By:

Michelle Adkins
4-H Extension Educator

The Trumbull County 4-H program held its annual 4-H volunteer recognition banquet on Saturday, October 24 and honored several outstanding volunteers.  Trumbull County 4-H has three different volunteer awards that are announced every year.  All three volunteer honors, the 4-H Alumni Award, 4-H Meritorious Service Award, and 4-H Distinguished Service Award, are nominated by 4-H families.  All three volunteer award winners received a certificate, and an engraved marble keepsake.

This year’s 4-H Alumni Award winner is Terry Parry of Warren.  Parry was a member in the Trumbull County 4-H program for most of her childhood.  She has also been a club advisor for seven years and is the head advisor for the East Ohio 4-H Club.

Trumbull County 4-H also gives a Meritorious Service Award every year.  This award is for someone who has given outstanding service to 4-H through short term dedication or in a specific area of 4-H youth work.  This year, the 4-H program honored Matt Hartman of Leavittsburg.  Hartman has been a 4-H club advisor for six years and has been the head advisor for the Trumbull County Cattle Club for the past few years and has also been an advisor for the Trumbull CARTEENS program since its inception in 2007.

Finally, Trumbull County honors a Distinguished Service Award winner every year.  This award is for someone who has shown superior dedication to 4-H. The award winner should have both extended tenure and service to 4-H beyond his/her local club.  Stan Szepietowski of Cortland was this year’s Trumbull 4-H Distinguished Service Award winner.  Szepietowski has been involved with the 4-H program for over 40 years!  He founded a Trumbull County 4-H club and shared his horse related experiences & knowledge with many 4-Her’s.  Szepietowski has always enjoyed kids and made 4-H fun for them through his teasing, practical jokes, and sense of humor.  Our winner took a special interest in educating the 4-H kids about raising and showing healthy horses. He has spent countless hours helping out in any way possible and has even brought his own equipment to the fairgrounds to help prepare the show ring for horse shows. 

Szepietowski’s nominator wrote, “He has made an impact on everyone he came in contact with.  He has dedicated his life to serving the youth of Trumbull County and the 4-H program and is well deserving of this award.”

All of the Trumbull County volunteers deserve a huge thank you for all the time and energy they spend creating a wonderful 4-H program for the young people of Trumbull County.  The Trumbull 4-H program could not exist without all the hard work of all of the volunteers.