Butler County 4-H leaders and members were recognized for their achievements and their influence on the program during the past year at the program's annual awards banquet Monday.

More than 200 county 4-H volunteers, members and their guests attended the banquet at the General Butler Vagabonds.

Connie Haswell was recognized as this year's Friend of 4-H. Through the years, she has volunteered her time and talents in many ways.

Leaders were recognized for their years of service starting with first-year leaders and then in increments of five years.

First-year leaders — Steve Bash and Jayme Steighner, Caprine Connection; Tammy Crouthamel, Lutherlyn Equestrians; Karen Hines, Green Meadows; and Shannon Myers, West Sunbury Wranglers.

Five-year leaders — Crissy Black, Buttons 'n Bakehouse; Shannon Brandon, Bunni Bunch & Conservation Club; Rodney Doutt and Ken Edinboro, Bull's Eye; Anita Morrison, Home & Heart; Linda Stivason, Poultry Club; and Jennifer Thornton, Kashmere Kids.

Ten-year leaders — Amanda Reynolds, West Sunbury Wranglers 'Lil Britches; Ashley McDivitt, Bull's Eye; Jeffery Frazier, Beef Breeding; and Michelle Henry-Reed, Conservation Club.

Fifteen-year Leaders — Denise Foertsch and James Foertsch, Bulls Eye.

The Outstanding 4-H'er awards were presented to Outstanding Junior 4-H'er Nicole Michel, daughter of Chris and Heather Michel of Renfrew; Outstanding Intermediate 4-H'er Paul Sutej, son of Mike and Shana Sutej of Saxonburg; and Outstanding Senior 4-H'er Taylor Kennedy, daughter of John and Val Kennedy of Valencia.

Awards from Pomona Grange, AgChoice Farm Credit and the Butler 4-H Development Committee, based on an application and project books, were presented.

Grange awards, presented by Rich and Virginia Mangel and Jill Cavalero, include:

Jennifer Cichra, horse; Madalyn Fry, dairy cattle; Madison Myers, goat; Sarah Bupp, rabbits; Ben Drake, beef; Elizabeth Heck, sheep; Ryleigh Henry, swine; Laura Hone, poultry; Jillian Ranko, other animal science; Andrew Costel, textile science; Mark Edinboro, leisure ed; Jeb Kellar, science and technology; Melissa Drake, consumer science and expressive arts; and Gretchen Kellar, environmental and Earth science.

Alyssa Sheppard from AgChoice Farm Credit presented awards for the agriculture-related projects to:

Madalyn Fry, dairy cattle; Taylor Kennedy, goat; Sarah Bupp, rabbits; Ben Drake, beef; Melissa Drake, sheep; Mason Henry, swine; Andrew Costel, poultry, and Jillian Ranko, other.

The development committee gave out the following awards:

Horse, Junior Jonathan Crouthamel, Intermediate Jennifer Cichra and Senior Kayley Baker; dairy cattle, Juniors Mason Henry and Dylan Thurber, Intermediates Kylie Burke and Kayla Bohn and Seniors Madalyn Fry and Madison Myers

Rabbits, Junior Sarah Bupp and Senior Sarah Brandon; beef, Junior Denver Ott, Intermediate Ryleigh Henry and Senior Taylor Kennedy

Sheep, Junior Kallie Simmons, Intermediate Elizabeth Heck and Senior Ben Drake; swine, Junior Rylee Colteryahn and Intermediate Ryleigh Henry

Poultry, Junior Lillian Wassam, Intermediate Maggie Bowser and Senior Nate Weber; other animal sciences, Senior Jillian Ranko; textile science, Junior Nicole Michel, Intermediate Lindsay Mack and Senior Laura Hone

Leisure Ed, Junior Jack Meiser, Intermediate Emma Bowser and Senior Mark; Edinboro science and technology, Junior Jeb Kellar and Intermediate Gretchen Kellar

Consumer science and expressive arts, Junior Jeb Kellar and Intermediate Jennifer Morrison; environmental science and Earth science, Junior Jeb Kellar, Intermediate Juliana Laquatra and Senior Sarah Brandon.

The following 4-H horse project members were recognized for completing skill levels:

Level 1 Skills: Desiree Bocian, Kylie Close, Jessica Cornell, Jonathan Crouthamel, Laike Fisher, Kendall Glass, Brandon Himes, Frank Irvine, Emma Jarvis, Sydney Karenbauer, Cydney McDeavitt, Laine Palmer, Ali Riggs, Hayley Stein, Ella Stewart, Aysha Vavro and Julia Zoelle.

Level 2 Skills, Kendall Myers and Brandon Himes, and Level 3 Skills, Jennifer Cichra. Jennifer Cichra has completed 300 hoof hours with her horse.

Club award winners consisted of Petting Zoo Participation, Conservation Club; Blue Ribbon Club Award, Town and County Kids; Club Scrapbook Winner, Home & Heart; and Individual Scrapbook winner, Jessica Cornell.