By: Pam Chickering Wilson
Jefferson County 4-H held its annual awards ceremony last week, honoring not only 4-H youth but also adult volunteers for their major contributions to the educational organization. The top awards presented to adult volunteers included lifetime volunteer, volunteer of the year and other special recognitions.
Ed Bielinski- Lifetime Volunteer Award
There are some people who give their time, and then there are people who truly give a part of themselves to helping others. Ed Bielinski is one of those special people.
For many years, Bielinski has dedicated his time, knowledge, patience, and experience to working with agricultural youth. Through his involvement in 4-H, livestock judging, and as a swine leader, Bielinski has helped generations of young people gain a better understanding of agriculture while encouraging them to become more confident, responsible, and knowledgeable individuals.
One of the biggest ways Bielinski has made a difference is through livestock judging, nominators said. He doesn’t just teach youth what to look for when judging an animal; he takes the time to explain why they should look for certain qualities. He teaches them how to observe, think through their decisions, and explain their reasoning. These are skills that go far beyond the livestock judging ring. He is teaching young people how to think for themselves, make decisions, and have confidence in their choices.
As a county 4-H swine leader and fair superintendent, Bielinski has shared his knowledge and experience with youth who are learning about raising and caring for livestock. He understands that working with animals teaches much more than agriculture. It teaches responsibility, commitment, patience, hard work, and compassion. He has been there to answer questions, offer guidance, and encourage young people along the way.
What makes Bielinski particularly special, nominators said, is his patience. He is willing to take the time necessary to help a young person understand something. He doesn’t expect them to know everything when they begin. Instead, he teaches, encourages, and allows them to learn from their experiences. His support can make a young person feel that they belong, that their efforts matter, and that they are capable of accomplishing more than they may have believed.
Bielinski’s years of involvement in 4-H have allowed him to touch the lives of many young people. Some may remember a lesson he taught, advice he gave, or a livestock judging experience they shared with him. Others may simply remember that he was someone who was always willing to help. Those moments may seem small at the time, but they can leave a lasting impression.
The true measure of volunteering is not only the number of hours people give, but the difference they have made in the lives of others, the presenter said. Bielinski has given his time freely because he believes in young people and believes in the future of agriculture. By sharing his knowledge and experience, he has helped young people develop skills and an appreciation for agriculture that they can carry with them throughout their lives.
Through his gift of time and mentorship, Bielinski has helped young people learn, grow, gain confidence, and discover what they are capable of achieving.
For his many years of dedicated service to 4-H and agricultural youth, and for the countless lessons, encouragement, and memories he has shared along the way, Bielinski earned this year’s Lifetime Volunteer Award.
Melissa Gross – Volunteer of the Year
Honored as one of the 2026 Volunteers of the Year was Melissa Gross, who has been involved in 4-H for many years.
Gross began her journey as a parent with two daughters participating in the program. What started as supporting her daughters and their 4-H experiences grew into a much deeper commitment to helping youth learn, grow, and succeed. Over the years, she took on additional responsibilities, serving as a project leader and eventually becoming the general leader for their club.
Her dedication to 4-H reflects her belief in the importance of providing young people with opportunities to learn valuable life skills, build confidence, develop leadership abilities, and become involved in their communities, coordinators said. As she moved from a supportive 4-H parent to a leadership role, Gross demonstrated how much she values the program and the positive impact it has on young people.
The presenter noted that Gross’ commitment to service extends beyond 4-H. She is also involved with the Jefferson County Dairy Breakfast Committee and is a member of the Farm Bureau. Through these connections, she demonstrates her support for agriculture, her community, and the importance of bringing people together to celebrate and understand the agricultural industry.
Organizers noted that what makes Gross deserving of this recognition is not simply the number of years she has volunteered, but her willingness to step forward, accept responsibility, and contribute to organizations that make a difference. Whether supporting youth through 4-H or helping with agricultural and community activities, she exemplifies the value of dedicated volunteers.
Her years of involvement have allowed her to give back to the programs and community that mean so much to her.
