Plenty of hardware handed out at Niagara 4-H awards ceremony

The McGee sisters, Morgan and Emily, had a lot of awards to take home from awards night as they were congratulated for a very successful year in 4-H. ~ Ann Marie Chechalk photo

By Ann Marie Chechalk

The tables are adorned with green table cloths, the stage is lined with awards and trophies. The Community Hall of the West Niagara Agricultural Society is ready for the annual Niagara 4-H awards night. Members of the Lincoln Dairy Club are the hosts, while MCs Simon Heeringa and Janna Furry will welcome guests, sponsors and members to the podium.

A delicious pot luck dinner and amazing desserts start off the evening of Nov. 28. More than 80 members and their families came out for an evening of fellowship.

Greetings were brought from Niagara 4-H president Mike Chechalk. West Niagara Agricultural Society president Annette VanMarrum brought greetings from the fair.

“So thankful for all the volunteers that are part of 4-H and the fair. This year I was able to see my grandchildren as part of the 4-H program,” she said.

Jessica Rooker, of the Wainfleet Fair, said: “We were able to welcome the goat club, dairy clubs and the poultry clubs to our fair this year, we hope to keep growing with 4-H exhibitors.”

The night offered a chance to honour the 2025 4-H leaders: Leading the Lincoln dairy club were Brad Eggink, Christine Linde, Amanda Comfort, Mark Heeringa and Matthew Pot. Lori Mann and Brenda Gilchrist led the rabbit club. Wainfleet dairy was led by Brenda Roszell, Amber Gilbert and Frank Stoop. Ann Marie Chechalk, Deanna Bartels, Andrew Chechalk, and Jonathan Dugdale led the goat club. The plowing club was turning the earth with Calvin Dunlop and Evan Scott and welcoming the poultry club members was Jessie Rooker and Kristen Leppert.

Life skill leaders Lynn Gibson and Deanna Bartels led the world of food and the best of the bakery club. Ann Marie Chechalk and Annette Noonan led the scrapbooking club over the year.

Thank you for volunteering and congratulations go out to Kristen Leppert and Matthew Pot for their first year of leading. Milestone anniversaries of volunteering included Christine Linde, 10 years, Brenda Roszell, 15 years, Niagara 4-H treasurer Vaughn Gibbons, 20 years. Special congratulations and much thanks to Frank Stoop for 35 years of dedication to the 4-H program.

Fifteen new members were welcomed to 4-H, all receiving a first-year seal and certificate: James Crompton, Ryeanne DeBoer, Austin Ebeling, Mark Ebeling, Blake Jansema, Allison Kemper, Alice Klijn, Meira Marlatt, Bryson Moesker, Hailey Sikkens, Adrian Sikking, Carson VanMarrum, Harper VanMarrum, Reese VanMarrum and Anne Zawaly. Derek Van Wely and Evan Vanderzanden received one project provincial seals.

A 4-H Ontario pin was handed out to Benjamin Chechalk, Katie Gunn, Jack Kelly, Liam Kelly, Genesis Lopez, Lea Lopez, Haven Stec, Selena Van Wely, Juliet Van Wely, Alexis Vanderzanden and Tristan Wielink for completing six projects.

Zhianna Bacon, Brad Jansema, Emily Knutt, James Knutt and Chloe Mous-Hili received a 4-H coffee mug for completing 12 projects. Completing 30 was Emily McGee, while Morgan McGee completed 36 projects and Samantha Angle completed 48 projects.

Jim and Gay McIlwain sponsored the Tricia Vaughan Memorial Award, given to a member showing initiative, innovation and dedication to the 4-H program and mentorship and inspiration to others in the program and a giving spirit within the 4-H community and the community at large. Emily McGee represents those ideals, for volunteering within 4-H and at the West Niagara Fair.

Graduating member Brad Jansema was selected as the Kubota Longstanding Member along with the Ontario Plowman’s Association award as top agricultural member. Nominating him, leader Brad Eggink spoke of his many achievements.

“Brad is one of the most passionate, keen and hardworking youth we have had the pleasure to work with in the Lincoln Dairy Calf Club. Committed not only to himself, he has always shown exemplary leadership within the club, helping all members and educating all members on proper calf health, showmanship and clipping,” Eggink said.

“He has excelled in both the show ring and in the judging competitions. Brad has landed a spot on the Niagara team for the Royal Winter Fair TD Class for the last eight consecutive years. When there are only eight spots available and nearly 20 youth competing for these spots, it illustrates his excellence both in the ring and outside of the ring.”

Eggink said Jansema is always in the top spots for yearly judging competitions put on by Niagara 4-H.

