Ten 4-H members selected for top awards at Illinois State Fair

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLINTON, Ill. — Thirty-seven DeWitt County 4-H members participated in the 4-H General Project Show held on August 13 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield. Volunteer judges named ten DeWitt County 4-H members Champion, Reserve Champion, and Inspire award winners.

The following youth were selected as Champion, Reserve Champion, or Inspire award winners:

Gideon Craft, Design Decisions Beginning, Champion
Lillian Hammer, Child Development, Champion
Carter Herring, Electricity 1, Inspire
Lexi Merriman, Animal Science 2, Inspire
Anton Meyen, Geology Innovation Class, Reserve Champion
Tayanna Meyen, Design Decisions Intermediate, Reserve Champion
Callia Meyen, Clothing 2 Sewn Clothing, Inspire
Owen Rexshell, Website Design, Champion
Sirena Troutt, Creative Writing, Champion
Preston Wikoff, Shooting Sports Hunting and Outdoors, Champion

Competing at the state level is a great educational experience for youth. Volunteer judges evaluate project exhibits and give 4-H members an opportunity to show off their skills and expertise while benefiting from the expertise of knowledgeable adults.

WRITER: Maria Lightner, Marketing and Communications, University of Illinois Extension

Project excellence recognized by judges at county 4-H show

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLINTON, Ill. — It was a perfect weekend for the DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties 4-H general projects and livestock show. Ninety-eight 4-H members from DeWitt County exhibited over five hundred projects in areas such as aerospace, cooking, horticulture, woodworking, poultry, sheep, and more. Judges selected 107 projects as a state fair delegate or alternate. The livestock show selected champion and reserve champions from the many projects exhibited.

"We are proud of our 4-H members who exhibited at this year's show," says Kendra Wallace, 4-H program coordinator. "There were some extraordinary projects, and DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt 4-H will be well represented at the Illinois State Fair."

