Llama Lovers – Critter Haven Farm Outstanding 4-H Club
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Thirty-one 4-H Clubs were eligible for Allen County’s 2010 Outstanding 4-H Club. Llama Lovers – Critter Haven Farm, one of four countywide llama clubs, was announced the 2010 Outstanding 4-H Club during the 4-H awards ceremony. They earned a certificate, cash gift from the Allen County 4-H Clubs, Inc., a traveling banner and plaque.

This club has 20 active members ranging from K-12 who brought their llamas to the 2009 Allen County Fairgrounds “Country Christmas” and to various areas in the community, assisted at local, state and national llama events and donated 38 llama fleeces to help with the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Members were assisted by Doris Schlemmer, Katie Adelman, Laura Howard and Lynette Swinehart who dedicated their time as the club’s 4-H leaders.

Nine other Allen County 4-H clubs were recognized for their achievements. Gold Recognition and Honorable Mention: Golden Hearts; Silver Recognition: Aboite Homesteaders, Cedar Creek Companions and Marion BG’s; and Bronze Recognition: Blue Ribbons, Crafty Cubs, Eel River, New Haven Clovers and Pleasant Pals.

Illinois Salute of Excellence awards finalists named
Urbana, Ill. — The 2010 National 4-H Salute to Excellence Award Program recognizes volunteers recognized by state 4-H offices in two categories: The Lifetime Volunteer Award, which is awarded to those with 10 or more years of service, and people with less than 10 years can earn The Volunteer of the Year Award.

Five 4-H volunteers were named 2010 Illinois Salute to Excellence Lifetime Volunteer Award finalists including: Wes Pourchot of Bond County, Barb Kleiss of Champaign County, Colleen Carlson of McDonough County, Bob Lyford of Boone County, and Penny Monkemeyer of Kendall County. The Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year Award finalists were: Sarah Koester of Randolph County, Linda Faye White of McLean County, Dee Kirwan of McDonough County, Jane Zeien of Boone County, and Sarah Stewart of Kendall County.

Allen County Fair participants donate 4-H projects
FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Donations of fresh produce and meat and nonperishable food items were given to various organizations to help the unfortunate.

Visitors who wanted to see the Garden and Potato projects this year only saw one display after the projects were judged because 57 4-H members donated their produce immediately after to the Fort Wayne Rescue Mission.

The Blue Ribbons 4-H Club used nonperishable food items to build a Blue Ribbon Pie display. After the fair, a total of 130 pounds of nonperishable food was donated to the Allen County Food Banks and Associated Churches of Fort Wayne.