meritorious service

  • By Laurie Sidle
  • March 11, 2014
  • 366
                        
Three Wayne County 4-H advisers with a combined 126 years of service have been honored with the Ohio 4-H Meritorious Service Award. Dave and Sharon Emler and Priscilla Sprang, advisors of the Clinton Lads ‘N’ Lassies 4-H Club, received the award at the 17th Bob Evans Ohio 4-H Volunteer Recognition Luncheon in Columbus March 8. It marks the first time three advisors from the same club and county have been given the award recognizing 4-H volunteers for long-term service at the local, county, district and state or national level. “Yes, there were plenty of nominees,” Ohio 4-H Staffer Jeff Dick explained in presenting the award, “but the judges were so impressed with their information, they felt the Wayne County nominees were all deserving of today’s recognition.” The trio was nominated by fellow club advisors Lisa Gress and Cheryl Gordon. “Sharon and David are true partners in their service to the 4-H program in Wayne County,” they wrote on the nomination form. “While specializing in different project areas they manage to work together and are always willing to go the extra mile with any task striving to ‘make the best better’ for both individuals and the entire 4-H community.” At one time the Emlers advised two separate 4-H clubs. Sharon Emler was organizational advisor of the Shreve Town and Country 4-H Club, specializing in home economics projects. Her husband held the same position in the Clinton Lads ‘N’ Lassies, a club focusing on animal and still projects. The two clubs eventually merged under the name Clinton Lads ‘N’ Lassies, and in its prime, membership climbed to more than 100 with 20 to 30 adults as volunteers. In her 43rd year as a volunteer, Sharon Emler is now the club’s clothing project advisor and working to become a master clothing educator. She has served on the Home Economics and County 4-H Advisory committees and helps with sewing clinics, style reviews and judging at the county and state level. “Four-H’ers will tell you she’s an excellent teacher of clothing skills as well as independence, responsibility, and commitment,” said Dick, Ohio 4-H Youth Development field specialist in volunteerism and 4-H community clubs. “Her dedication to 4-H is recognized and celebrated throughout Wayne County.” Her husband is a still project advisor, specializing in woodworking and electricity, and serves as a 4-H judge for various still projects at the county and state levels. During the luncheon, he also garnered the Turquoise Clover Award for his 40 years of volunteer service to the 4-H program “David’s passion is infectious,” Dick told the luncheon crowd. He related the story of a 4-H’er now pursuing an engineering degree thanks to his 4-H experience. That 4-H’er indicated he learned more about electricity from “those back porch discussions (with David Emler) about electrons, theory, and circuitry” than he did in two years at college, Dick said. “His 4-H’ers appreciate his personal care to help them gain skills, learn time management, and work ethics, and to always strive for excellence.” Sprang is marking 44 years as a 4-H advisor, beginning with the Canaan Handy Helpers and continuing with the Clinton Lads 'N' Lassies. She has a passion for teaching home economics skills and has served on the Home Economics and Wayne County 4-H Advisory committees. She’s a foods project advisor, and combines teaching cooking and life skills in the club and at food clinics. Sprang also helps with county 4-H judging and her club’s county fair booth. “She’s known fondly as the go-to volunteer by 4-H and community folks,” Dick said. All three winners have received the Meritorious Service Award at the county level and Sprang and Sharon Emler were 10-year 4-H members. For the past five years, the Emlers also have worked in the Wayne County Junior Fair office before, during and after the fair, assisting the junior fair secretary. They help with setup, answer questions and solve problems. A tradition of 4-H in their backgrounds and a desire to succeed is what keeps the three advisors serving the program. “We’re not in it for the merit of honor,” Dave Emler said. “It’s about helping the kids and watching them grow.” “I like seeing how kids go from first- or second-year members to giving presentations or leading a meeting as an officer,” Sharon Emler explained. “That’s a great feeling to see that growth.” Sprang said she has enjoyed watching 4-H’ers learn and take on new challenges. She said the club actively encourages members to tackle new projects, resulting in honors at the local and state levels. Gress and Gordon were on hand to see their nominees honored as was Doug Foxx, 4-H Youth Development Extension Educator, Wayne County. He said the Meritorious Service awards are a testament to the “strength of the volunteers in our county.”


Loading next article...

End of content

No more pages to load