Volunteer Award Winners

Eighteen adult volunteers, eight 4-H members, and four families of volunteers are being recognized with 2025 Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Awards.

MULTI-GENERATION FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS AWARD

Four families from across the state are being recognized as Outstanding Multi-Generation Family of Volunteers Award. Families included in the  include:

• Dave and Deb Haumont Family of Custer County 
• Raynell Able Family of Nemaha County
• Hirschman Family of Howard County
•  Jane Dahlgren-Tonjes Family of Lancaster, Phelps and Webster Counties

OUTSTANDING YOUTH VOLUNTEER AWARD

Eight 4-H members from across the state are being recognized as Outstanding Youth Volunteers for going above and beyond in their local 4-H programs:

• Willa Fritz, Nemaha County 
• Jalee Haggerty, Howard County 
• Jessie Bronson, Phelps County 
• Hunter Creech, Scotts Bluff County 
• LilyAnn Willing, Burt County
• Kole Crawford, Polk County 
• Lauren Dick, Thayer County 
• Lauren Kohmetscher, Nuckolls

EMERGING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD

Eight individuals are receiving Emerging Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served less than three years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Paige Stumpff, Sheridan County
• Kristi Peterson, Holt County
• Chris Spence, Lincoln County
• Ashley Maloley, Phelps County
• Sarah Moeller, Boone County
• Anna Barr, Lancaster County
• Halee Kinnaman, Nuckolls County 
• Brenda Fritz, Nemaha County 

OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD

Eleven individuals are receiving Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served more than four years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Natalie Creech, Scotts Bluff County
• Sarah Sortum, Loup County
• Peggy Peterson, Logan County
• Carrie Soucie, Franklin County
• Keith and Margaret Drott, Stanton County
• Stacy Stewart, Polk County
• Mary Paeper, Thurston County
• Jennifer Smith, Lancaster County
• Dave Berens, Adams County
• Todd Zimmerman, Nemaha County 

Twenty-two adult volunteers, one 4-H member, and a family of volunteers were recognized with 2024 Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Awards.

MULTI-GENERATION FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS AWARD
The Johnson and Harbin families from Burt County are receiving the Multi-Generation Family of Volunteers Award. Additional family members include:

• Norman and Sally Johnson
• Johnnie and Melinda Johnson
• Jennie and Stewart Harbin
• Will and Stephanie Johnson 

This award recognizes a family with at least three generations of active 4-H volunteers.

OUTSTANDING YOUTH AWARD
Marissa Staben, 4-H member in Cass County, is receiving the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award. This award recognizes a 4-H member, ages 14-18, who has made a meaningful impact on their local 4-H community.

EMERGING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals are receiving Emerging Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served less than three years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Briana Robertson, Box Butte County
• Jacey Andersen, Thomas County
• Blair Caraway, Dawson County
• Tigh Renken, Gosper and Phelps County
• Janelle Nielsen, Dakota County
• Jennifer Wood, Nance County
• Kerry Huntley, Washington County
• Kearah Perreault, Lancaster County
• Makinna Peterson, Thayer County 
• Cailyn Winkelman, Nemaha County 

OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals are receiving Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served more than four years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Julie Schommer, Dawes County
• Rhonda Cherry, Cherry County
• Amanda Lott, Lincoln County
• Pam Hamilton, Hitchcock County
• Lisa Bousquet, Dakota County
• Jeff Krivohlavek, Seward County 
• Ann Gillentine, Saunders County
• Marsha Prior, Lancaster County
• Tom Person, Jefferson County
• Dana Baltensperger, Nemaha County 

Twenty-two adult volunteers, one 4-H member, and a family of volunteers were recognized with 2023 Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Awards.

MULTI-GENERATION FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS AWARD
The Vrbka, Ott and King Families from Polk County received the Multi-Generation Family of Volunteers Award. Additional family members include:

• Ray & Bett Vrbka
• Susan Ott and Angie King
• Stacey Stewart, Chase King, Ashley Robbins, Helen Bender, Haley Teten, Cecelia King
• McKenna & Alexa Stewart

This award recognizes a family with at least three generations of active 4-H volunteers.