 Animal Science:
Reserve Champion Animal 1-2 Years Science Exhibit– Callia Meyen
Champion Animal Science 3+ Years Exhibit– Lexi Merriman
State Fair Delegates for Animal Science– Callia Meyen, Lexi Merriman
State Fair Alternates for Animal Science– Gideon Craft, Phoebe Craft
State Fair Delegate for Vet Science– Lexi Merriman
State Fair Alternates for Vet Science– Chloe Barth, Olivia Hawkins
Civic Engagement:
Best of Show Civic Engagement– Henry Nichols
Champion Civic Engagement 2 Exhibit– Emily Drozs 
Champion Collection Exhibit– Henry Nichols
Champion Do Your Own Thing Exhibit– Kaylynn Burden
Champion Family Heritage Exhibit– Chloe Barth
Champion Passport to the World Exhibit– Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Civic Engagement– Emily Drozs
State Fair Delegate for Family Heritage– Chloe Barth
State Fair Alternate for Family Heritage– Cooper Nichols
State Fair Delegate for Passport to the World– Anton Meyen
Creative Arts:
Best of Show Creative Arts (Communications, Theatre Arts, & Interior Design) – Tayanna Meyen
Best of Show Creative Arts (Photography/Video) – Katherine Cunningham
Best of Show Creative Arts (Clothing & Textiles) – Callia Meyen
Champion Creative Writing Exhibit– Sirena Troutt 
Champion Interior Design Exhibit– Tayanna Meyen
Reserve Champion Photography 1 Exhibit– Lillian Elsea
Champion Photography 2 Exhibit– Katherine Cunningham
Champion Photography 3 Exhibit– Chloe Barth
Champion Food Decorating Intermediate Exhibit– Lillian Elsea
Champion Clay Exhibit– Anton Meyen
Champion Computer-Generated Art Exhibit– Piper Rossio
Champion Fiber Exhibit– Anton Meyen
Reserve Champion Fiber Exhibit– Callia Meyen
Champion Plastic Exhibit– Anton Meyen
Champion Plastic Block Exhibit– Phoebe Craft
Champion Leather– Carter Herring
Champion Nature Exhibit– Katherine Cunningham
Champion 2D Paper Exhibit– Bailey Rogers
Champion Quilting Level 1 Exhibit– Tayanna Meyen
Champion 3-D Design/Mixed Medi Exhibit– Tayanna Meyen
Champion Wood Exhibit– Tayanna Meyen
Champion Scrapbooking Beginning Exhibit– Lillian Hammer
Champion Scrapbooking Intermediate Exhibit– Emily Drozs
Champion STEAM Clothing 1 Sewn Non-Clothing Exhibit – Tayanna Meyen
Champion STEAM Clothing 2 Exhibit– Callia Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Communications– Sirena Troutt
State Fair Delegates for Interior Design– Gideon Craft, Tayanna Meyen
State Fair Alternate for Interior Design– Phoebe Craft
State Fair Delegate for Theatre Arts– Emily Drozs
State Fair Delegates for Photography– Chloe Barth, Katherine Cunningham, Lillian Elsea
State Fair Alternates for Photography– Phoebe Craft, Lillian Hammer, Shelby Krutke, Owen Rexshell
State Fair Delegates for Food Decorating– Lillian Elsea, Lillian Hammer
State Fair Delegates for Chalk/Carbon/Pigment on Canvas, Paper of Glass– Katherine Cunningham, Justeen Meier
Sate Fair Delegate for Clay– Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Computer-Generated Art– Piper Rossio
State Fair Delegates for Glass/Plastic– Phoebe Craft, Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Leather– Carter Herring
State Fair Delegate for Metal– Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Nature– Katherine Cunningham
State Fair Delegate for 2D Paper– Bailey Rogers
State Fair Delegate for 3D Paper– Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Quilting Level 1– Tayanna Meyen
State Fair Delegate for 3-D Design/Mixed Media– Tayanna Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Wood– Tayanna Meyen
State Fair Delegates for Scrapbooking– Emily Drozs, Lillian Hammer
State Fair Alternate for Food Decorating– Phoebe Craft
State Fair Alternates for Chalk, Carbon/Pigment on Canvas, Paper or Glass– Alicia Trimble, Sirena Troutt
State Fair Alternate for Clay– Mary Brown
State Fair Alternates for Fiber– Morgan Drozs, Callia Meyen
State Fair Alternates for Glass/Plastic– Emily Drozs, Lillian Hammer,
State Fair Alternate for Metal– Mary Brown, Lillian Hammer
State Fair Alternates for Nature– Lillian Hammer, Carter Herring
State Fair Alternates for 3D Paper– Callia Meyen, Nolan Rhodes
State Fair Alternates for Quilting Level 1– Gideon Craft, Phoebe Craft
State Fair Alternate for 3-D Design/Mixed Media– Lillian Hammer, Carter Herring
State Fair Alternates for Wood– Katherine Cunningham, Owen Rexshell
State Fair Alternates for Scrapbooking– Kaylynn Burden, Clara Weedman
State Fair Delegates for STEAM Clothing– Callia Meyen, Tayanna Meyen 
State Fair Alternates for STEAM Clothing- Kayden Black, Bailey Walters 
Environmental Sciences:
Best of Show Environmental Sciences– Anton Meyen
Champion Forestry Exhibit– Emily Drozs
Champion Geology Innovation Exhibit– Anton Meyen
Champion Natural Resources Exhibit– Emily Drozs
Champion Natural Resources or Outdoor Adventures Innovation Exhibit– Tayanna Meyen
Champion Wildlife Exhibit– Chloe Barth
Champion Weather Exhibit– Bailey Rogers
Champion Hunting & Outdoor Skills Exhibit– Preston Wikoff
Champion Shooting Sports Archery Exhibit– Emily Drozs
State Fair Delegate for Forestry– Emily Drozs
State Fair Delegate for Geology– Adara Meyen
State Fair Delegates for Natural Resources/Outdoor Adventures– Emily Drozs, Tayanna Meyen
State Fair Delegate for Sportsfishing/Wildlife– Chloe Barth
State Fair Delegate for Weather– Bailey Rogers
State Fair Delegates for Shooting Sports– Emily Drozs, Preston Wikoff
Food Systems:
Best of Show Food Systems– Anton Meyen
Champion Floriculture A Exhibit– Chloe Barth
Champion Floriculture Display– Anton Meyen
Champion Herb Display Exhibit– Chloe Barth
Champion Vegetable/Fruit Display Exhibit– Mike Toohill
Champion Vegetable Plate Exhibit– Alicia Trimble
Champion Fruit Plate Exhibit– Jamie Toohill
State Fair Delegates for Floriculture– Chloe Barth, Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegates for Vegetable Gardening– Alicia Trimble, Jamie Toohill, Mike Toohill
Healthy Living & Nutrition:
Champion Child Development Exhibit– Lillian Hammer
Champion Cooking 101-Cereal Bars Exhibit- Cari Aughenbaugh
State Fair Delegate for Child Development– Lillian Hammer
State Fair Delegates for Foods– Cami Aughenbaugh, Cari Aughenbaugh, Chloe Barth, Kaylynn Burden, Owen Rexshell, Bailey Rogers, Beau Steinberg
State Fair Alternates for Foods– Lillian Elsea, Annabell Hamblen
STEM:
Best of Show STEM (Technology) – Owen Rexshell
Champion Computer Science Exhibit– Owen Rexshell
Champion Small Engines Exhibit– Preston Wikoff
Champion Garden Tractor Operator– Wayd Wright
Champion Tractor Operator Advanced– Wyatt Willis
Champion Welding Exhibit– Anton Meyen
Champion Woodworking Exhibits– Kayden Black, Makailah Blacklidge
State Fair Delegates for Aerospace– Brody Soliday, David Spinner
State Fair Delegates for Computer Science– Owen Rexshell
State Fair Delegates for Electricity– Carter Herring, Braxden Soliday
State Fair Delegate for Small Engines– Preston Wikoff
State Fair Delegates for Tractor– Carter Herring, Joshua Wilson
State Fair Delegates for Welding– Olivia Hawkins, Anton Meyen
State Fair Delegates for Woodworking– Kayden Black, Brody Soliday
State Fair Alternates for Aerospace– Bailey Rogers, Landen Soliday
State Fair Alternate for Tractor– Olivia Hawkins 
State Fair Alternate for Welding– Brody Soliday
State Fair Alternates for Woodworking– Kaden Dennis, Joshua Wilson

