Montana 4-H Adult Awards
4-H is made possible through the outstanding support of adults who provide their time, resources and support to improve the lives of Montana 4-H youth and strive to constantly make the best better. Through the following award categories, Montana 4-H recognizes outstanding contributions of volunteer leaders, staff and alumni at the county and state levels. All awards are presented Montana 4-H Leadership Forum in the fall or another statewide event.
Award Categories
The Montana 4-H Center for Youth Development recognizes individuals from each 4-H District in two award categories:
- The Outstanding LifetimeVolunteer recognizes individuals who have served as 4-H volunteers for more than 10 years.
- The Volunteer of the Year recognizes individuals who have served as 4-H volunteers for less than 10 years.
Each county may nominate one volunteer per category. These individuals have made an innovative change or impact on the 4-H program, positively affecting the lives of youth, and creating a standard of excellence that helps motivate others. Recipients will receive a cash award for a 4-H program, activity or event of their choice.
Two letters of recommendation are required. Recipients serve as the pool to select the Montana 4-H Salute to Excellence nominees.
The Montana 4-H Foundation honors individuals such as community leaders, alumni, former or current directors or former or current staff for their outstanding lifetime efforts to generate opportunities for 4-H youth by giving, volunteering or community support of 4-H. Recipients will receive an individual plaque as well as included on historical plaque with the Montana 4-H Foundation. A letter of support from the county 4-H council or Extension Agent is required.
The Montana 4-H Foundation recognizes 4-H alumni who have made a significant impact on 4-H by promoting, supporting and enhancing the benefits of youth and adult involvement in the program or a specific 4-H project area. Recipients will receive a plaque. A letter of support from the county 4-H council or Extension Agent is required.
Nomination Guidelines
Each county may nominate one individual for each category to be considered for awards. Nominees may qualify for more than one category. Priority consideration will be given to volunteers who have not received a statewide award within the last five years.
Adult Awards Nomination forms are due June 1st
Please use the Link below to complete your nomination:
Past Award Recipients
Year | Name | County | District | Category | |
2022 | Joey Hennes | Missoula | 1 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2022 | Nikole Markle | Stillwater | 7 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2022 | Jason Noyes | Broadwater | 6 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2022 | Lee Nuss | Gallatin | 6 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2022 | Janet Smith | Cascade | 3 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2022 | Amy Yoder | Sheridan | 5 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2022 | Joel & Kody Farkell | Pondera | 2 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2022 | Brook Gerard | Cascade | 3 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2022 | Jeremy England | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2021 | Karen Noyes | Broadwater | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | MT Winner |
