academic achievement and commitment to livestock projects. They will receive their scholarships before the Junior Fair Beef Auction at 4 p.m. Sept. 11, in the Fair Event Center.
Wade is attending Tennessee Tech University Honors College, majoring in animal science. She served as an officer in FFA and the Dalton-Kidron 4-H club. West, a graduate of Dalton High School, is a freshman at OSU ATI majoring in animal industry and agribusiness.
Morgan Wiles will receive the Wayne County 4-H/FFA Beef Committee Scholarship. Wiles is a graduate of Norwayne High School and a freshman at Purdue University studying animal science.
Elizabeth Laney will receive the 4-H/FFA Dairy Committee Scholarship before the Dairy Products Auction at 9 a.m. Sept. 10, in the Coliseum. Laney is a Norwayne High School graduate attending Shawnee State University, majoring in dental hygiene.
Three scholarships will be presented before the Junior Fair Bake Auction at 6 p.m. Sept. 7, in the Event Center. Lillian Ediger will receive the Diane Hange scholarship, while Sarah Hovest and Megan Tenney will receive Bake Auction scholarships.
Ediger is studying to be a veterinary technician at Kent State University, Tuscarawas branch. Hovest is attending University of Akron-Wayne College, majoring in marketing. Tenney is a 13-year member of the Dalton-Kidron Big Four and is attending OSU ATI majoring in animal science.
This story was created by Jane Imbody, jimbody@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct/.