OUTSTANDING YOUTH AWARD
Lindsay Mendenhall, 4-H member in Chase County, received the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award. This award recognizes a 4-H member, ages 14-18, who has made a meaningful impact on their local 4-H community.

EMERGING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals received Emerging Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served less than three years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Jackie Simonson, Sheridan County 
• Chelsea Sallach, Wheeler County
• Chase Prentice, Lincoln County
• Steve Dirgo, Gosper County
• John Broderson, Cedar County
• Keith Umstead, Nance County
• Joelle Wacker, Polk County
• Michael Bracht, Burt County
• Allison Walbrecht, Lancaster County
• Kristina Woods, Fillmore County
• Micah Scholl, Pawnee County

OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals received Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served more than four years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Sally Bryner, Box Butte County
• Judith Rath, Thomas County
• Nancy Lashley, Logan County
• Arlys Cupp, Chase County
• Chris Redding, Antelope County
• Sue Hornickel, Valley County
• Janet Stutzman, Seward County
• Robert Stoddard, Washington County
• Harry Muhlbach, Lancaster County
• Alan and Kaye Mussman, Thayer County
• Sheryln Damme, Otoe County 

Twenty-two adult volunteers, one 4-H member, and a family of volunteers were recognized with Nebraska 4-H Volunteer Awards.

MULTI-GENERATION FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS AWARD
The Kristy and Dave Hattan Family from Lancaster County received the Multi-Generation Family of Volunteers Award. Additional family members include:

• Jill Hattan
• Tyler Hattan
• Tammy Wollen
• Brandy Brock

This award recognizes a family with at least three generations of active 4-H volunteers.

OUTSTANDING YOUTH AWARD
Marlie Mundt, 4-H member in Merrick County received the Outstanding Youth Volunteer Award. This award recognizes a 4-H member, ages 14-18, who has made a meaningful impact on their local 4-H community.

EMERGING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals received Emerging Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served less than three years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Wendy Scheenan, Sheridan County 
• Krista Thoene, Garfield County
• Matt Weideman, Lincoln County
• Mary Ann Whitebear, Phelps County
• Mercedes Barg, Madison County
• Joy Harris, Nance County
• Cathy Hill-Klein, Platte County
• Hunter Purcell, Dodge County
• Sadie Hammond, Lancaster County
• Lisa Paul, Jefferson County
• Natasha Vavra, Cass County

OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals received Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served more than four years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Bill Riggs, Dawes County
• Jolene Dunbar, Loup County
• Dean Batie, Buffalo County
• Jo Teter, Red Willow County
• Doug McKibbon, Madison County
• Kathy Gorecki, Howard County
• Brigen Kinnison, Platte County
• Kim Jackson, Burt County
• Kath Conroy, Lancaster County
• Michael Scholz, Saline County
• Kim Cawley, Cass County

MULTI-GENERATION FAMILY OF VOLUNTEERS AWARD
The Ron and Barb Suing Family from Lancaster County received the Multi-Generation Family of Volunteers Award. 

Additional family members include:

• Marlo Yakel
• Nikki Casburn
• Kylee Schirmer, Taylor Yakel, and Ryan Yakel
• Andrew Casburn, Daniel Casburn, and Thomas Casburn

This award recognizes a family with at least three generations of active 4-H volunteers.

OUTSTANDING ADULT VOLUNTEER AWARD
Eleven individuals received Outstanding Adult Volunteer Awards. These awards recognize current volunteers who have served more than four years in their local 4-H community. One individual is recognized for each Nebraska Extension Engagement Zone. Recipients include:

• Carrie Child, Sheridan County
• Kathaleen Mead, Garfield County
• Sharla Willard, Lincoln County
• Kevin Oberg, Hitchcock County
• Kim Spence, Stanton County
• Beth Sonderup, Nance County
• Barb Mentink, Polk County
• Linda Bisanz, Burt County
• Rebecca Dunn, Douglas County
• Heather Mohling