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Ogle County youth win Illinois State Fair awards
By Jodi Baumgartner
U of I Extension Program
Coordinator, 4-H Youth Development
Forty-seven youth from Ogle County recently competed at the state level at the 4-H General Project Show held August 11 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Seven competitors placed first, earning the Grand Champion title, while 4 were named Reserve Grand Champions, and 5 members earned an Inspire award!
The best of the best were on display at the 4-H General Project Show of the Illinois State Fair. Award-winning 4-H members from across Illinois competed at the county level before advancing to the state level.
The following youth exhibited in this year’s General Project Show:
Nolan Adams – Vegetable Plat,e Participant
Kaitlyn Adams – Scrapbooking-Intermediate, Participant and Inspire Award
Isaiah Akins – Visual Arts: Metal, Participant and Grand Champion
Bethany Akins – Wildlife 2, Participant and Reserve Grand Champion
Immanuel Arellano – Visual Arts Paper 3D, Participant
Elizabeth Armbruster – Theatre Arts I, Participant
Keira Armbruster – Photography 1, Participant
Lucas Armbruster – 4-H Cooking 401: Focaccia Bread, Participant and Inspire Award
Alex Booker – Outdoor Adventures 1-3, Participant and Reserve Grand Champion
Katelyn Bowers – Photography 3, Participant and Inspire Award
Tessa Bruns – Vegetable/Fruit Display , Participant
Emily Buttel – Floriculture D, Participant and Inspire Award
Delaney Byers – Wildlife 1, Participant and Reserve Grand Champion
Lauren Carlson – Woodworking 4, Participant and Grand Champion
Carson Conderman – Metal, Participant
Ali Danekas – Animal Science 2, Participant and Grand Champion
Charli DeShazo – Animal Science 1, Participant
Alayna Doane – Food Decorating-Intermediate, Participant
Aleeya Dykstra – Food Decorating-Beginning, Participant
Sophia Ebert – 4-H Cooking 101 Cookies, Participant
Colton Gehrke – Geology, Participant and Reserve Grand Champion
Hannah Harvey – Food Preservation: Canning, Participant
Trent Heller – UAV Display, Participant and Grand Champion
Jenna Heller – 4-H Cooking 101: Coffeecake, Participant
Cora Herring – Tractor B, Participant and Grand Champion
Andrew Hickman – Entomology 1, Participant
Lily Hongsermeier – 4-H Cooking 201: Nut Bread Participant
Edward Koziol – Electricity 2, Participant
Eli Lotz – Woodworking 2., Participant
Allissa Martin – Visual Arts: Chalk/Carbon/Pigment, Participant
Cora Mickley – Photography 1, Participant
Lydia Sherburne – Robotics 1 Intermediate, Participant and Grand Champion
Joshua Snow – Theatre Arts 1, Participant
Kathryn Snow – Sports Nutrition, Participant
Cole Somers – Family Heritage, Participant
Sawyer Stockton – Clothing 1-Sewn Clothing, Participant
Mackenzie Taylor – 4-H Cooking 301: Tea Ring, Participant
Preston Taylor – Electricity 3, Participant
David Wehler – Advance Visual Programming, Participant
Maxx Wiltfang – Visual Arts: Chalk/Carbon/Pigment, Participant and Grand Champion
Eralynn Wiltfang – Model Rocketry, Participant
Addison Yordy – Veterinary Science, Participant
Mason Zabran – Tractor A, Participant
Landon Zabran – Heritage Arts, Participant and Inspire Award
Ulta Zabran – Shopping in Style: Beginning, Participant
In 4-H, project areas represent the culmination of individual learning paths where youth are able to show off their skills and expertise in front of thousands of fairgoers. Youth also participate in conference judging as a part of the experience. This brings members and volunteer judges together to evaluate project exhibits. It involves one-on-one, face-to-face communication in which the volunteer judge and exhibitor talk directly with each other. This technique provides a unique opportunity for 4-H’ers to learn from their experiences and knowledge of the volunteer judge.
Competing at the state level is a great educational experience for youth. Youth are able to compete at a state level, meet with youth across the state, and take the next step in their learning journey by meeting with a volunteer who has expertise in their project area.
About Illinois 4-H
Illinois 4-H is the flagship youth development program of University of Illinois Extension and administered through the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. 4-H grows true leaders, youth who are empowered for life today and prepared for a career tomorrow.
The hands-on approach in 4-H gives young people guidance, tools, and encouragement, and then puts them in the driver’s seat to make great things happen. Independent research confirms the unparalleled impact of the 4-H experience, demonstrating that young people are four times more likely to contribute to their communities; two times more likely to make healthier choices; two times more likely to be civically active; and two times more likely to participate in STEM programs.
About Extension
Illinois Extension leads public outreach for University of Illinois by translating research into action plans that allow Illinois families, businesses, and community leaders to solve problems, make informed decisions, and adapt to changes and opportunities.
