2024 Awards Ceremony

Morris County 4-H Awards Ceremony - November 16, 2024

Congratulations to our 4-H members, club leaders, board members, volunteers, and families on all you have achieved during the 4-H year of 2023-2024!

All county level awards and higher were presented at our special Awards Ceremony on Saturday, November 16th at Morris County's Public Safety Training Academy.  Many helpers prepared the big auditorium and entrance, and Teen Council members led us through the ceremony. 

The event and all awards, trophies, and plaques were sponsored by the Morris County 4-H Association. A thank-you also to the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy for providing the space.

See the slide show or below for the details on the award recipients.

Make sure you check out the photo album too.

Congratulations everyone!

Benjamin started in 4-H with a Shutterbugs 4-H Club photo walk where he experienced a fun and welcoming community.  Since then, he has been an active 4-H member for three years in the Shutterbugs, Minecraft, Mad STEM Scientists, and Teen Council 4-H Clubs.  He has represented Morris County 4-H at a variety of community outreach events and state level 4-H programs. Benjamin is particularly proud of his work in the 4-H and Smithsonian Institute “Museum on Main Street” program.  In this program, he studied the pandemic’s impact on food insecurity within NJ communities and successfully published an article with the Smithsonian.  Benjamin says that 4-H offers many opportunities to figure out what you like and get a head start on whatever dreams you want to pursue in life.

Samantha has been a 4-H member for 10 years and is active in multiple clubs including Furry Friends, Feathered Friends, Just Kid ‘n’ Around, Radical Racers, Curious Critters, Busy Bees and Seedlings, Dumbledorks, and Teen Council.  Samantha can be found at nearly all county 4-H events offering hands-on activities to participants, assisting with set-up and clean-up, and answering the public’s questions.  Samantha demonstrates positive leadership throughout her many 4-H clubs and events, including Science-sational Day and the Fair.  When there is work to be done, she is the first to offer help and easily recruits youth and adults.  It is clear to everyone who knows her that Samantha loves 4-H and makes this community a priority in her life.  

Johanna P.

The 4-H Alumni of the Year Award is given to someone who continues to “make the best better” by sharing their time and talents with 4-H.  This year’s award recipient is Johanna P.  

As a youth member in Morris County 4-H, Johanna was active in a multitude of clubs including Be The Change, Buckanears, Dogs R Us, Teen Council, and Wing Nuts.  She served in a variety of club officer roles, taught workshops at the county and state level, and represented Morris County 4-H at state and national events.  Johanna participated in nearly every 4-H opportunity available and encouraged her peers to do the same.

As an adult volunteer, Johanna continues to support 4-H youth members through a variety of roles.  Her expertise in animal care, training, and showing benefits the 4-H clubs she currently serves as a co-leader.  This includes Morris County’s Curious Critters and Buckanears 4-H Clubs as well as a newly formed 4-H dog training club in Passaic and Essex Counties.  At the Morris County 4-H Fair, Johanna ran multiple Quiz Bowls that tested the 4-H members’ knowledge of 4-H history and animal project areas.  She also coached youth preparing for the annual 4-H Public Presentations event by hosting workshops and serving as a judge.  Throughout the year, Johanna leads hands-on workshops and activities at 4-H events including Science-sational Day, Trunk or Treat, and many community outreach events. 

Whenever 4-H asks, Johanna is ready to help.  She knows first-hand the value of the 4-H program and works to make every youth member’s experience in 4-H meaningful.  What makes her an outstanding 4-H volunteer is the individual attention and care she gives to youth in need of extra support.  She helps youth break down tasks into manageable steps, provides encouragement when things are difficult, and celebrates members’ success.  She is a cheerleader, coach, and caring adult to many youth.

Thank you, Johanna P., for everything you do to make the 4-H experience special for our county’s youth.  We are pleased to present you with the 2024 4-H Alumni of the Year Award. 

George Massaker and Moo & Oink

Our next award was created in honor of long-time 4-H volunteers, Rich and Beth Everett.  They brought ideas to life that improved the annual 4-H Fair and the overall county 4-H program.  This year, the Rich & Beth Everett Innovation Award is presented to George Massaker, owner of Moo & Oink food truck.

At the 2024 Morris County 4-H Fair, George went above and beyond in his support to elevate the fair food experience for visitors and 4-H families.  With his guidance and leadership, the food court was relocated and redesigned for a larger space and included a variety of food options. George generously shared his time and network of food truck friends to ensure visitors were well-fed and delighted by the quality and options available.  When asked about managing competition between food trucks, George emphasized his priority to make fairgoers happy.

George and the entire Moo & Oink team were instrumental in upgrading the 4-H Fair’s food court.  They knew what was needed and worked with 4-H staff and volunteers to ensure everyone had a great Fair experience including 4-H families, vendors, and visitors.  We are grateful to George and his team for their support of the Morris County 4-H Fair and look forward to working with them again in the future.  Please join me in thanking George Massaker and Moo & Oink.

North Jersey Homeschool Science Center

The Friend of 4-H Award is given in recognition of an organization or individual that provides significant support to the Morris County 4-H program. This year, the award is presented to the North Jersey Homeschool Science Center.  The center has supported Morris County 4-H for many years including as a host-site for the Mad STEM Scientists, Game Breakers, and Tech-no Bots 4-H clubs.  Several teachers from the North Jersey Homeschool Science Center have served as appointed 4-H volunteers and taught workshops at 4-H Science-sational Day.  When needed, supplies from the center have been provided for 4-H workshops such as the Fine Art workshop held last spring.  In addition to the in-kind donations of meeting space, volunteer expertise, and supplies, the North Jersey Homeschool Science Center has been a sponsor of the Morris County 4-H Fair for the past two years.  Please join me in thanking the North Jersey Homeschool Science Center for their support of this county’s 4-H program.