Beef:
Champion High % Simmental Heifer– Knox Rutledge
Champion Low % Simmental Heifer– Knox Rutledge
Champion AOB Heifer– Ethan Smith
Reserve Champion AOB Heifer– Emily Atten
Champion Commercial Heifer– Hannah Niesen
Grand Champion Heifer– Knox Rutledge
3^rd Overall Heifer– Ethan Smith
4^th Overall Heifer– Knox Rutledge
Champion Pair of Heifers– Knox Rutledge
Jr. Showmanship– Knox Rutledge
Champion Hereford Steer–Ty Smith
Champion Simmental Steer– Alex Smith
Champion AOB Steer– Houston Stapleton
Reserve Champion AOB Steer– Knox Rutledge
Champion Crossbred Steer– Emily Atten
Grand Champion Market Animal– Houston Stapleton
Reserve Grand Champion Market Animal– Emily Atten
3^rd Overall Steer– Knox Rutledge
4^th Overall Steer– Alex Smith
5^th Overall Steer– Ty Smith
Champion Pair of Steers– Alex Smith
Champion Rate of Gain Market– Alex Smith
Reserve Champion Rate of Gain Market– Emily Atten
Goats:
Reserve Grand Champion Meat Buck–Stephanie Niesen
Grand Champion Dairy Buck– Hannah Niesen
Grand Champion Dairy Doe– Hannah Niesen
Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Doe– Lillian Elsea
Grand Champion Meat Wether– Beau Steinberg
Grand Champion Market Doe– Beau Steinberg
Supreme Champion Market Goat– Beau Steinberg
Reserve Supreme Champion Market Goat– Beau Steinberg
Grand Champion Mother & Kid– Hannah Niesen
Reserve Grand Champion Mother & Kid– Lillian Elsea
Jr. Showmanship– Lilly Boyer
Int. Showmanship– Lillian Elsea
Poultry:
Grand Champion Standard Hen– Lilly Boyer
Reserve Grand Champion Standard Cock– Lucy Smith
Grand Champion Standard Cockerel– Aiden Smith
Grand Champion Standard Pullet– Aiden Smith
Reserve Grand Champion Bantam Hen– Lillian Elsea
Grand Champion Bantam Cock–Aiden Smith
Reserve Grand Champion Bantam Cock– Asher Smith
Grand Champion Bantam Cockerel–Lydia Worsham
Reserve Grand Champion Bantam Cockerel– Lydia Worsham
Grand Champion Bantam Pullet– Asher Smith
Reserve Grand Champion Bantam Pullet– Aiden Smith
Grand Champion Miscellaneous/Commercial Poultry– Merle Morgan
Reserve Grand Champion Miscellaneous/Commercial Poultry–  Lilly Boyer
Grand Champion Turkey–Gideon Craft
Reserve Grand Champion Waterfowl– Lillian Elsea
Best of Show– Aiden Smith
Jr. Poultry Showmanship– Annabell Hamblen
Int. Poultry Showmanship– Lydia Worsham
Rabbits:
Reserve Grand Champion Buck– Paisley Dinscore
Best 4 Class– Paisley Dinscore
Best Opposite Sex 4 Class– Annabell Hamblen
Jr. Showmanship– Jebidiah Baize
Prettiest Rabbit– Annabell Hamblen
Sheep:
Reserve Supreme Champion Ram– Jackson Hentz
Int. Showmanship– Stephanie Niesen
Reserve Champion Market Ewe–Stephanie Niesen
Champion Crossbred Ram – Peyton Brown
Champion Suffolk Ram– Jackson Hentz
Champion Katahdin Ewe– Hannah Niesen
Swine:
Champion Berkshire Gilt– Preston Howell
Champion Crossbred Gilt– Leah Mills
Reserve Champion Crossbred Gilt– Ethan Smith
Reserve Champion Duroc Gilt–Brett Young
Champion Hampshire Gilt– Davis Howell
Reserve Champion Spot Gilt– Bailey Rogers
Champion Tamworth Gilt– Preston Howell
Reserve Champion Yorkshire Gilt– Brett Young
Champion Berkshire Barrow–Brett Young
Champion Crossbred Barrow– Ty Smith
Reserve Champion Crossbred Barrow– Sarah Mills
Champion Duroc Barrow– Davis Howell
Reserve Champion Duroc Barrow– Leah Mills
Champion Hampshire Barrow– Preston Howell
Champion Landrace Barrow– Davis Howell
Champion Spot Barrow–Brett Young
Champion Yorkshire Barrow– Rayann Vinson
Reserve Jr. Showmanship– Asher Smith
Int. Showmanship– Leah Mills
Reserve Int. Showmanship– Preston Howell
Reserve Sr. Showmanship– Sarah Mills
Grand Champion Gilt–Leah Mills
Fourth Place Overall Gilt– Ethan Smith
Fifth Place Overall Gilt–Brett Young
Grand Champion Barrow– Brett Young
Reserve Grand Champion Barrow– Ty Smith
Third Place Overall Barrow– Sarah Mills
Fourth Place Overall Barrow– Rayann Vinson
Fifth Place Overall Barrow– Davis Howell
Grand Champion Market Gilt– Davis Howell
Reserve Grand Champion Market Gilt–Leah Mills