2021 | Michelle Farley | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2021 | Rhonda Littrell | Glacier | 2 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2021 | Dean & Carrie Lerum | Toole | 2 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2021 | Penny Uecker | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2021 | William (Willie) Harms | Phillips | 2 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2021 | Diana Matkovich | Lake | 1 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2020 | Nancy Byxbe | Yellowstone | 7 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2020 | Lauris Byxbe | Yellowstone | 7 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2020 | Vicki Olson | Phillips | 2 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2020 | Amber Nentwig | Dawson | 5 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2020 | Larry Hendrickson | Liberty | 2 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2020 | Shelly McPhee | Gallatin | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | MT Winner |
2019 | Michal Ann Stedje | Lake | 1 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2019 | Kodi Peterson | Hill | 2 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2019 | Tova Gerer | Fergus Petroleum | 3 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2019 | Chris England | Fergus Petroleum | 3 | Volunteer of the Year | MT Winner |
2019 | Jill Stephens | Meagher | 6 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2019 | Hugh Braaten | Broadwater | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2018 | Kristine Zimmerman | Missoula | 1 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2018 | Don & Carolyn Popelka | Glacier | 2 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2018 | Keri Leggett | Cascade | 3 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2018 | Liz Jones | Beaverhead | 5 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2018 | Millie Veltkamp | Gallatin | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | MT Winner |
2017 | John & Missy Rauser | Broadwater | 6 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2017 | Connie Undem | Dawson | 4 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2017 | Kelly Pavlik | Gallatin | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | MT Winner |
2017 | Matthew Fenger | Liberty | 2 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2016 | Merle Farrier | Gallatin | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | MT Winner |
2016 | Karen McLeod | Lake | 1 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2016 | Lola Brogger | Gallatin | 6 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2016 | Kristy Shannon | Prairie | 8 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | MT Winner |
2015 | Codi Sorenson | Flathead | 1 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2015 | Gregg Switzer | Gallatin | 6 | Volunteer of the Year | |
2015 | Fred Grant & Les Mutchler | Lake | 1 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2015 | Mary Ann Zorn | Liberty | 2 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2015 | Lacey Lanaghan | Yellowstone | 7 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2015 | Scott & Ginny Francis | Gallatin | 6 | Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer | |
2014 | Linda Stewart | Flathead | 1 | ||
2014 | Jodi Duncan | Glacier | 2 | ||
2014 | Katherine Dunn | Cascade | 3 | WR Winner - Lifetime Volunteer | |
2014 | Chuck Bowey | Madison/Jefferson | 6 | ||
2014 | Dennis Kolb | Rosebud/Treasure | 8 | ||
2013 | Lois Gardner | Ravalli | 1 | ||
2013 | Susan Woyth | Cascade | 3 | ||
2013 | Carla Tihista | Valley | 4 | ||
2013 | Scott Wiley | Musselshell/Golden Valley | 7 | ||
2013 | Eileen Nielsen | Prairie | 8 | ||
2012 | Wendy Morris | Flathead | 1 | ||
2012 | Vicki Kolstad | Liberty | 2 | ||
2012 | Deanna Burgmaier | Teton | 3 | ||
2012 | Sandy Merchen | Lewis & Clark | 6 | ||
2012 | Norma Seder | Yellowstone | 7 | ||
2011 | Dana Higgins | Flathead | 1 | ||
2011 | Ramona Kinyon | Toole | 2 | ||
2011 | Carl and Kaylene Patten | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | ||
2011 | Catherine McNeil | Lewis and Clark | 6 | ||
2010 | Coral Maxwell | Ravalli | 1 | ||