“In 2023, Brad jumped in with both feet and purchased a dairy farm, which he farms with his dad and family under the Braejan Holsteins prefix. Running his own dairy farm, finding time to participate in 4-H and excelling while doing so all the while putting others before himself, we shall miss him as a 4-H member,” Eggink said.

Receiving the Spirit of 4-H Award sponsored by Ontario Holstein was Tyler Gilbert. This is presented to an outstanding 4-H dairy calf club member who exhibits strength of character and is making a positive difference within their community. The award is designed to recognize the contribution of a 4-H member, through their leadership, dedication and commitment to the 4-H program.

Benjamin Chechalk received a 4-H plate as the winner of the IPM beautification contest in the 4-H category.

District Six Grain Farmers sponsored the judging night awards: Top novice judge, Gavin Vooys; Top junior judge, Selena Van Wely; Top intermediate judge, Liam Kelly; Top senior judge, Brad Jansema; Top crop judge, Morgan McGee; and top overall judge, Brad Jansema.

Chris Mullet-Koop, president of the Niagara Federation of Agriculture, presented the Niagara Federation of Agriculture top member awards. He expressed hopes that as he looked around some of these members would go on to join the federation as directors in the future. Winners included: Brad Jansema, Lincoln dairy club; Emily McGee, Niagara goat club; Morrigan Mason, rabbit club; Tyler Gilbert, Wainfleet dairy club; and Haven Stec, poultry club.

The top showmen competing in the grand champion showmanship competition at the West Niagara Fair was sponsored by the Ontario Institute of Agrologists. Agrologists study commercial and native plant communities and livestock production in order to improve yields, while at the same time advocating sustainable farming and ranching methods. Agrologists may also study farm, urban, and wilderness interfaces to find solutions to the challenge of competing demands on the land base, wildlife habitat, timber, recreation, urban expansion, and livestock. Most agrologists work as members of a team alongside other scientists and agriculture experts.

The Ontario Institute of Agrologists-Niagara Branch presented the awards to: Emily McGee, goat club; Brad Jansema, dairy club; and Hadessah Lodewyk, poultry club. All went home feeling warm and fuzzy in their new sweatshirts.

Emily McGee was to be congratulated as champion showperson at the fair and received the Frankie’s Goats and Fine-Line Woodwork and Design Inc. trophy.

“We are very proud of Emily and all she has achieved with the goat club,” said Joanne Battersby.

Individual clubs presented many awards. The scrapbook club gave out bags containing calendars so members could remember when their meetings were scheduled. The cooking club passed out spatulas and the poultry club members received show preparation tool kits.

The Lincoln dairy club would like to thank all their sponsors and farms that supported them this year, financially and by lending their calves to members. Awards were handed out to top novice member, Bryson Moesker; Top junior member, Janna Furry; Top intermediate member, Kate Kemper; Top senior member, Kevin Angle; and top overall member, Brad Jansema. The Lincoln club achievement day award went to Brad Jansema, while grand champion calf went to Brookelyn Eggink.

Jan Van Wely, of the Niagara Milk Producers, presented an award in memoriam of Maryanne McDougall. This award was presented to Rachelle Baarda.

The Niagara coat club recognized Gavin Vooys for champion novice showperson at the West Niagara Fair, Jack Kelly for champion junior showperson, Emily McGee for champion intermediate, and champion senior showperson, Morgan McGee.

The first year for the poultry club was quite exciting, with members competing at the West Niagara Fair, the Wainfleet Fair and the American Poultry Association-American Bantam Association national meet. The winner of the husbandry award was Haven Stec, the enthusiasm award, James Crompton, the courage award, Anne Zawaly.

Rabbit club members were recognized for top enthusiastic member, Alexis Vanderzanden; Husbandry award, Haven Stec; Most dedicated member, Zhianna Bacon; Top member, Morrigan Mason; Top showperson cavy, Evelyn Green; and champion showperson, Lily Wiley.

Presenting the awards to the Wainfleet Dairy Club was Frank Stoop, a 35-year leader. Top spring heifer, Austin Ebeling; Top winter heifer, Abigail Knutt; Top fall heifer, Tyler Gilbert; Top summer yearling, Emily Knutt; Grand champion calf, Austin Ebeling; Reserve grand champion calf, Emily Knutt; Champion novice showman, Blake Jansema; Champion junior showman, Abigail Knutt; Champion senior showman, Tyler Gilbert; and reserve champion showman, Abigail Knutt.

The club is looking forward to 2026 and another great 4-H year.

Thanks go out to the many sponsors, leaders and supportive families of the Niagara 4-H program.