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HARTINGTON — Cedar County 4-H honors individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievement, community involvement, and personal growth. Two members were recognized Sunday evening for their Service and Achievements at the Cedar County 4-H Council meeting.
To qualify for these prestigious awards, members must have completed at least five years in the Cedar County 4-H program and must have been a junior or senior in high school during the 2023-2024 school year. Their 4-H story, submitted to the awards committee, must showcase a diverse range of projects, leadership roles, and community service.
This year’s Outstanding 4-H Service Award was presented to McKenzie Bruning, daughter of Kristi and Mark Bruning, Hartington. Bruning is a member of the Needles & Nails 4-H Club.
Bruning describes her years in 4-H as a journey full of lessons, learning and a whole lot of fun. From the time she joined the 4-H program as a Clover Kid until now, she has tried new things, learned to adapt to change, and met new friends. Over the years, Bruning has participated in public speaking, the fashion show, has exhibited many static exhibits, and has shown rabbits, chickens, bucket calves and goats at the Cedar County Fair. By attending 4-H project days and clinics she was able to experience a variety of projects to find what she liked and what she was good at. Even if she started a project she found didn’t spark her interest, she learned to finish what she started, and knew that the challenge and hard work would eventually pay off. All these lessons helped prepare her for young adulthood and she applied them to life on a day-today basis.
As Bruning grew older, she transitioned from the learner to a leader of 4-H. She served as a club officer in her 4-H club and as a youth representative and officer to the Cedar County 4-H Council. She helped with Clover Kid camps and interviewed Clover Kids when they brought their projects to the fair. Her 4-H leadership skills also evolved into community service and leadership roles in school.
Through 4-H, Bruning learned life is so much more than the ribbons, trophies, or premium money. 4-H is more than competing against some of your closest friends, it’s about supporting them through their successes. It is about family and memories you make working together as a family on projects and intergenerational projects, and the stories shared and passed through the generations. 4-H is gathering at the fairgrounds, sharing stories, picnics, and celebrating accomplishments.
McKenzie states in her application, “Learning all the skills I had learned growing up through 4-H gave me the confidence needed to be where I am today,” Bruning wrote in her application. “All the memories, the friends, the family, the fun, is what I will remember the most.”
Bruning is currently a senior at Hartington-Newcastle Public School and is aspiring to become a teacher and having the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.
This year’s Outstanding 4-H Achievement Award recipient was Maddie Steffen, daughter of Rose and Brian Steffen, Hartington. Steffen is also a member of the Needles & Nails 4-H Club.
In Steffen’s 10 years of 4-H she has completed many projects such as beef, chickens, rabbits, sheep, photography, sewing, gardening, and many other static exhibits. Many of the projects she has made she uses daily in her household, from home décor to the foods she grows, eats and preserves, to sewing clothes to wear and model, to citizenship projects to help those in need. One of Steffen’s greatest accomplishments in 4-H was receiving the award for most exhibits two years in a row, with over 60 exhibits the first year and over 40 the next year, and several of the exhibits receiving trophies and special recognition, and becoming eligible to go to the Nebraska State Fair. Over the years in 4-H Maddie has witnessed improvement in her skills and creativity. Steffen assists the judge and superintendent in the judging process on entry day at the fair and for the fashion show on pre-fair day. She has been a youth representative for the Cedar County 4-H Council, and also an officer for her 4-H club. Steffen has learned many life lessons through 4-H. That hard work pays off and can be very rewarding, whether it is by trying to be patient while breaking an animal or by spending hours working on a quilt with her grandma. Through public speaking, Steffen improved her writing and speaking skills, which also helped improve her social skills. She learned teamwork as a member of Needles & Nails 4-H Club working on club projects together. All these life skills she has learned through 4-H have also extended into her leadership in community and school activities.
“4-H has shown me that you can be anything you want to be,” Steffen said in her application.“ There are so many different project areas that I have been exposed to which expands on so many career choices for my future. I want to thank 4-H for shaping me into who I am today and for leaving such a positive impact on my life and my community.”
Steffen is currently a senior at Hartington-Newcastle Public School and plans to pursue a career in exercise science.
Each recipient received a plaque sponsored by the Cedar County News.
“We appreciate the support of Rob Dump and Peggy Year, and their sponsorship of the plaques,” organizers said. Each recipient also receives a cash award, sponsored by the Cedar County 4-H Council. The winners names are also added to the Outstanding 4-H Member plaque which is sponsored by the 4-H Council and can be seen in the Extension Office.
