The Iron County 4-H banquet

Pictured are, Douglas Weesner presenting Brennon Gursky with the MSU 4-H Key Club award. Submitted photo.

Pictured are, Carol Callovi 4-H council member presenting Sue Passamani with the Friends of 4-H award. Submitted photo.

IRON RIVER - On Oct. 29 the Iron County 4-H council held their annual fall banquet at the George Young’s recreational complex. In attendance of the event were Iron County 4-H clubs celebrating this past year’s achievements in 4-H. Each club recognized their youth with a presentation of awards for their accomplishment and growth in the club over the last year. Awards such as fashion review, years of service, club improvement, are just a few of the awards received and presented. Michigan State University Key Club award was bestowed to Sharpshooters and Artemis Archer member Brennon Gursky for his many years of dedication to his 4-H clubs.

The highlight of the evening was the presenting the Friends of 4-H award to Sue Passamani. Sue is a long-time resident of Iron County and is active in the Bates Township restoration as well as the founding member of the Widow and Widowers to Gather social club. Most of Iron County residents my know her by another name, Buttons the clown. In 2017 Sue and her husband Dan took to painting rocks as part of the Iron County Rocks movement at which time they painted and hid a rock painted specifically for the 4-H and hid at the Iron County fair. The finder of the special 4-H rock received a treat from the 4-H food booth which was also donated by the couple. Word spread of Sue’s act of kindness painting the special rock hence growing the participation to 13 rocks being hid at the Iron County fair along with donations for the prizes along with additional donations going to the 4-H. Sue, through a small act of generosity and kindness, has now grown the 4-H Rocks project into a yearly tradition with the help of many friends and artists in this fine community.