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Ogle County 4-H project exhibits to be showcased
By Jodi Baumgartner
SUBMITTED PHOTO Tempo
Blakelynn Swanson, of Stillman Valley, was the 2023 Champion Senior Showmanship Sheep. This year’s Ogle County Fair will take place Wednesday, July 31 through Sunday, Aug. 4.
Approximately 580 4-H project exhibits and 1,000 project animals will be showcased by Ogle County’s 284 4-H club members in 13 clubs during the 2024 Ogle County Fair in Oregon from Wednesday, July 31 through Sunday, Aug. 4.
4-H Fairs are held nationally to allow youth the opportunity to exhibit projects that have resulted from in-depth yearlong studies of areas that interest them.
As part of the exhibition, non-animal exhibitors meet one-on-one with project judges to receive feedback about their displays and gather ideas for future project expansion.
Animal judging tests 4-H’ers abilities to produce, maintain, and select healthy animals with excellent breeding and market potential. Animal showmanship classes provide 4-H’ers with the opportunities to develop and refine their animal presentation skills.
At the 4-H Fair, competition exists at two levels. 4-H’ers first compete against themselves for exhibit ratings. Every exhibit – animal or non-animal – is assigned a blue, red, or white rating. Blue ratings are awarded to youth with entries that meet class guidelines and represent high-quality work. White ratings are assigned when entries do not meet class guidelines or exhibits are low quality. Red ribbons are assigned for exhibits falling somewhere in between.
Once ratings have been assigned, all blue award winners compete against one another to become class champions or overall division winners. Some blue-awarded non-animal exhibits are also selected each year to represent Ogle County 4-H at the Illinois State Fair.
Beyond the competition and learning, the Ogle County 4-H Fair is a celebration. It marks the end of a year of youth development, club and county activities and community service, new friendships, and family building.
Many thanks go to the hundreds of 4-H leaders, helpers, fair committee members, judges, auctioneers, and supporters who make this annual educational extravaganza possible.
4-H is the youth development program of University of Illinois Extension. For information, call the Ogle County Extension Office at 815-732-2191 or visit online at web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo.
The 4-H year will begin again on Sept. 1. The fair is an excellent place to explore 4-H and decide if it might be right for your family. Youth, ages 5-18 by Sept. 1, 2023, can join for the coming year. Take a chance to visit various clubs to find the right fit.
