Eight years ago, Leah Kleinsorge received an Outstanding 4-H award in her first year with the organization.

On Oct. 14, the Middletown resident brought home another Outstanding 4-H award. She was selected as the recipient of the Outstanding 4-H girls in the 14 and over division at the Montgomery County 4-H Recognition Banquet at the Middletown Community Center.

“It means a lot to me that I have put a lot into my county and to my club and to think that I have been awarded for my hard work,” said the 15-year-old Leah, who is a member of the Middletown Meddlers.

Leah was one of numerous 4-H members from the Montgomery County area who were recognized for their work throughout the year. Plenty of awards were given out during the event that honored the members of the six county 4-H clubs – Bellflower Boosters, Big Spring Busy Beavers, Coon Creek Cronies, Montgomery Progressors, Middletown Meddlers and Jonesburg Kountry Kids. The Meddlers hosted the awards ceremony. Before the event, a dinner was served by Zerr Catering.

“This has been a great opportunity to celebrate 4-H members in Montgomery County,” said Kim Cullom, the 4-H Youth Associate.

Awards were given out to longtime volunteers such as Christine Ridgley, Barry Brown, Arthur and Bernadette Bader, Josh and Sara Johnson, Kristan Kleinsorge (Leah’s mother), Regina Smith and Kristal Zerr.

“Without our volunteers, we would not have the successful program that we have and we would not have everyone sitting in this room to celebrate 4-H,” Cullom said.

Elise Cochran and Dallas Cochran of the Middletown Meddlers earned the Outstanding 4-H First Year awards in the girls and boys divisions, respectively. Lynn Knoepflein of the Montgomery Progressors was named recipient of the Outstanding 4-H girl in the 10 and under division and Gus Ridgley of the Kountry Kids earned the Outstanding 4-H award in the 10 and under boys group. Lucy Politsch of the Kountry Kids (11-13 girls), Lukas Oliver of the Coon Creek Cronies (11-13 boys) and Carl Smith of the Montgomery Progressors (14 and under boys) also received Outstanding 4-H awards in their respective divisions.

Leah, who is a student at Wellsville-Middletown High School, received her Outstanding 4-H award after enjoying a successful year that included three gold ribbons, two blue ribbons and one red during county judging achievement day. She also exhibited seven items and showed an animal at the Montgomery County Fair in July.

“I got a gold on my fashion selection outfit that I put together and presented it at fashion revue,” said Leah, who also won an Outstanding 4-H award in 11-13 girls division in 2022 at Jonesburg. “I had two golds on my judging cards.”

Leah is currently the vice-president for the Middletown Meddlers. She joined the 4-H club when she was 7 years old. Her mother was the club leader for several years and her older sisters, Abbigail and Libby, were 4-H members.

“4-H means hard work and leadership,” Leah said. “I love getting to do it with people from my club and my community who appreciate it.”

Leah applauded her clubmates for preparing the 4-H banquet at the Middletown Community Center.

“Our club really came together to plan our event and the decorations,” Leah said. “They did a great job tonight decorating everything. Without all of our members and all of our club leaders and parents, we would haven’t been able to make it happen.”