Tim Armbruster started 4-H when he was seven years old as a member of the Litchfield County 4-H Working Steers club and eventually expanded his experience to include sheep and dairy cows.  While he was in his teens he served on the Litchfield County 4-H Fair Association and took advantage of many 4-H travel opportunities such as Citizenship Washington Focus. Tim continued his involvement in 4-H during college, and since then, has become an approved volunteer and is the co-leader of two 4-H clubs. Tim is always willing and able to lend a hand no matter what the need. He is an active participant with the Litchfield County 4-H Fair, helping with set up, planning for and orchestrating the camper area and overnight accommodations, as well as the Saturday night family dinner and assisting with running the goat show and clean up after the fair is over. He has served as a trustee of the Litchfield County 4-H Foundation for the past six years and is currently the President.  He also serves on the audit and scholarship committee for the Foundation. Tim is the perfect example of a past 4-H member who has continued his passion for and support of 4-H through his adult years.

Sam Spain is the leader of the Athena’s Warriors 4-H Robotics Team and has served in this role for the past seven years. As a 4-H robotics volunteer Sam organizes over 40 4-H meetings annually with an additional 12 special meetings and ten competitions/field trips. In an average year, there are 20 plus members in her robotics club. In addition, she spends 200 hours contributing to the 4-H team alone plus additional hours coordinating FIRST regional and district competitions. The team has had many successes in recent years, including being finalists in the Hartford Competition in 2023. That same year, Sam approached the Hartford County 4-H Fair Association with a proposal created by the Athena’s Warriors 4-H Club to create a FIRST Robotics Competition at the 4-H Fair.  In 2023, 4-H teams were able to come to the fair and participate in a FIRST robotics scrimmage. In 2024 the event was expanded and continues to be a success.  Sam does an outstanding job recruiting  and retaining new 4-H volunteers and members.  She has also expanded partnerships with other 4-H teams and programs to further the 4-H robotics program.  She is truly deserving of this award.

Jenny Riggs has been a supporter of Hartford County 4-H Programming for many years.  She started her 4-H experience as a Pennsylvania 4-H member in the horse project area and is currently involved at the club, county, and college level of 4-H and Extension.  She has served as the Chair of the Hartford County Extension Council where she was instrumental in fundraising for Extension programs including 4-H. She accomplished this by leading teams of volunteers in coordinating a wide variety of Extension fundraisers. As a representative of the Extension partners, Jenny has served as the Chair of the CAHNR Dean’s Advisory Committee for close to a decade. She worked alongside three Deans of the College to provide the voice of Extension to the Advisory Committee. At the county level, Jenny joined the leadership team of the Westmoor 4-H Club.  She attends weekly 4-H meetings, mentors youth on record keeping, and assists in the equine project area. She is also actively involved in coordinating the club’s participation in Fair clean-up on Sunday night. Jenny has served and supported UConn Extension, UConn 4-H, Hartford County 4-H, and Westmoor 4-H for many years and her wide range of contributions is very deserving of the Meritorious Service Award.