The Leonard Ernsbarger Community Service Award, sponsored by the Bank of America, was awarded to Katlyn Logan at 4-H Recognition Night held Saturday at the fairgrounds home economics building.

This is not a new experience for this outstanding 4-H member, as she also received the award in 2001, as an 11-year-old.

This award is presented to a 4-H member, 10 years old and older, who best exemplifies the "hands" and "heart" portion of the 4-H pledge. This young person will be self-motivated and have given of themselves in volunteering to help others throughout the county. They will have demonstrated leadership and citizenship and contribute to the group effort of making a difference in the community. The selection of the winner is based 75 percent on community service and 25 percent on leadership. A $50 U.S. Savings Bond and a traveling plaque are awarded annually.

It is special to me, as a retired 4-H youth specialist, to have an outstanding 4-H award named in my honor. It was also an honor to attend and make the presentation of the award for the sponsor. There are several reasons that this award is special to me. Members of 4-H awarded this recognition and also those making applications for the recognition have achieved in their service to the community and in leadership. As many of you are aware, one of my personal special interest's is community service. These young persons are making great contributions to their community.

Katlyn, age 16, is a daughter of H.M. and Terry Logan and has completed her eighth year as a member of the Sheldon 4-H Club. She served as a junior leader and is a junior at Sheldon High School.

Her strong leadership record enabled her to receive the David Mosher Leadership sponsored by the Milo/Oakdale 4-H Club. This is the first time since these awards have been presented that a member received both honors in the same year -- leadership award and community service award. Katlyn is also the first member to have received the community service award two times.

There were many awards presented to achieving 4-H members during the recognition event. We often hear the bad things that kids are doing. These 4-H members are doing great things. It is hard to believe how much they are doing at a young age -- an example for others, both youth and adults.

All of these members have established great records. Katlyn, winner of the community service award, is an example of accomplishments by youth. She had a good record at age 11, still she has added to that record -- "Making the best better." Katlyn enjoyed 4-H this year, as she has met many new friends and learned many new things. For community service at Christmas time, she always participates in several activities. She participated in the Toys for Tots drive and the hat and mitten drive for the Moss House. She also helped with the canned food drive at the school, also helped with dividing and delivering more than 2,000 food items to people in the community needing extra help.

For the past four years, Katlyn has helped with the Salvation Army Christmas Project at Wal-Mart. In the past several years she has participated in the Samaritan's Purse project and will again this year. This is where a shoebox is packed with school supplies, toys and personal hygiene items for children in war-torn areas. Some of the other things this busy young person has done include helping with the Miles for Meals fund-raiser for the elderly; writing letters to service men at Christmas and Valentine's Day for a military project; picking up trash, twice a year, with the highway pick up project; participating in the Vernon County Youth Fair and the 4-H Chicken Barbecue. She also particpates in a number of things to improve the fairgrounds and facilities; and she helps to place flags on graves for Memorial Day.

She has several citizenship experiences and achievements. This year she attended the Citizenship Washington Focus, the Youth Citizenship Forum in Jefferson City, and the State Congress in Columbia.

She said, "What I have learned at these conferences will help me to improve my club and community. If you are better prepared you can do a better job."

She served on the 4-H council's recreation and achievement day standing committees, as reporter for the council and as president of her 4-H club and FFA Chapter. There are many people who do not know how to conduct meetings and how to use parliamentary procedure. She is gaining experience and knowledge in both of these.

Katlyn said, "By learning better parliamentary procedures at the conferences, voting on issues, conducting meetings and learning how our government works, I can be a better leader and a better citizen."

An entire column could be devoted to her leadership. Communicating is an important leadership skill. She has participated in public speaking and giving demonstrations at school, in 4-H, and in FFA. She has taken public speaking as a project for four years.

She said, "A leader should be able to talk to his followers and make his ideas and suggestions clear. By being an active member in 4-H, I know I will have many opportunities to improve my public speaking which is a life-long skill."

In her leadership roles and experiences she has learned to manage resources, make decisions, getting along with others, working with groups, learning to learn, and understanding self. This is the second year that she has served as president of her club.

Katlyn said, "I truly enjoy the important role that leadership has in being a 4-H member. It does not matter if you serve as president or the song leader. You are given many opportunities to grow as a person and develop leadership skills you will use your entire life." Special thanks go to the Bank of America for sponsoring the Leonard Ernsbarger Community Service Award.