WRITER: Maria Lightner, Marketing and Communications, University of Illinois Extension

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.

ABOUT 4-H: Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares Illinois youth for success. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois, affecting the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs, groups, and short-term programming.

The third time is the charm for this year's 4-H horse show

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CLINTON, Ill. — This year, the weather was less than cooperative for the DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties 4-H Horse show. But, after rescheduling a second time, the show finally took place on August 27 at the DeWitt County 4-H Fairgrounds. Twenty 4-H members entered a total of two hundred and seventy classes. 

The following is a list of winners:
Jr. Showmanship – Annabell Hamblen, DeWitt
Int. Showmanship – Lexi Merriman, DeWitt
Sr. Showmanship – Lacey Bourn, Macon
Jr. High Point – Briley Thomas, DeWitt
Int. High Point – Trevor Heldt, DeWitt
Int. Reserve High Point – Brynnlee Callahan, DeWitt
Sr. High Point – Lacey Bourn, Macon
Sr. Reserve High Point – Hannah Niesen, DeWitt
Grand Champion Halter – Lexi Merriman, DeWitt
Reserve Champion Halter – Lacey Bourn, Macon
Int. Versatility – Trevor Heldt, DeWitt
Sr. Versatility – Lacey Bourn, DeWitt
Fastest Flags – Hannah Niesen, DeWitt
Fastest Poles – Briley Thomas, DeWitt
Fastest Barrels – Briley Thomas, DeWitt
Sportsmanship – Lacey Bourn, Macon & David Spinner, DeWitt
High Point Walk Trot (8-10 years) – David Spinner, DeWitt

4-H members put their horse project into action by competing at shows. Exploring 4-H through the world of horses allows kids to learn the value of hard work, responsibility, and dedication.

SOURCE: Kendra Wallace, 4-H Program Coordinator, University of Illinois Extension
WRITER: Maria Lightner, Marketing and Communications, University of Illinois Extension

ABOUT 4-H: Illinois 4-H empowers and prepares Illinois youth for success. University of Illinois Extension provides 4-H programs in every county in Illinois, affecting the lives of 200,000 youth each year through sustained learning clubs, groups, and short-term programming.