Nomination and Selection Criteria:
Any Individual, Family, Business or Corporation is eligible to receive the award who:
1. Is a current supporter at the time the application is made.
2. Has not previously received the award (the award may be received by an individual, family, business, or corporation only once)
3. Has given observable and/or measurable support and contribution to the 4-H program. Including:
* Nominee has 3 or more separate activities or acts of support or involvement
* Nominee has greatly impacted 4-H Youth and/or 4-H Volunteers
* Nominee’s activities involve many aspects of the 4-H program
* Nominee’s involvement has outcomes that have positively affected the majority of 4-H Youth and/or Volunteers
4. Multiple nominations for the same award do not constitute priority in selection. It is preferred that nominations include support letters or additional information to use in selection through use of additional pages with one nomination form.
Note: One individual/family and one business/corporation may be selected to receive the county-level award each year. If the application warrants, the nomination may be submitted for “Ohio Friend of 4-H” award consideration.
Award Presentation and Details:
The award will be presented during the Ross County Junior Fair King & Queen Contest at the Ross County Fair (Sunday night of the Fair). The person submitting the nomination will be notified of the award and will be asked to assist in “surprising” the award recipient.
PAST FRIEND OF 4-H RECIPIENTS:
| YEAR | RECIPIENT | YEAR | RECIPIENT |
| 1952 | Ohio Midland Light & Power Company | 1989 | Jean Bauman (Home Ec. Extension Agent) Maynard Muntzing (Agriculture Extension Agent) |
| 1953 | W.R. Sunderland Company (4-H Advisor) | 1990 | Countrymark/Chillicothe Farm Center |
| 1954 | Farm Bureau | 1991 | Florence Cryder (4-H Advisor) Margaret Cryder (4-H Advisor) |
| 1955 | Standard Elevator & Supply Company | 1992 | Joe Lane |
| 1956 | J.C. Penny Co., Inc. | 1993 | Gene Acton |
| 1957 | Ross County Milk Producers Company | 1994 | Bob Litter - Litter Industries |
| 1958 | Ross County Agricultural Society | 1995 | Union Township Fire Department |
| 1959 | Louise Lance (Extension Secretary) | 1996 | Chillicothe Telephone Company |
| 1960 | The Chillicothe Gazette | 1997 | Dr. Dustin Stinson |
| 1961 | Chillicothe Kiwanis Club | 1998 | Lloyd and Mary Clark |
| 1962 | Chillicothe Altrusa Club | 1999 | Jerry Cryder |
| 1963 | Mrs. Otto Haubeil (4-H Advisor) | 2000 | Paul Easterday |
| 1964 | Producers Association | 2001 | Glenn and Ruth Anderson |
| 1965 | Ross County Commissioners | 2002 | John and Doris Corcoran |
| 1966 | Mrs. Earl Cryder (4-H Advisor) | 2003 | Ronald & Evelyn Montgomery |
| 1967 | First National Bank | 2004 | Hershel Detty (Individual) Detty's Market (Business) |
| 1968 | Mr. & Mrs. C.M. Newman (4-H Advisors) | 2005 | Larry & Judy Morrison (Individual) RLS Recycling & Disposal (Business) |
| 1969 | Federick Lincoln Mercury, Inc. | 2006 | Lorri Stewart (Rabbit Barn Superintendent) |
| 1970 | Greenfield Times | 2007 | Judy Gary (4-H Advisor) |
| 1971 | WBEX Radion Station | 2008 | Mike & Barb Retherford (Individual) Agri Services Inc., Ernie Roll (Business) |
| 1972 | Della Simon (Extension Secretary) | 2009 | Todd Holdren |
| 1973 | J.K, Rudell (Fair Board Secretary) | 2010 | Dan Riddle |
| 1974 | Carroll Food Products Company | 2011 | Mary Harp (Individual) Ross Co. Litter Control & Recycling (Business) |
| 1975 | Landmark | 2012 | Hal Hardiesty |
| 1976 | McDonald's Restaurant | 2013 | William Pickerrell |
| 1977 | M. Schachne & Sons | 2014 | Don Kunz and Ray Wells |
| 1978 | Kingston National Bank | 2015 | Hirsch Fruit Farm |
| 1979 | Carter Feed & Grain | 2016 | Nancy Jones |
| 1980 | Ross Co. Academy of Veterinary Medicine | 2017 | Betsy Moore |
| 1981 | Clarksburg Commercial Bank | 2018 | Stephen Gary |
| 1982 | Four D Farms | 2019 | Karen Edler |
| 1983 | Citizens National Bank | 2020 | Adena Health Systems |
| 1984 | Mead Corporation Chillicothe Division | 2021 | Philip Hurtt |
| 1985 | Reverend Fred Fox | 2022 | Jackie Detillion |
| 1986 | C.C.I. Farm Staff | 2023 | Amy Smythe |
| 1987 | John Sparks | 2024 | Nancy Detty |
| 1988 | Otto Roll | 2025 | Bill Speakman |