The La Crosse County 4-H program’s leaders and local supporters were honored for their service to youth at the annual 4-H Parents and Leaders Christmas Party and Recognition Night held Dec. 8 at the Log Cabin in Bangor.

Five 4-H volunteer leaders were named as 2009 La Crosse County 4-H Honor Leaders at the event. The Honor Leaders are nominated and selected by their peers in the 4-H program and were recognized with an engraved silver tray.

Honored for their work in local and county 4-H activities were: Jeff and Donna Garves, Brown’s Valley 4-H, Bangor; Linda Merten, Lucky Lakers 4-H, Onalaska; Karla Toppen, Union Mills 4-H, Holmen; and Nancy Wakefield, Horse Key Leader, La Crosse.

Also, 4-H leaders with five, 10, 15 and 20 or more years of service to 4-H were given special awards, certificates and gifts. There are more than 350 adult volunteers in the La Crosse County 4-H program who give of their time and talents to share with youth.

The 4-H Leaders Executive Board oversees the county 4-H program and the 2010 board was introduced during the program. The 2010 executive board officers are: President Linda Merten, Onalaska; Vice President Renee Scafe, West Salem; Secretary Julie Nuttleman, West Salem; and Treasurer Linda Saley, Bangor.

The six representatives serving on the executive board are: Bangor District, Richard Hanson; Holmen/Mindoro District, Nancy Opland; La Crosse/Onalaska District, Linda Trautmann; West Salem District, Karl Nuttleman; and the two at-large representatives, Sue Pittman, Onalaska, and Kelly Wilde, Onalaska.

In addition to honoring 4-H leaders, area individuals or businesses are honored at the event each year for their contributions to 4-H. This year Gunslick Trap Club, Kwik Trip and the Log Cabin were honored as 2009 Friends of 4-H.

Marla Stello of La Crosse serves as the representative to the Agricultural Society and Dean Bloch of Rockland will serve as past-president on the 2009 board.