2016 Cape May County Outstanding 4-H Members

Meet our new Junior and Senior Outstanding 4-H Members for 2016. Eight qualified, dedicated 4-H members competed for these prestigious awards, and our judges had a difficult time selecting only four. The Outstanding 4-H Member recipients will receive their awards at the 4-H Fair Opening Ceremonies at 4 p.m. on Thursday, July 21. Senior award winners will receive sashes and $100 each from the Cape May County Board of Agriculture. Junior awardees will receive sashes and $50 each from the Cape May County 4-H Program Advisory Council. Please join us that Thursday afternoon to help congratulate these fine young 4-H members. They will spend the next year representing Cape May County 4-H at various events, including our Fall County 4-H Awards Picnic and the New Jersey State Agriculture Convention in Atlantic City in February 2017.
Annabella Halbruner
Annabella is a 9th grader from Ocean View. She is currently a member of the Wranglers and Teen Ambassadors 4-H Clubs. She rides on the Moonlight Riders 4-H Mounted Drill Team and attends Horse Council Advisory group meetings to represent our youth members. Annabella has been in 4-H for seven years. She participated in the NJ State Public Presentation Contest this spring and among other awards, won the 2015 Good Sportsmanship Award at last year’s fair. Contest judges commented that Annabella has a very strong commitment to 4-H and to her community service activities.
Tessa Wozunk
Tessa is an 11th grade student from Cape May Court House. She belongs to the Milky Ways and Hy-Riders 4-H Clubs. Tessa has also been a member of 4-H for seven years, and she is currently the 1st Runner Up Senior 4-H Equestrian of the Year. She is a great lover of animals, and she counts among her projects two horses, two goats, a lamb and countless breeds of chickens and ducks. Tessa also finds time to be an active member of Future Farmers of America (FFA) and currently holds offices in FFA and all her 4-H clubs. Tessa enjoys volunteering for the Spring Equine Health Clinics so that she can learn more about horse health. She has also participated in two state public presentation contests. Tessa’s judges noted that she has a strong resume that reflects her 4-H experience and excellent community service record.
Elise Heim
Elise has been a member of the Shore Blazers 4-H Club since her Cloverbud days for a total of seven years. She is currently in 7th grade and last year, was the Junior 4-H Equestrian of the Year. She has received her first 4-H Horse County Medal and has served as secretary of her club for the past two years. In addition to 4-H, Elise shows her Welsh pony actively. She has qualified for U.S. National Pony Finals in Kentucky twice and has achieved the USEF Equestrian Athlete Letter for Junior High School Students. Elise commented on her resume that, “Being part of a community that helps others is rewarding, and I have met some really great friends.”
Mina LaFrance
Mina is an 8th grader from Woodbine. She has been in 4-H longer than any of our other contestants – for nine years! Mina rides on the Moonlight Riders 4-H Mounted Drill Team and is a member of the Star Hollow Riders 4-H Club. She is currently the 1st Runner Up Junior 4-H Equestrian of the Year. Mina was the Grand Champion Beginner Western Rider at the 4-H Fair last year. Her community service includes working at an animal shelter, helping redo her school garden and volunteering at the Ocean View Veterinary Hospital. Her contest judges lauded her public speaking skills, her seriousness about the importance of 4-H and her devotion to being a good role model to younger 4-H members.