Karen Gefvert – Volunteer of the Year
Named as Volunteer of the Year was Karen Gefvert, who was honored for her hard work, dedication, and commitment to the success of local youth.
A mother of five, a working livestock farmer, and a 4-H leader serving on the leaders’ board, Gefvert has a lot on her plate.
“Being a 4-H leader is about so much more than meetings, projects, livestock shows, and deadlines. It’s about teaching young people responsibility, building confidence, encouraging them to try new things, and helping them become the leaders of tomorrow,” the award presenter said.
“And if there’s anyone who knows how to keep a lot of things moving at once, it’s this incredible woman,” the presenter continued. “Between working full-time, raising a family, caring for animals and managing the farm, while supporting local youth, she somehow finds a way to keep everything organized and running smoothly.
The nomination commended Gefvert for the organization, drive and the mentorship she has provided for local youth in the livestock project, focusing on goats, sheep, poultry, and rabbits.
As a member of the county leader board, her creativity and expertise has helped update, create, or transfer county 4-H documents and applications, moving them to Google Docs. She even created the new Jefferson County 4-H Leaders Association Facebook page.
Additionally, she contributes as the official photographer for the county’s 4-H Project Learning Day.
Beyond her obvious competence, Gefvert freely gives of her time, shares her knowledge, and leads by example. She teaches 4-H members that success doesn’t happen overnight – rather, it takes patience, hard work, responsibility, and a willingness to show up even when things get busy. The lessons she teaches go far beyond the show ring or the farm. She helps young people learn skills they will carry with them for the rest of their lives, the presenter said.
Alyssa Jacquith – Volunteer of the Year
Jacquith has been involved in 4-H since kindergarten, growing up in the program and experiencing firsthand the many opportunities it provides to young people. As she graduated from being a 4-H youth member, her commitment to the program did not end. Instead, she chose to give back to the organization that had been such an important part of her life.
She completed the training to become a 4-H leader and took on the responsibility of working with the Junior Leaders and Cloverbuds. Through these roles, she continued to encourage young people, help them learn, and provide opportunities for them to grow and become involved in 4-H.
One of Jacquith’s biggest contributions came when she was nominated to take charge of Jefferson County 4-H’s main fundraiser, the pizza and pie sale, a responsibility she carried from the fall of 2010 through 2023. She worked diligently to keep track of product numbers, to organize orders, and to make sure everything was ready for pick-up. When pick-up day arrived, she coordinated volunteers to help set up and direct vehicles so that the process ran as smoothly as possible. Her organization, dedication, and willingness to put in time and effort helped make this fundraiser a success year after year.
Jacquith has shown that being involved in 4-H is about more than raising animals, completing projects, or attending meetings. It is about giving back, helping others, and making a difference in the lives of young people. She enjoys working with people and has demonstrated her willingness to step up, take responsibility, and help wherever she is needed.
It is truly special to see someone who began her 4-H journey as a young child continue to give back to the program as an adult leader and volunteer, nominators said, adding that Jacquith’s 18 years of service, dedication, and commitment exemplify what 4-H is all about.
The award presentation committee thanked Jacquith for the many years she has devoted to 4-H, for the time and energy she has given to our youth, and for helping make the local program stronger, saying that her efforts have made Jefferson County 4-H stronger.
Cindy Jacquith and Becki Durkee – Kitchen coordinators
This pair of active volunteers received joint recognition for their vital work in overseeing the 4-H kitchen at the Jefferson County Fair Park Activity Center.
Two years ago, Jacquith and Durkee took on the challenge of bringing the 4-H kitchen at the fairgrounds to life, and they have made a tremendous difference.
Behind the scenes, they have dedicated themselves to countless early mornings, last-minute supply runs, long hours, and so much time and energy poured into making everything come together.
Though they work behind the scenes, Durkee and Jaquith’s contributions don’t go unnoticed.
Presenters thanked the hard-working duo for believing in the fair kitchen, for rolling up their sleeves when things needed to get done, and for giving selflessly over the past two years.
Jefferson County 4-H is grateful for everything this duo has done to bring back the fair kitchen and for the love they pour into the endeavor, making both the facility and the county 4-H organization as a whole stronger.