July 2, 2021
Four teens named 4-H Governor’s Award finalists
By Tracy Courage
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Fast facts:
- This year’s finalists are from Benton, Hot Spring, Sebastian and White counties
- Gaskin returns as finalist
- Winner to be announced July 29, 2021
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LITTLE ROCK – Four Arkansas 4-H members are in the running to receive the Arkansas 4-H Governor’s Award this year, along with a $3,000 college scholarship.
This year’s finalists visited the Governor’s Mansion in Little Rock on June 29, where they received a warm welcome and high praise from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who is a 4-H alumnus. The governor and his wife, Mrs. Susan Hutchinson, hosted lunch for the finalists and a tour of the Governor’s Mansion.
The Arkansas 4-H Governor's Award recognizes one outstanding Arkansas 4-H member each year. Selection is based on nominees’ accomplishments in leadership, citizenship, community service, 4-H projects and activities and overall contributions to Arkansas 4-H. The winner will be announced July 29 during the 4-H State O’Rama.
“It is a difficult decision because all of the nominees were state record book winners in their respective projects. They are all leaders with years of experience and accomplishments to show, and they all exemplify the very best of Arkansas 4-H,” Angie Freel, associate department head for 4-H and youth development for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said.
Each finalist will each receive a $1,000 scholarship and an engraved silver bowl, and the winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship and an engraved silver tray. In addition, the winner’s name will be added to a plaque on permanent display at the C. A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center.
This year’s finalists are:
Eva Berryhill of Leola. She will attend the University of Arkansas this fall to study animal sciences, and she plans to be a veterinarian. She has been a 4-H member for 10 years and serves as president of the Hot Spring County 4-H Veterinary Science Club, president of the Hot Spring County 4-H Teen Leaders Club, and vice president of the Ouachita 4-H Club. For seven years, Berryhill has raised Nubian dairy goats on her family’s farm. This year, her yearling won Reserve Grand Champion Junior Nubian at the Arkansas State Fair Youth Livestock Show.
In 2015, Berryhill helped start Hot Spring County’s 4-H Veterinary Science program, which helps prepares youth for careers in veterinary medicine. Through her community service projects, she is raising awareness of agriculture in her county. She has spent more than 400 hours demonstrating how to give shots, trim hooves, administer medicine, perform fecal egg counts and educating others about the characteristics of different goat breeds and proper diet. In 2020, she also helped start a Livestock Skills team in Hot Spring County. She works part-time at Providence Veterinary Care to gain experience as a veterinary assistant.
Sarah Gaskin of Bald Knob — This is Gaskin’s second year to be nominated. She has been in 4-H for 15 years and is a member of the Velvet Ridge 4-H Club in White County, where she and her family raise dairy goats, dairy cattle and poultry. Gaskin shows dairy goats throughout the year. With the surplus milk, she started her own business making and selling goat milk soap. She is involved in many community service projects and conducts agriculture-related workshops, such as how to care for chickens and how to show goats. She also has a gardening project, and during the pandemic Gaskin delivered eggs and surplus vegetables from her family’s garden to the elderly and immune-comprised people. She recently completed an Associate of Science in agricultural education at Arkansas State University-Beebe and will transfer to Arkansas Tech University this fall.
Faith Fritch of Hiwasse — Fritch is the 2020-2021 Arkansas 4-H state president. She attends Henderson State University, where she is majoring in business and minoring in music. Her 4-H project is Arts and Humanities-Performing Arts. She has competed at the county, district and state levels. In 2019, she performed during the opening ceremonies of the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta. She has studied violin for nine years and voice for four years and is part of her college’s strings ensemble and Chi Alpha worship ministry. Fritch is also an award-winning marksman, having competed nationally, and she helped start a new 4-H club in Benton County. While performing arts is her main project, she also is involved in animal science and creative arts.
Jenna Frederick of Fort Smith — Frederick serves as president of the Dayton 4-H Club, president of the Sebastian County Shooting Sports Club and is an Arkansas 4-H State Ambassador and a 4-H National Shooting Sports Ambassador. In addition to competing, Frederick also shares her love of shooting sports with others. She helped her 4-H club secure a grant from the National Shooting Sports Foundation to host a promotional event to introduce others to the sport. Aside from shooting, Frederick also has projects in animal science, performing arts, and food and nutrition. She also helped start an alumni association for the Dayton 4-H club which has met for more than 50 years.
This year’s judges were Dr. Richard Moss, director of STEM Success at University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College; Rhona Weaver, a 4-H alumna and author; and Michael Clayman, a 4-H Foundation board member, 4-H alumnus and senior vice president of branch operation at Farm Credit Midsouth.
To learn about 4-H and other extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit 4h.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @Arkansas4H.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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Media contact:
Tracy Courage
Director, Communications Services
U of A System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service
(501) 671-2126
tcourage@uada.edu