4-H In The City’s documentary “Salute to Service” received the Grand Champion in Civic Engagement Award at the Illinois State Fair and will premiere the film on Saturday Oct. 25, 2025 at 1 p.m. at the Moline Public Library, 3210 41^st Street in Moline.

4-H in the City is a Rock Island County 4-H Club. A Q&A will follow the Oct. 25 film presentation. The premiere is free and open to the public.

Led by 4-H Leader Lori Tharp, Club members Maya Boehle, Olivia Boehle, Nadiya Hernandez, Emily Herrick, Noah Herrick, Kolbie Pettit and Carter Tharp spent approximately one year developing, planning, filming interviews, scripting and directing the editing of a documentary featuring seven Quad Cities veterans who shared their memories and experiences.

Holding the top prize ribbon at the Rock Island County Fair are (L-R): Nadiya Hernandez, Kolbie Pettit, Olivia Boehle, Maya Boehle, Emily Herrick, Noah Herrick, and Carter Tharp.

The seven veterans who appear in the 20-minute film are:

• Robert Douglas (Marines)
• Specialist Fred L. Hernandez (Army)
• Susan Kuehl (Air Force)
• Petty Officer Ronald Mlekush (Navy)
• First Class Lisa Olson (Army)
• Staff Sgt. Don Wentler (Army)
• Seaman Roald Zvonik (Navy)

“Salute to Service” recently competed in the Rock Island County Fair’s Civic Engagement – Group Presentation and received two awards: the State Fair Delegate Award and the Best of Show.

“I have volunteered with 4-H for many years and love working with the Clubbers and 99helping them find their potential,” Lori Tharp said in a recent press release. She was inducted into the 4-H Hall of Fame this summer and joined the ranks of outstanding volunteers and leaders whose dedication shapes the future of Illinois 4-H, the Illinois 4-H stated during the induction ceremony.

4-H in the City Club member Nadiya Hernandez.

“This experience was so meaningful for Nadiya,” said Rose Hernandez of her granddaughter. “Nadiya had an opportunity to learn about her Great Uncle Fred Hernandez and will now be able to share with the family (and the community) his experience.”

Truth First Film Alliance, Inc. and Emmy award-winning filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle of Moline-based Fourth Wall Films sponsored the documentary project, providing training in development, pre-production, filming (production), scripting and directing post-production editing.

The TFFA sponsored pre-production and production training for the seven clubbers (ages 10-18), and Fourth Wall Films sponsored post-production on the project. Coal Valley’s Robert R. Jones Public Library supplied production equipment for the veteran interviews.

“This experience has had an amazing impact on the Clubbers,” said Tharp. “Some of the comments Clubbers shared included that the project taught them to be better listeners; being comfortable with public speaking; discovering their interest in filming as a career; and appreciation of time management. The biggest impact noted was their realization of the struggles, sacrifices and resiliency of the Veterans. They have a deeper respect for them and the service the veterans gave for our country.”

4-H is America’s largest youth development organization—empowering nearly six million young people with the skills to go beyond the expected. Its mission is to help guide and support young people to reach their full potential through partnerships with caring adults and hands-on learning experiences, developing them into self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society by building life skills in areas like leadership, citizenship, healthy living, and science.

The award-winning group of 4-H in the City Club students, ages 10-18.

Truth First Film Alliance, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that supports and encourages the production and exhibition of documentary films, and narrative films based on true stories, through public presentations and educational programs in the Quad Cities region. For more information, visit TruthFirstFilmAlliance.org.

Fourth Wall Films is a five-time Emmy award-winning independent film production company formerly located in Los Angeles, and now based in Moline. For more information, visit FourthWallFilms.com.

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Jonathan Turner

Jonathan Turner -- who has called the Quad Cities home since 1995 -- has decades of experience as a professional journalist and pianist. His experience writing for daily newspapers, public radio and local TV encompasses a wide range of subjects, including the arts, politics, education, economic development, historic preservation, business, and tourism.

Jonathan most loves writing about music and the arts (which he now does as a freelancer for the River Cities Reader and Visit Quad Cities). He has a passion for accompanying musicals, singers, choirs and instrumentalists, including playing for QC Music Guild's 2023 productions of RENT and SWEENEY TODD. He is assistant music director and accompanist for the spring 2025 Music Guild show, ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE. He wrote an original musical based on The Book of Job, which premiered at Playcrafters in 2010. Jonathan penned a 175-page history book about downtown Davenport, that was published by The History Press in 2016, and a travel guide about the QC published by Reedy Press in 2022.