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This year’s County 4-H Banquet, held on April 8, 2025, was a night of celebration, recognition, and inspiration as 55 dedicated 4-H’ers were honored for their remarkable achievements in 2024. The event, which took place at the Baxter County Fairgrounds, brought together members of the 4-H community, including family, friends, and local leaders, to applaud the hard work and perseverance shown by youth in their projects and activities throughout the year.
The banquet kicked off with a warm welcome from members of the Teen Leaders Club, who facilitated the entire banquet. Guest speakers, Kelsey Roach, former Baxter County 4-H’er and Briley Speelman, former Baxter County 4-H’er, and Hannah Dooley, a current Baxter County 4-H’er and State 4-H Ambassador emphasized the importance of the 4-H program in developing young leaders and fostering skills that will serve participants for a lifetime. The event was not only a time to celebrate the achievements of 2024, but also to inspire the next generation of youth to continue pursuing excellence in their projects.
Throughout the evening, each of the 55 honorees took center stage, receiving accolades for their exceptional work across a variety of categories, including agriculture, livestock, fine arts, community service, and more. Their projects ranged from beef science to fashion.
Among the standout moments of the evening was the recognition of the “Friend of 4-H” award, presented to Mrs. Rose Dearin, who recently retired from the Baxter County Extension Office. Through her position at the Extension Office, she got to know the 4-H’ers and their projects. She has always been a cheerleader for 4-H in every capacity possible.
The banquet also highlighted the hard work of volunteers, leaders, and community partners who make the 4-H program possible. Jackie Alman and Hannah Walker were presented with the 4-H Leader of the Year Award for their unwavering dedication to mentoring and guiding 4-H members. They were praised for their volunteer work, impacting their club’s members as well as the community.
The evening concluded with a presentation of Record Book winners by Amanda Rychtarik, Baxter County Extension 4-H Agent, who commended the 4-H’ers for their commitment to record keeping and personal growth. “Record Books are a great way to track everything you’ve done with your project and as a result, you can use it to apply for scholarships and even use your Record Book to go along with job applications” Rychtarik remarked.
As the banquet wrapped up, participants left with a sense of pride and accomplishment. For the 55 young honorees, the 2024 County 4-H Banquet marked not just an evening of recognition, but a reminder of the power of hard work, creativity, and community support in achieving success.
For more information about the 4-H program and to get involved, contact Amanda Rychtarik at (870)425-2335 or [email protected]. You can also check out the county Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/BaxterCountyAR4H.
