Amanda Wolfe receives 4-H community service award

At the 4-H recognition night held Saturday night in the home economic building at the Vernon County Youth Fairgrounds 4-H members and volunteer leaders were recognized for their achievements during the year. It is amazing what many of these young people are accomplishing and the great service that volunteers are rendering to young people and to the community.

Among the awards presented Saturday night was the Leonard Ernsbarger 4-H Community Service Award to Amanda Wolf, Clayton 4-H. She is the 17-year-old daughter of Ron and Glenda Wolf and is a junior at Fort Scott High School. Though there were many others with outstanding records that won prestigious awards, the spotlight is on the winner of the community service award.

It is a joy to have the opportunity to personally make the presentation to a smiling recipient. As many of you are aware, I have a special personal interest in community service and in recent years, there has been more emphasis placed on community service in 4-H. High schools and colleges have also placed more emphasize on community service, encouraging the students to get involved in service to the community. This helps to give young people a better background.

The special recognition this year was sponsored by Ernsbarger Heating and Cooling and consists of a traveling plaque and a $50 savings bond. It is a special honor for me, as a retired 4-H youth specialist to have this special recognition awarded in my name.

Amanda Wolf easily meets the criteria for the special award, she is a self-motivated and has given of herself in volunteering to help others throughout the county. She has also demonstrated leadership and citizenship, contributing to the group effort of making a difference in our community.

Amanda learned how important it is to help others who are less fortunate, by participating in Crop Walk for Hunger. She took pride in helping her school by being a member of the student council and she helped to break a world record this past summer by laying pennies for three hours at the Fort Scott Middle School. The funds will be used for the development of a park in Fort Scott.

She said, "The Crazy Clover Relay for Life team has taught me a lot about how I can help people affected by cancer." She raised almost $500 for the team in two years.

Paws for Clause asked her to take pictures for their fundraiser.

"The animals don't sit still very long so you have to be fast," she said.

She operated a booth for the 4-H during the Octoberfest and found it to be lots of fun. At their booth people threw rope rings at small pumpkins

She learned about the voting process by serving as an election greeter and checking voters addresses, doing a survey and answering questions.

Ringing the bell for the Salvation Army is an annual event for Amanda. She said, "It isn't hard to do and benefits a lot of people.

She found Special Kids-Special Animals at the fair rewarding to her. She enjoyed watching the interaction between the kids and the animals.

She has recorded public service announcements for 4-H on the radio. She considers that it is important to thank all the workers and volunteers for their hard work.

For several years she has delivered May baskets, which is expected by neighbors on May 1. This year she has entered a photo of her sister on her horse for a contest at the Ft. Scott Wal-Mart when they were doing a fundraising for Relay for Life. She won the contest and raised more than $100 for them.

She was involved with a group from her school in collecting a truck load of food for the food pantry. Fellow class members brought canned food to a dodge ball game held at the school.

Amanda has been Clover Kid chairperson at the Vernon County Youth Fair for two years. She also served as Clover Kid animal show assistant. This year she organized a county wide Clover Kid egg hunt as her leadership project. She was chairperson for a lock in and she learned how to run an assembly line by being involved with the chicken barbecue.

She helped with the middle school afterschool tutoring program and the summer school tutoring and she was selected by her teachers for a leadership team. In the eighth grade she went with a group to Washington DC.

She has also helped to make hero packs for soldiers' kids, stuffing them with fun things.

She gave a 4-H demonstration at the state fair. Among the awards she has received has been the Valery Sprinkle award as a result of being an outstanding member during her second year in 4-H.

Her many leadership experiences include being president of the Clayton 4-H Club and serving on the 4-H council.

Her many accomplishments in citizenship, community service and leadership entitles her to be worthy of the special award. Congratulations are extended to Amanda on receiving the Leonard Ernsbarger 4-H Community Service Award.

Thanks goes to Brent, owner of Ernsbarger Heating and Cooling for the sponsorship of this special recognition.