‘Bee-yond Ready’

DENTON – It was a time for 4-Hers to shine during the annual banquet recognizing their achievements Friday, March 13, 2026, at the Caroline County 4-H Park near Denton.

About 250 attended the banquet which featured an awards ceremony celebrating 2025 achievents, as well as a fundraising auction. Tables were decorated with 4-H-green tablecloths, yellow tulips and bumblebees to highlight the evening’s theme, “4-H: Bee-yond Ready.”

University of Maryland Extension 4-H Educator Navonne Torbert emceed the event. She said the theme “is a testament to how 4-H is preparing youth for the challenges and opportunities of the future.”

“Caroline County 4-H youth members are empowered to become resilient, confident and skilled leaders that can thrive in work, life an beyond,” she said. With guidance from “positive and supportive adult volunteers,” 4-H youth “are not just ready, but beyond ready for whatever the future holds.”

4-Her of the Year, one of the “pinnacle awards” of 4-H, was earned by Skylar Blunt, a 12-year member of Pure Country 4-H Club; Madison Cook, a 10-year member of 8 to 18 4-H Club; and Macrina Zdobysz, a 10-year member of 4-H Archers and Choptank Community 4-H clubs and the reigning Caroline-Dorchester County Fair Queen for 2025-2026.

“These are individuals who shined the most in 2025; they stepped up to the plate and helped whenever and wherever needed. They are members of excellent character and it shows,” Torbert said. They were chosen based on county fair involvement; completion of a record book or senior portfolio; participation in county, regional, and state events; citizenship and community service efforts; leadership skills; and evidence of personal growth and development.

The Top Record Book Award was earned by Mollie Hudson, junior division; Mark Heinsohn, intermediate division; Molly Heinsohn, senior division; and Macrina Zdobysz for her senior portfolio.

Outstanding First Year Member awards were given to Patrick Baiers, Maecie Brinkley, Cole Conley, Brooklyn Marks, Adelina Miclean and Thailan Young.

The 4-H Spirit Award were given to 4-Hers in the four age divisions and adults who were nominated by club leaders and volunteers “to recognize those who exhibit the most 4-H spirit in their lives. “They are people of character who exhibit the ideals of Head, Heart, Hands, and Health from the 4-H pledge and strive to ‘make the best better,’” Torbert said.

Winning the 4-H Spirit Award were Cloverbud division members (ages 5-7) Riley Copeland, Charles Hargett and Owen Taylor; junior (ages 8-10) members Lily Brown, Emily Vance and Kaitlyn Wooters; intermediate (ages 11-13) members Zoe Trice and Damian Walls; senior (ages 14-18) members Benjamin Brown, Madison Cook, Noah Nagel and Macrina Zdobysz; and adults Heather Geib, Katie Parenteau and Nicole Umberger.

Aaron Dadds, Emily Wise and Nathaniel Zdobysz were this year’s winners of the “I Dare You” Award, earned by 4-H teens “who accept a challenge and attain their goals through hard work, perseverance, dedication and determination.”

These 4-H members “may have been overlooked by their peers or have not yet come to view themselves as a leader,” Torbert said. “These are youth who tend to work behind the scenes, but their efforts don’t go unnoticed by their club leaders who nominated them.”

Mollie Hudson was recognized for completing Level 1-Amethyst of the state-level 4-H Diamond Clover Award Program is “a prestigious, multi-level service and leadership recognition program, often considered the highest honor in state 4-H programs,” Torbert said. The program consists of six progressive levels – Amethyst, Aquamarine, Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Diamond – designed to help members build skills through community projects, with level 6 (Diamond) requiring a major, sustainable service project.

Three 4-Hers participated in national 4-H events in 2025. Ryan Clark represented Maryland at the National 4-H Shooting Sports Contest in Nebraska, placing 21st overall out of 85 youth. Madison Cook and Clara McKenna represented Caroline County at the National Ignite by 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. Clara also represented Maryland at the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta.

Caroline 4-H members who participated and competed in the 2025 Maryland State Fair were Quinten Doyle, Ally Geib, Claire Heinsohn, Mark Heinsohn, Molly Heinsohn, Wesley Hetrick, Gracie Spiering, Emily Vance, Mason Walls and Macrina Zdobysz. 

Representing Caroline County at the State 4-H Public Speaking Contest on Maryland Day last year was Elizabeth Johnson who received Reserve Champion in the Prepared Speech category.

Six youth competed in the State 4-H Archery Match in 2025:

Ryan Clark won first place, Advanced Senior – Compound; first place, Advanced Senior – Compound 3D; and 1st place overall Advanced Senior. He won first place in 2024 and represented Maryland/Caroline County at the national contest in 2025.

Other competitors were:

Anastasia Miclean, who third place, Intermediate – Recurve; third place, Intermediate – Recurve 3D; and fourth place overall Intermediate.

Simeon Miclean, winning third place, Junior- Recurve; first place, Junior – Recurve 3D; and third place overall Junior

Macrina Zdobysz, who won sixth place, Senior – Compound; fifth place, Senior – Compound 3D; and sixth place overall Senior.

Nate Zdobysz, winning seventh place, Senior – Compound; fourth place, Senior – Compound 3D; and seventh place overall Senior.

“What a great showing by these outstanding 4-H Archers,” Torbert said. “This would not be possible without the dedication of their coaches, including Duane Rust, Ernest Sparrow and Chris Zdobysz.

Some 40 4-H volunteers were recognized for their combined 251 years leading and assisting leaders of the county’s six 4-H clubs. Those with the most years as 4-H leaders in 2025 are Barbara Carrow, 31 years, and Charlotte Brown, 28 years, of Pure Country 4-H Club.

“It is estimated that Caroline County 4-H volunteers put back over $200,000 into the community through the volunteer service hours they provide each year,” Torbert said.

Caroline County has six 4-H Clubs: Chesapeake STEM Wizards, Pure Country 4-H Club, Stitch N Style 4-H Club, Choptank Community 4-H Club, 8 to 18 4-H Club, and 4-H Archers.

Friends of 4-H, comprised of 50 local businesses, organizations and individuals, were recognized for their contributions in 2025. The banquet was sponsored by 10 local business, individuals and organizations.

An indoor craft and yard sale to benefit the Caroline County 4-H program will be held 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at the Caroline County 4-H Park, 8230 Detour Road, Denton. Food will be available for sale. For more information or to reserve a table for $15,   call Joanne Wooters at 410-479-0565 or email caroco4hcraftshow@gmail.com.