2010 | Keri Hanson | Blaine | 2 | ||
2010 | Ann Bitz | Chouteau | 3 | ||
2010 | Lillian Tischmak | Roosevelt | 4 | ||
2010 | Avalon and Ole Billquist | Deer Lodge | 5 | ||
2010 | Deb Bart-Grice | Yellowstone | 7 | ||
2010 | Janet Loomis | Prairie | 8 | ||
2009 | Sarah Naegeli | Sanders | 1 | ||
2009 | Carol Christoffersen | Roosevelt | 4 | ||
2009 | Jan Torpey | Deer Lodge | 5 | ||
2008 | Blanche Flanagan | Lincoln | 1 | ||
2008 | Tony Hershey | Toole | 2 | ||
2008 | Carolyn Pasha | Deer Lodge | 5 | ||
2008 | Mary Sybrant | Stillwater | 7 | ||
2008 | Karol Zachmann | Fallon | 8 | ||
2007 | Susan Schmidt | Flathead | 1 | ||
2007 | Carrie McCleary | Big Horn | 7 | ||
2007 | Marcia Hollandsworth | Montana 4-H | |||
2006 | Debra Regan | Mineral | 1 | ||
2006 | Becky Jackson | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | ||
2006 | Connie Bracken | Roosevelt | 4 | ||
2006 | Sandi Campbell | Carbon | 7 | National STE - Lifetime Volunteer Nominee, WR Winner | |
2005 | Chris Scott | Flathead | 1 | ||
2005 | Ray Besel | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | National STE - Volunteer of the Year Nominee | |
2005 | Pat Stackhouse | Gallatin | 6 | National STE - Lifetime Volunteer Winner | |
2004 | Avice Hoff | Sheridan | 4 | National STE - Lifetime Volunteer Nominee | |
2003 | Margaret Yuhas | Ravalli | 1 | ||
2003 | Marjorie Chinadle | Hill | 2 | ||
2003 | Kathy Berg | Meagher | 6 | ||
2002 | Carter Fritz | Flathead | 1 | ||
2002 | Ernest & Loretta Stordahl | Pondera | 2 | ||
2002 | Jean Besel | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | ||
2002 | Diana Widhalm | Silver Bow | 5 | ||
2001 | Frank & Kathleen Sutton | Flathead | 1 | ||
2001 | Judy Tempel | Liberty | 2 | ||
2001 | Dolly Dwyer | Cascade | 3 | ||
2001 | Bertha Nelson | Valley | 4 | ||
2001 | BJ Hawkins | Meagher | 6 | ||
2000 | Michal Ann Stedje | Lake | 1 | ||
2000 | Kris Descheemaeker | Fergus | 3 | ||
2000 | Diana Widhalm | Silver Bow | 5 | ||
2000 | Otto Ohlson | Meagher | 6 | ||
2000 | Amelia Eckstein | Stillwater | 7 | ||
2000 | Belva Arvik | Rosebud/Treasure | 8 | ||
1999 | Kathy Hochstrat | Meagher | 6 | ||
1999 | Neala Rausch | Yellowstone | 7 | ||
1999 | Linda Stewart | Flathead | 1 | ||
1999 | Sandy Swenson | Valley | 4 | ||
1999 | Penni Weinheimer | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | ||
1998 | Bertie Brown | Fergus/Petroleum | 3 | ||
1998 | Robert Sutton | Flathead | 1 | ||
1997 | Claudia Stanton | Flathead | 1 | ||
1996 | Diana Adamson | Toole | 2 | ||
1996 | Avice Hoff | Sheridan | 4 | ||
1996 | Marlene Becker | Flathead | 1 | ||
1995 | H.P. “Pat” McVay | Flathead | 1 | ||
1995 | Judith Brenner | Gallatin | 6 | ||
1995 | Dr. Stuart and Virginia Reynolds | Hill | 2 | ||
1995 | Rose Lossing | Sheridan | 4 | ||
1994 | Sue Jacobs | Meagher | 6 | ||
1994 | Wes and Dixie Osborne | Yellowstone | 7 | ||
1994 | Bill and Myrna Lauckner | Valley | 4 | ||
1994 | Mike and Dottie Twillmann | Flathead | 1 | ||
1993 | Dolly Dwyer | Cascade | 3 |
Year | Name | County |
2022 | Roni Baker | Yellowstone |
2021 | Catherine McNeil | Lewis & Clark |
2021 | Mary Koenen | Ravalli |
2020 | Walt Egged | Big Horn |
2019 | Betty Ann Wolery | Liberty |
2019 | Marsha Goetting | Gallatin |
2019 | Janice and Earl Peace | Gallatin |
2019 | Barb Larsen | Toole |
2018 | Wayne Gibson | Gallatin |
2018 | Jean Harrison | Beaverhead |
2018 | Jennifer Saunders | Fergus |
2016 | James "Dave" Phillips | Fergus |
2016 | Darold Brown | Fallon-Carter |
2015 | Judith Ward | Hill |
2015 | Lea Ann Larson (posthumous) | Lake |
2015 | Pat Bristol | Lake |
2014 | John Halpop | Sanders |
2013 | Ann & Larry Bitz | Chouteau |
2012 | Doug Steele | Out of State |
2012 | Doyle Stocks | Yellowstone |
2010 | Eileen Wilson | Sanders |
2009 | Avice Hoff | Sheridan |
2009 | Wayne Gipp | Gallatin |
