The Bluffton Cattle 4-H Club wrapped up their 2023 season exhibiting a wide-variety of projects at the Allen County Fair. The club members worked hard throughout the summer and their efforts were recognized as they won many banners and ribbons throughout the week. Congratulations to all of the participants on a job well done.
Bluffton High School freshman Maddie Seeling has had a very successful summer in equestrian competitions. She went to the Ohio State fair with her horse PJ and came home the 13-15 year-old Ohio State Barrel Champion, as well as finishing 3rd in Keyhole, 8th in Stakes and 8th in Ground Roping.
Seeling also competed at the Allen County Fair where she won all six of the divisions that she entered: age 11-14 barrels, poles, stakes, keyhole, kegs and ground roping. She is possibly the only rider to make this sweep. Winning barrels and poles in her age division qualified her to run the Champion of Champions in these events, where she earned two championships and two belt buckles. Again, never done before.
Other prizes won at the fair? She twice won $100 riding the mechanical bull at the festival.
The Bluffton Boys & Girls 4H Club has announced the following Allen County Fair results:
Miri Spencer, President
● Market Chickens A & Let's Grill A
Brooklynn Bible, Vice President
● Creative Costumes A 1st Place & State Fair delegate. Art A outstanding, Makeover Space A outstanding
Audra Snyder, Secretary
● Llama A Champion of Champion winner in Llama showmanship, Champion Llama/Alpaca showmanship, Champion Fiber, 2nd Place Llama Conformation, 3rd Place Costume, 1st Place Obstacle, 1st Place Livestock Judging, 8th Place Showman of Showman intermediate
After a 34-year career in the field of developmental disabilities, with the past eight as Superintendent, Theresa Schnipke has announced her retirement from the Allen County Board of Developmental Disabilities.
Board President Tom Fleming commented, "Superintendent Schnipke has led the County Board through some of the most challenging times in the history of the Board. First, through many changes as a result of federal & state mandates, then the COVID pandemic and followed by a major workforce shortage in the field of DD. Through it all she kept the Allen County Board of DD in a positive position. Superintendent Schnipke has always kept the people that the County Board serves as her number one priority. I thank her for her dedicated service.”
On August 22 the Board will officially begin the director search process with the Ohio Association of County Boards. The board will select a person to work alongside the Superintendent at the beginning of 2024 and take the helm on July 1. This is the same transition process the Board is using to replace the long-term Director of Business, Martha Nance, who is retiring on April 3. The Business Manager successor is in place.
