2025 Berks County 4-H Livestock Recognition

In November, the Berks County 4-H Livestock Club got together for a night of fun and recognition. 4-H members and their families came together to wrap up the 2024-2025 4-H year. We enjoyed delicious food and great company throughout the night. Congratulations to our members on a successful year and to our banquet winners!

The club recognizes its members in each of the 5 species projects that can be carried out. Members are recognized for how well they have kept records for their animals throughout the year, how they did at the fairs, their rookies, and their Overall Market Project holders.  The project books are judged by various community members. Our judges this year were Rachael Letsche who judged the beef projects, Ron Frederick who judged dairy beef books, Jen Hartman who judged the sheep books, Joy and Olivia Weisner who judged the swine books, and Sarah Fulton who judged the goat books.

Our Top Showman with beef projects in their age brackets were Hailey Blatt, Lillian Kratz, Kalina Rhoads, Jackson Manwiller, Samuel Hauseman, and Macie Eitel. The Top Fitters in their age brackets were Carlee Stitzel, Kalina Rhoads, Andrea Hix, Samuel Hauseman, Ashtyn Gehringer, and Macie Eitel. The highest-scoring beef project books were by Phoebe Stutzman, Kalina Rhoads, Andrea Hix, Ashtyn Gehringer, and Lacey Bickel. Rookie of the year went to Lillian Kratz.

Our Top Showman for dairy beef projects in their age brackets were Taylor Hansley, Wyatt Lehner, Lillian Kratz, Heather Ruth, Tanner Hansley, Quinn Moyer, and Savannah Naftzinger. The Top Fitters in their age brackets were Taylor Hansley, Megan Manbeck, Lillian Kratz, Austin Hetrick, Parker Hetrick, and Quinn Moyer. The highest-scoring dairy beef project books were by Zachary Gougler, Asher Ruth, Lillian Kratz, Heather Ruth, Allis Ruth, Ashtyn Gehringer, and Wade Gehringer. Rookie of the year went to Asher Ruth.

Our Top Showman for goat projects in their age brackets were Evan Vanek, Kalina Rhoads, Malaina Rhoads, Heather Ruth, Addison Hassler, and Lacey Bickel. The Top Fitters in their age brackets were Evan Vanek, Malaina Rhoads, Owen Schroeder, Nathan Hetrick, and Savannah Naftzinger. The highest-scoring dairy beef project books were by Danica Rhoads, Kalina Rhoads, Heather Ruth, Allis Ruth, and Lacey Bickel. Rookie of the year went to Savannah Naftzinger.

Our Top Showman for sheep projects in their age brackets were Hailey Blatt, Evan Vanek, Kylee Hansley, Brooke Noss, and Leah Hauseman. The Top Fitters in their age brackets were Taylor Hansley, Evan Vanek, Kylee Hansley, Emerson Hassler, and Leah Hauseman. The highest-scoring sheep project books were by Danica Rhoads, Evan Vanek, Brooke Noss, and Leah Hauseman. Rookie of the year went to Emerson Hassler.

Our Top Showman for swine projects in their age brackets were Phoebe Stutzman, Evan Vanek, Malaina Rhoads, Owen Kutz, Allis Ruth, and Macie Eitel. The Top Fitters in their age brackets were Hailey Blatt, Malaina Rhoads, Owen Kutz, Allis Ruth, and Macie Eitel. The highest-scoring swine project books were by Phoebe Stutzman, Malaina Rhoads, Heather Ruth, Dustin Kratz, Allis Ruth, and Jacob Rohrbach. Rookie of the year went to Dustin Kratz.

Each species awards an Outstanding Market Project (OMP) and Reserve Outstanding Market Project, based on member attendance, participation in community service, skill-a-thon score, project book score, and how they did at the fairs. The 2025 OMP winners were Kalina Rhoads (beef), Lillian Kratz (dairy beef), Kalina Rhoads (goat), Danica Rhoads (sheep), and Phoebe Stutzman (swine). The 2025 Reserve OMP winners were Phoebe Stutzman (beef), Heather Ruth (dairy beef), Heather Ruth (goat), Hailey Blatt (sheep), and Malaina Rhoads (swine).

The Friend of 4-H Award is given to a person or business that has had a great impact on the Livestock program over the years and supports our 4-H members. This year, the award was given to Mike and Tabitha Mease. They have supported our members and the 4-H program for many years. Mike has donated his butchering service to the club’s benefit barrows and has a presence at the Kutztown Fair’s Livestock Auction. 

Every year, our members are expected to take a skill-a-thon test that helps wrap the year up. The top 10 junior scores were from Ashtyn Gehringer, Parker Hetrick, Andrea Hix, Heather Ruth, Jackson Manwiller, Allis Ruth, Austin Hetrick, Emerson Hassler, Kylee Hansley, and Dustin Kratz. The top 10 senior scores were from Taylor Hansley, Kalina Rhoads, Dakota Hansley, Danica Rhoads, Lillian Kratz, Marcianna Dellamonica, Megan Manbeck, Malaina Rhoads, Layne Schroeder, and Evan Vanek.

Program participants included Master of Ceremonies – Asher Ruth and Zachary Gougler, and pledges by the Livestock Club 1^st year members.

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a community of more than six million young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Penn State Extension 4-H youth development educators in all 67 counties throughout the Commonwealth administer local 4-H programs through nonformal education and outreach. To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website.