2008 | Beverly Wallace | Gallatin |
2008 | Don Greytak | Hill |
2007 | Marilyn May | Fallon-Carter |
2007 | Milton Munson | Lewis & Clark |
2006 | Virginia Black | Madison |
2006 | Karolee Cronk | Blaine |
2006 | Ole & Avalon Billquist | Deer Lodge |
2006 | Joe Seidel | Hill |
2006 | Karen Dwyer | Sanders |
2005 | Pat Stackhouse | Gallatin |
2005 | Stan & Martha Klaumann | Madison |
2005 | Jim McDonald | Rosebud |
2004 | Terry & Linda Wolfe | Gallatin |
2004 | Betty McCoy | Gallatin |
2004 | Peggy Cornwell | Valley |
2004 | John Leuthold | Stillwater |
2003 | Alma Seidel | Hill |
2003 | Marcia Hollandsworth | Pondera |
2003 | Donovan & Reta Rae Weisgram | Pondera |
2002 | Shirley Marxer Roehm | Cascade |
2002 | Irvin Brown | Liberty |
2002 | Jeanette Brown | Liberty |
2001 | Burton & Myrtle Bosch | Out of State |
2001 | Herb, Marian, Chris Chrudimsky | Wibaux |
2001 | Arthur Kleinjan | Blaine |
2001 | Walter Johnson | Cascade |
2000 | William "Bill" Lewis | Fergus |
2000 | Wade VanEvery | Richland |
2000 | Minott Pruyn | Missoula |
1999 | Brad Wenz | Missoula |
1999 | Margaret Dusenberry | Gallatin |
1999 | Lew Zimmer | Gallatin |
1999 | Dolores Kombol | Musselshell |
1998 | Gayle Muggli | Custer |
1997 | Perry Anderson | Sweet Grass |
1997 | Liz Jones | Beaverhead |
1996 | Geraldine Fenn | Gallatin |
1996 | Lawrence Capra | Powder River |
1995 | Karin Ludeman | Gallatin |
1995 | Brick Vaughn | Gallatin |
1995 | Bill & Grace Berberet | Broadwater |
1994 | Torlief Aasheim | Gallatin |
1994 | James Sargent | Gallatin |
1994 | Terry & Dolly Dwyer | Cascade |
Year | Name | County |
2020 | Corry Arntzen | Fergus |
2020 | Sharla Sackman | Prairie |
2020 | Jake Eckman | |
2019 | Danelle Crary | Teton |
2018 | John and Missy Rauser | Broadwater |
2016 | Susan Knedler | Fergus |
2015 | Tommy Flanagan | Stillwater |
2013 | Sharon Higgins | Carter |
2013 | Elieen Nielsen | Prairie |
2012 | Rita Watson | Rosebud Treasure |
2011 | Tammy Duncan | Hill |
2010 | Roni Baker | Yellowstone |
2009 | Matt Roen | Rosebud Treasure |
2004 | Carol Linafelter | Cascade |
2002 | Kayla Breen | Teton |
2002 | Ed Diemert | Liberty |
2002 | Wendy Morris | Flathead |
2002 | Ernest & Loretta Stordahl | Pondera |
2002 | June Krausz | Fergus |
2002 | Kim Pletan | Meagher |
2002 | Larry Krein | Lake |
2002 | Connie Lang | Fallon |
2002 | Arvid Eggen | Sheridan |
2001 | Rex Gaustad | Daniels |
2001 | Rick Young | Stillwater |
2001 | Bonnie Johnson | Liberty |
2001 | Larry Trexler | Ravalli |
2001 | Marcia Goetting | Extension Specialist |
2001 | Dr. George W. Haynes | MSU |
2001 | Dennis Bauman | Fergus |
2001 | Barbie Stripe | Lake |
2000 | Doug Hall | Richland |
2000 | Pam Harris | Lake |
2000 | Patricia Hereim | Meagher |
2000 | Howard Kolstad | Fergus |
2000 | Linda Rice | Teton |
2000 | Kristi Townsend | Flathead |
1999 | Lawrence & Miriam Capra | Powder River |
1999 | Travis Malone | Teton |
1999 | Mindi Newman | Sanders |
1999 | Dave Phillips | Fergus |
1999 | Sylvia Talsma-Callantie | Lake |
1998 | Betty & Earl Aye | Powder River |
1998 | Pat Goggins | Yellowstone |
1998 | Lorrie Laser | Sheridan |
1998 | Sharon Malcom | Park |
1998 | Trudy Nevins | Richland |
1998 | Charlie Rust | State Extension |
1998 | Jennifer Sander | Fergus |
1998 | Sue Schmidt | Flathead |
1997 | Dave & Karen Kelsey | Stillwater |
1996 | Sheree Albin | Richland |
1996 | Richard & Ramona Brastrup | Gallatin |
1996 | Diane Grant | Lake |
1996 | Sue Shockley | Gallatin |
1995 | Ester Bjornsen | Sheridan |
1994 | Pauline Deem | Sheridan |
1994 | Mary E. Fritz | Liberty |
1994 | Raymond A. Karls | Stillwater |
1994 | Sue Sparrow Smitth | Lake |
1993 | Dennis G. Nathe | Sheridan |
1993 | Sherry Lane Corneliusen | Dawson |
1993 | Vera Zerbe | Roosevelt |
1993 | Joyce Reeser | Sanders |
1993 | Diana Widhalm | Silver Bow |