The 4-H State Awards process is educational in itself. Its a path of self discovery. Often times we forget many of the steps in our journey. Its that journey that makes the end result so rewarding. The 4-H state Awards process assists 4-H members in recalling their journey.
I remember the first time our girls started the State Award process here in Michigan. The application once completed is close to 20 pages long. The member documents all of the activities, learning experiences, community service, etc. in a single spaced list of all that you’ve done in your 4-H project area. When doing this for the first time, it is often difficult to fill the pages. For our daughters the opposite has happened. They have done so many things in their project area in 4-H that they have to start eliminating bullet points to get the portfolio to fit within the necessary page limitations.
The application gets submitted to your county extension office at the beginning of March. The staff at the extension office has one week to get that portfolio to the regional office. Since only two members can submit an application per project area, there is some judging and recommendations that occur at the county level. On occasion they will have too many applicants for a project area and ask a member to submit with a new project emphasis. Jessica had to do this here first year. She had to switch from rabbits to photography. That was difficult to complete, but a great learning experience.
Once the regional directors receive the State Award portfolios, the detailed judging begins. A committee reviews and comments on each application. Two members from each project area are then selected as regional award finalists. As the regional award finalist, you then become eligible for the State Award. In Michigan there are five regions, so generally ten members ultimately compete for the 4-H State Award.
Members will then receive their State Award portfolios back after the regional judging where additional fine tuning can be done by the members. Usually these come back to the member around April 1 and have to be resubmitted by May 1 for the final State Award judging. During this time the members will use the judges comments from the regional process and make any necessary adjustments to their portfolio.
In St Clair County, we are privileged to have Mary Taylor (and her husband Ed!) assist all State Award finalists in preparation of the portfolios and in preparation for State Award interviews. Ashleigh and Jessica both had multiple practice interviews. Community leaders attended each interview session, and conducted the interviews. This not only gives them confidence in the State Award interview, but in other interview settings as well.
Finally Michigan’s 4-H Exploration Days arrive, and all the State Award delegates meet at MSU for interviews in their project area. The delegates are interviewed by a panel of judges. Thursday night is the big night. MSU and 4-H put on a large production at the Wharton Center. The delegates get dressed up in formal attire. There are slide shows, music, and sometimes laser light shows associated with the ceremony. Each award delegate walks out on stage during the ceremony.
Finally, the project areas are called up one by one, to announce both the runner up and the State Award winner. Being the State Award winner is the highest possible compliment to your accomplishments within your 4-H project area. It represents a culmination of learning, teaching, community service, and leadership within your project area. To hear your name called during the awards ceremony is a great honor.
For our girls this competition is very difficult. As sisters, they often do many of the same things. They often attend the same workshops, teach the same workshops, and have many of the same leadership opportunities. Its difficult for them to distinguish themselves. To have both Ashleigh and Jessica up for the State Award in rabbits was rewarding. (Taylor is still to young for the competition).
The time came for the rabbit state award to be announced. Honors, or runner-up was called first. The 2010 State Award Runner-up for rabbits…..Jessica Usakowski. Wow! We were so excited. My thoughts quickly turned to Ashleigh. This was Ashleigh’s last year of competition for a State Award. Could she possibly win the award and have sisters as runner up and winner? The 2010 State Award winner for rabbits is……Ashleigh Usakowski!
Our girls have accomplished many things in the rabbit project. The girls both had so many things outside of 4-H that they could have had in their portfolio. They have been one of the top exhibitors in Holland Lops in the past, and Jersey Woolies currently. They were the top exhibitor in the MSRBYA last year. However, this process was about 4-H and all that they have accomplished in 4-H. I am proud of the the girls and all that they have done.
I am a little biased but they accomplished many things in the journey, and the State Award was well deserved. Jessica still has many things she would like to accomplish in the rabbit project area, and she has a younger sister that will be nipping at her heels next year. Congratulations to Ashleigh and Jessica on a job well done.
To hear Cathie (mom) get excited and see the award announced check out our You Tube Video:
Rob Usakowski
Three Little Ladies Rabbitry