The 2024 Garvin County 4-H Achievement Banquet was held Oct. 12 at Trinity Baptist Church in Pauls Valley. The dinner and awards ceremony celebrated the hard work and achievements of 4-H youth from across the county this year.
Receiving Outstanding Member Awards in the Junior Division were Gauge Ratzlaff, of Lindsay, and Talan Dean, of Maysville. In the Intermediate Division Kolbi Koesler and Kally Milligan, both of Pauls Valley, received recognition, and in the Senior Division Karlie Koesler, of Pauls Valley, and Taryn McCaa, of Elmore City, received awards.
Kolbi Koesler, of Pauls Valley, and Jonathon Wright, of Stratford, were named as the year’s Junior Hall of Fame members. The Junior Hall of Fame award recognizes the significant achievements of junior division members within the 4-H program and encourages their continued growth and leadership. Koesler and Wright were presented with a plaque and a $25 scholarship from the Garvin County OHCE.
Cooper McKinzie, of Wynnewood, and Taryn McCaa, of Elmore City, were named as this year’s Senior Hall of Fame recipients. The prestigious honor is bestowed upon members who have made significant contributions to their clubs and communities, recognizing their dedication and impact. Both McKinzie and McCaa will have their framed portraits displayed at the Garvin County Courthouse for the year, and each received a $500 scholarship from First United Bank of Pauls Valley.
Ella Lister, of Stratford, and Katelynn Stanley, of Elmore City, both received the I Dare You Leadership Award this year. The award was created in 1941 by businessman and philanthropist William H. Danforth to recognize the achievements and promises of aspiring leaders and civic- minded youth.
4-H members who received County Project Medal Awards at this year’s banquet included:
- Jessi Harrell, of Elmore City, Food and Nutrition;
- Katelynn Stanley, of Elmore City, Beef;
- Taryn McCaa, of Elmore City, Leadership;
- Lauren Earp, of Elmore City, Achievement;
- Devin Stanley, of Elmore City, Goat;
- Legend Fowler, of Elmore City, Shooting Sports;
- Sylas Harrell, of Elmore City, Food and Nutrition;
- Gauge Ratzlaff, of Lindsay, Goat;
- Elise Beach, of Maysville, Veterinary Science;
- Kelsey Thompson, of Maysville, Swine;
- Tinley Milligan, of Pauls Valley, Sheep;
- Kally Milligan, of Pauls Valley, Judging;
- Kolbi Koesler, of Pauls Valley, Horse;
- Jonathon Wright, of Stratford, Judging;
- Ella Lister, of Stratford, Judging;
- Shelby Lister, of Stratford, Swine;
- Cooper McKinzie, of Wynnewood, Leadership
4-H members recognized with Top 3 Record Book Awards during the banquet were:
- Gauge Ratzlaff, of Lindsay, Junior Division, First Place Overall;
- Jonathon Wright, of Stratford, Junior Division, Second Place Overall;
- Jessi Harrell, of Elmore City, Junior Division, Third Place Overall;
- Kolbi Koesler, of Pauls Valley, Intermediate Division, First Place Overall;
- Kelsey Thompson, of Maysville, Intermediate Division, Second Place Overall;
- Kally Milligan, of Pauls Valley, Intermediate Division, Third Place Overall;
- Cooper McKinzie, of Wynnewood, Senior Division, First Place Overall;
- Taryn McCaa, of Elmore City, Senior Division, Second Place Overall;
- Legend Fowler, of Elmore City, Senior Division, Third Place Overall
Those receiving recognition for 4-H contest awards earned this year included:
- Anastasia Spencer, of Elmore City, Grand Champion, Junior Division, Creative Writing Contest;
- Nora Howard, of Elmore City, Reserve Champion, Junior Division, Creative Writing Contest;
- Braylee Wood, of Lindsay, Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Creative Writing Contest;
- Kolbi Koesler, of Pauls Valley, Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Creative Writing Contest; Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Impressive Dress; Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Extemporaneous”; Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Job Readiness”;
- Karlie Jean Koesler, of Pauls Valley, Grand Champion, Senior Division, Creative Writing Contest; Grand Champion, Senior Division, Impressive Dress; Grand Champion, Senior Division, Meat Judging; Reserve Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Extemporaneous”; Grand Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Job Readiness”;
- Taryn McCaa, of Elmore City, Reserve Champion, Senior Division, Creative Writing Contest; Reserve Champion, Senior Division, Impressive Dress; Grand Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Informative Speech”; Grand Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Extemporaneous”; Grand Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Team Demonstration”; Reserve Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Job Readiness”;
- Gauge Ratzlaff, of Lindsay, Grand Champion, Junior Division, Impressive Dress;
- Cooper Williams, of Lindsay, Reserve Champion, Junior Division, Impressive Dress;
- Kailee Smith, of Elmore City, Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Impressive Dress;
- Faith Lister, of Stratford, Grand Champion, Junior Division, Meat Judging;
- Dax Dansby, of Stratford, Reserve Champion, Junior Division, Meat Judging;
- Ella Lister, of Stratford, Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Meat Judging;
- Shelby Lister, of Stratford, Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Meat Judging; Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Skill-a-thon;
- Harli Johnson, of Elmore City, Reserve Champion, Senior Division, Meat Judging;
- Jake Lance, of Pauls Valley, Grand Champion, Junior Division, Communications Contest “Illustrated Talk”; Grand Champion, Junior Division, Communications Contest “PowerPoint”; Grand Champion, Junior Division, Communications Contest “Extemporaneous”;
- Kally Milligan, of Pauls Valley, Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Demonstration”; Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Illustrated Talk”; Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Skill-a-thon;
- Tinley Milligan, of Pauls Valley, Grand Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Illustrated Talk”; Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Demonstration”;
- Katelynn Stanley, of Elmore City, Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Extemporaneous”;
- Elise Beach, of Maysville, Reserve Champion, Intermediate Division, Communications Contest “Job Readiness”;
- Sylas Harrell, of Elmore City, Grand Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Demonstration”; Reserve Champion, Senior Division, Skill-a-thon;
- Lauren Earp, of Elmore City, Grand Champion, Senior Division, Communications Contest “Team Demonstration”;
- Abbi Jolly, of Pauls Valley, Grand Champion, Junior Division, Skill-a-thon;
- Addi Loriss, of Elmore City, Reserve Champion, Junior Division, Skill-a-thon;
- Cooper McKinzie, of Wynnewood, Grand Champion, Senior Division, Skill-a-thon;
- Makenna Phelps of Stratford, Charlee Cothren of Stratford, and Tinley Milligan of Pauls Valley, Grand Champions, Junior Division, Food Showdown;
- Hazen Carroll, Colton McGowan and Cole Cordell, all of Lindsay, Reserve Champions, Junior Division, Food Showdown;
- Shelby Lister and Ella Lister, of Stratford, Grand Champions, Senior Division, Food Showdown;
- Erika Medellin, Jackson Wilkins and Heston Chandler, all of Lindsay, Reserve Champions, Senior Division, Food Showdown.
