Commissioners, Extension representatives recognize Highland County 4-H Week

Highland County commissioners David Daniels, Brad Roades and Terry Britton proclaimed March 3-9 as Highland County 4-H Week during their Wednesday, March 6 meeting.

Accepting the proclamation were Ohio State University Extension Educators of 4-H Youth Development Kathy Bruynis and Danielle Combs, along with local 4-H members Sydney Hamilton, Kathryn Ogden and Maddy Wiseman.

According to Bruynis, all three 4-H members are Junior Leaders, camp counselors and serve on the Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council.

Hamilton received a round of applause from those in attendance, as Bruynis announced that Hamilton is being inducted into the Ohio 4-H Teen Hall of Fame Saturday, March 9 during the Ohio 4-H Conference. 

The Extension educators described Hamilton as “a one-of-a-kind camp counselor, mentor and leader [who] has become an excellent role model for all 4-H members through her participation in Teen Leadership Council, statewide camps and 4-H committees” in a Facebook post.

Daniels asked how Hamilton qualified for that honor.

“I think being a well-rounded 4-H member and just trying to help the next generation come up and be able to have same opportunities that I've had in 4-H,” Hamilton said. “I’m just helping out where I can.”

Bruynis said that only four teens from across the entire state are selected each year, and Hamilton is the second individual from Highland County to receive this recognition. (Sara Newsome was inducted into the Hall of Fame in March 2022.) 

“It’s a nomination process,” Bruynis said. “It’s a huge honor. A statewide committee decides on who gets chosen.”

“That’s amazing,” Britton said.

All three Junior Leaders also spoke to commissioners about their 4-H experience and activities planned this week.

Hamilton, who is a former Highland County Fair queen, said she is entering her “11th and final year of 4-H.” She is a member of the Highland County Poultry, Pigs, and Lambs 4-H Club. Some of her projects over the years have included clothing and nutrition projects as well as showing goats and chickens. 

“After this [meeting], we're going into local school districts and going to their third grade classes and telling them what 4-H has to offer,” Hamilton said. “I think we can all say that 4-H has really benefited our lives, and we just want to share that with the next generation. 

“Also, local county clubs have put up window displays in local businesses this week, and this Saturday is the Ohio 4-H Conference.”

Ogden, the reigning Highland County Fair queen, has been in 4-H for over a decade, as her projects have included poultry, dogs, Family and Consumer Sciences and natural resources. She is a member of Concord Jr. Farmers and has served on the Ohio State Fashion Board, as well as the local Family and Consumer Science Board and Junior Fair Board. 

Ogden thanked commissioners for helping bring awareness to 4-H.

“I just think that this proclamation kind of helps draw attention to 4-H, and it’ll hopefully get some more members active,” she said.    

Wiseman, a member of the Fab Five 4-H Club, said she is in her eighth year of 4-H. She spoke to commissioners about some of her unique projects, including Braille art, which she said she took last year and is going to work on again this year.

“I decided to do it mostly to help encourage people in 4-H, or to encourage people that they're not left out of 4-H,” Wiseman said. “I wanted to encourage all other people, and people with disabilities.

“This one can kind of help them be more included into the 4-H community.”

In addition to promoting inclusion of people with disabilities, Wiseman said her other project category, woodworking, has given her the opportunity to work alongside her grandfather. She said that she has made a birdhouse, a letter holder, a picture frame and a cedar bench.

“It was really fun,” Wiseman said. “I decided just to go ahead and do it again, just because my grandpa does woodworking, and I can kind of encourage him more and we can spend more time with each other.” 

After hearing from the group, Daniels read the proclamation recognizing March 3-9 as Highland County 4-H Week. 

To learn more or get involved with 4-H in Highland County, visit highland.osu.edu/program-areas/4-h-youth-development or facebook.com/HighlandCounty4H.

In other discussion:

• Following a nearly $250,000 grant award announcement last month, commissioners approved a contract with the State of Ohio, Department of Development, Highland County Sheriff and U.S. Department of Energy.

The contract was a “state energy program (Energy Efficiency Program for Ohio Communities) grant agreement for control upgrades.”

On Feb. 22, the Ohio Department of Development announced that “a total of 35 projects across 18 counties were selected to receive funding through this program for activities such as LED lighting, direct digital control systems, boiler replacements, HVAC upgrades, utility monitoring and more. Eligible projects received up to a maximum of $250,000, with a limit of no more than $1 million per county.”

The Highland County Justice Center was selected to receive a $247,599 grant to complete Direct Digital Controls upgrades. The project is expected to yield a utility savings of 22.5 percent, according to the DOD press release.

“We are going to have to put in some money to finish it up, but that was a nice grant application that Nicole [Oberrecht, Highland County’s ARPA funding coordinator] and one of our vendors had worked on,” Britton said. “It’s something that really needs done because that control system out there is really on its last leg. It's old software, and it's outdated. It doesn’t work real well, and we've had to have IT people patch it up.”

• Commissioners also voted 3-0 to enter a contract related to a recently announced new offering at the Highland County Workforce Development Center.

On Feb. 21, commissioners agreed to enter a memorandum of understanding with Great Oaks Career Campuses for use of the Highland County Workforce Development Center after hearing from Highland County Economic Development Director Julie Bolender.

According to Bolender, this MOU is the start of a “great opportunity” for local high school students to enroll in no-cost phlebotomy and/or medical assisting courses, funded by Great Oaks.

Approved Wednesday was an educational services agreement between Highland County Commissioners and Condensed Curriculum International, Inc. for classroom and e-learning titles.”

“This is how the funding for that will flow through,” Daniels said. “We will bill these individuals, then they will pay Great Oaks for the instructors that they have. This is just formalizing that agreement.”

• Commissioners held a work session with records manager Julie Wallingford.

Commissioners also made the following approvals, each by a 3-0 vote:

• A resolution to approve the appointment of Chad Hamilton as apiarist for Highland County for the year of 2024.

• A resolution to authorize a budget modification within the 2000 Dog and Kennel account from Supplies to Telephone in the amount of $2,000.

• A resolution to authorize a transfer from 1000 Transfers Out to 4220 Airport Capital Improvement in the amount of $6,000. Also requested is the creation of a new line item within the 4220 Airport Capital Improvement fund. Also requested is an additional appropriation from unappropriated funds to newly established line item Drainage Improvement in the amount of $6,000.

• A resolution to authorize a budget modification within the 1000 General Fund from Transfers Out to Apiary in the amount of $2,000.

• An application from the Ohio Department of Commerce for an F-2 liquor license permit, “made at the request of the Highland County Agricultural Society” for a “one-time” event at the fairgrounds, according to Daniels.

• A contract with Canon to continue the county’s existing service agreement.

• A drywall repair quote from Ultra Pro Professional Painting for additional work at the Bureau of Motor Vehicles office.

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