Shown are the candidates for the 2016 Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty. In front, from left are, Lacy Helfers, Samantha Deneve, Kara Kline, Analiese Helms. In back are, Alexus Greene, Destini Carpenter, Conner Sausaman, Evan Schmidt and Ashley Beer.
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The 2016 Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty will be announced at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 7, at the Kosciusko County Extension Office, 202 W. Main St., Warsaw.
The Kosciusko County Royalty Contest began in 1968. At that time, the 4-H Junior Leaders selected their “King” and “Queen.” Gary Boggs was Kosciusko County’s first 4-H King and Cathy Bryant Shipley was the first 4-H Queen.
Today’s 4-H Royalty candidates submit a complete history of their 4-H, school and community leadership, service, and activities and involvement. Blind applications are reviewed and scored by a panel of three judges. In June, the judges meet the candidates for 10-minute professional interviews. The 2016 4-H King, Prince, Queen and Princess will be crowned on Thursday, July 7, just prior to the opening of the fair.
The 2015 4-H King was Jared Templin and the 2015 4-H Queen was Elizabeth Zorn.
Although the contest has taken on a new look, it continues to recognize 4-H achievement, leadership and commitment to service. The contest and the Royalty Court continue to hold a place of high value and tradition in the Kosciusko County 4-H program.
The 2016 Kosciusko County 4-H Royalty Candidates are:
Ashley Beer
- Club: Milford Helping Hands
- Number of years in 4-H: Nine
- Projects: Foods, sewing, photography, swine, dairy calf feeder steers, and beef
- 4-H offices held: Treasurer, secretary, vice president
- School: Wawasee High School – senior
- Parents: Randy and Deb Beer
- Future plans: Gain a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting.
Destini Carpenter
- Club: Lucky Lads and Lassies
- Number of years in 4-H: Eight
- Projects: Rabbits, cats, recycling, photography, foods
- 4-H offices held: Vice president and recreation leader
- School: Warsaw Community High School – junior
- Parent: Josh Carpenter
- Future plans: Secure a job in the field of veterinary medicine
Samantha Deneve
- Club: Beaver Dam Better 4-H’ers
- Number of years in 4-H: Nine
- Projects: Swine, dairy calf feeder steers, sheep, poultry
- 4-H office held: Secretary
- School: Whitko High School – senior
- Parents: Chris and Shannon Deneve
- Future plans: Attend college to major in business and become a flight attendant
Alexus Greene
- Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers
- Number of years in 4-H: Five
- Projects: Swine, dairy, foods, dairy foods, create-with-a-mix, microwave cooking, consumer meats, photography, miscellaneous crafts, recycling, gift wrapping
- 4-H office held: None
- School: Ivy Tech-Warsaw – freshman
- Parent: Lisa Teeple
- Future plans: Post graduate studies at Ivy Tech, in Warsaw
Lacy Helfers
- Club: Milford Helping Hands and Kosciusko County 4-H Junior Leaders
- Number of years in 4-H: Eight
- Projects: Photography, fine arts, dairy foods, wearable art, miscellaneous crafts, creative writing, entomology, fashion revue, poultry, photography
- 4-H offices held: Vice president and recreation leader
- School: Wawasee High School – junior
- Parents: Jeff and Michelle Helfers
- Future plans: Graduate from college with a bachelor’s degree in art education
Analiese Helms
- Club: Junior Neighbors, Hoosier Llama Lovers
- Number of years in 4-H: 10
- Projects: Llama, llama poster, personality, foods, consumer meats, fine arts, gift wrapping, dog poster, wildlife, health
- 4-H offices held: President, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, health and safety leader
School: Taylor University – freshman - Parent: Rhonda Helms
- Future plans: Plans to attend Taylor University upon graduation and pursue a degree in music education, with a possible minor in biology
Kara Kline
- Club: Silver Lake Rambling Farmers
- Number of years in 4-H: Eight
- Projects: Rabbits, sheep, swine, rabbit poster, miscellaneous crafts
- 4-H office held: Club reporter
- School: Warsaw Community High School – junior
- Parent: Rickell Kline
- Future plans: Plans to attend college upon graduation and pursue a career in veterinary medicine
Evan Schmidt
- Club: Leesburg Mighty Farmers
- Number of years in 4-H: 10
- Projects: Rabbits and dairy
- 4-H Office Held: None
- School: University of Indianapolis – freshman
- Parents: James and April Schmidt
- Future plans: Attending the University of Indianapolis to major in sports management and marketing
Conner Sausaman
- Club: Milford Helping Hands
- Number of years in 4-H: 10
- Projects: Dog obedience, alfalfa, photography, swine, dairy beef, dairy beef feeder steer, foods, poultry, dairy
- 4-H offices held: Recreation leader and senior leader
- School: Black Hawk-East College – freshman
- Parents: Matt and Christi Sausaman
- Future plans: Attend Black Hawk College to major in agri-business management and agri-business production