Local Student Caroline Herrington Earns Multiple Grand Champion 4-H Awards
Writer / Matt Keating
Photography Provided
Caroline Herrington, a student at Noblesville West Middle School, believes the Hamilton County 4-H program has greatly benefitted her in many ways.
It has also offered her many opportunities to grow and learn new skills.
“This is my fourth year in Hamilton County 4-H,” Herrington says. “I’m the recreation leader in the Mudsock 4-H Club.”
Herrington recommends the 4-H program to many of her friends.
“I really enjoy 4-H and feel very lucky to have such a great start,” Herrington says. “I’m proud to be an officer in my club. I like attending 4-H Camp and participating in the state fair.”
Award Winner
Herrington is also an award winner.
“I’ve been awarded 4-H Grand Champions in Arts & Crafts (for basic craft and needlecraft), Photography, Demonstration, and Food Preservation,” Herrington says. “I’ve earned Reserve Grand Champions in Animal Posters, Photography, Sewing, and Cat Showmanship.”
Several of her exhibits have been chosen to compete at the State Fair, and last summer she was able to give a demonstration at the State Fair 4-H Communications Contest.
“It was called ‘Measuring Matters,’ and it was a five-minute demonstration on how to measure properly when you’re following a recipe,” Herrington says.
Herrington’s 4-H projects include Food Preparation (baking/cooking); Food Preservation (canning/freezing); Sewing Non-Wearable; Sewing Wearable and Fashion Revue; Arts & Crafts (basic craft/ needlecraft); Cats; and Animal Posters.
“I also do 4-H projects in Photography, Home Environment and Demonstration,” Herrington says.
Herrington enjoys the social aspect that comes with being in 4-H.
“I like being able to meet new people and to make really cool stuff,” Herrington says. “I like learning new things as I work on my projects. I also like seeing the projects my friends do and seeing what they accomplish.”
Herrington is also involved in scouting,
“In 2022, I earned my Arrow of Light and crossed over from Cub Scouts into Scouts BSA Girls’ Troop 103,” she says. “My current rank is second class, which is the third rank of scouting. In Scouts, I get to do fun classes and earn merit badges. Each time I work on a merit badge I learn about something new. So far, I’ve earned 16 merit badges in my first year.”
Herrington has also assisted with many 4-H events.
“I’ve assisted with lots of local events, including a cub scout family camp out, supporting my fellow troop members working on their Eagle Scout rank projects and helping with Operation Christmas Child at a local church,” Herrington says. “I also have been a top five Trail’s End popcorn seller in Central Indiana the past two years.”
Governor’s Luncheon
In November 2021, Herrington gave the invocation at the Governor’s Luncheon for Scouting at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“I learned a lot doing that, including how to read from a teleprompter and how slowly you have to talk when you’re speaking in front of 500 people,” Herrington says. “I also got to meet some very influential people like WISH TV’s Anthony Calhoun, Crossroads of America Council President and CEO Joseph Wiltrout, and Gov. Eric Holcomb.”
Cub Scouts Achiever
In Cub Scouts, Herrington also earned a few prestigious awards most scouts don’t – the International Spirit Award, two religious medals and the Supernova Award for science.
“I really enjoy going on the campouts and learning life skills,” Herrington says. “I’m getting better at setting up a tent on my own.”
Herrington says she also likes attending Noblesville West.
“School is really fun and never boring,” she says. “All of my teachers are nice. I know a lot of students attend my school, but it doesn’t feel too big. My favorite part of school is doing sixth grade band with Mr. White and Mrs. Wales. I am learning to play the clarinet.”
Herrington is also very active in her youth group at Emmanuel United Methodist Church.
“We just had our youth Christmas Eve Service, and I was one of the narrators,” she says.
Herrington and her siblings also all dance at Laura Hayden’s School of Dance in Cicero.
“I’ve been dancing there since I was three,” she says. “I take classes for ballet, jazz, tap and I am on the Crew dance team. I love dancing!”