Ten-year-old Springhouse 4-H member Baileigh Stowell was the winner of the Rayel MacDonald Memorial Award at the 57th annual 4-H Show and Sale last week.
She received a plaque and a blanket that she keeps for a year, $75 toward the purchase of a 4-H animal next year, and a memorial clock engraved with both her name and Rayel’s name.
Andrea MacDonald, Rayel’s mother, and close family friend Sam Purdy, presented Stowell with the award.
Three awards were presented at the Show and Sale: The Harry Williamson Award, the Rayel MacDonald Memorial Award and the Save-On-Foods club awards.
The Harry Williamson prize of two calves was won by Karena Sokolan and Tyler Stanke from the Springhouse club.
Each year Save On donates $3,000 to the 4-H District, given out through random draws to the clubs for members to purchase their animals for the next season.
At the show and sale, Save-On-Foods managers from Williams Lake and 100 Mile House drew names from each club and awarded 4-H kids with cheques for $75.
Rayel MacDonald Memorial Award winner Baileigh Stowell, a first-year 4-H member, also received a ‘Most Enthusiastic 4-H Member’ award. She said she likes the word ‘enthusiastic.’
“It means you’re happy and you get excited about what you’re doing, and it shows in your facial expressions and your voice,” she explained.
“I found out that Rayel was also given that award in her first year as a 4-H member, and I feel very honoured and happy about that.”
Along with the $75 she received with the Rayel MacDonald award for next year’s project, she said she won $75 from Save On Foods, which she will put toward costs incurred in raising her pig, Pork Chop.
Along with the $75 she received with the Rayel MacDonald award for next year’s project, she said she won $75 from Save On Foods, which she will put toward costs incurred in raising her pig, Pork Chop.
“I love being able to have the animals around and be able to work with them and writing down everything about them. Pork Chop is gentle and friendly; she likes to cuddle and she nudges me with her nose,” she added.
Andrea MacDonald said that lifelong family friend Sam Purdy instigated the Rayel MacDonald award because she wanted Rayel to be remembered and because 4-H has been so important to both families.
She added that Rayel’s dad was in 4-H, as was Rayel and her two sisters, Rilla and Libby, who is still a member.
“It really struck me when I found out that Baileigh won the Most Enthusiastic 4-H member award, as did Rayel,” she continued. “Rayel was so enthusiastic – her life, her laugh – everything about her was.”
Baileigh said that she will treasure the plaque and the blanket for the year she gets to keep it, and will treasure the clock, which has hers and Rayel’s name on it, forever.
“It makes me proud,” she said, “to have my name and her name on it together.”