4-H members earn awards at county shows

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members earned awards during the local 2022 4-H Shows by demonstrating the knowledge and skills they gained this year.  Sangamon County 4-H members showed 154 live animal exhibits, and members from Sangamon and Menard Counties showed 208 general project exhibits during shows held at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds in New Berlin on June 25-26.

The 2022 Menard 4-H Livestock Shows will be held July 20-23 at the Menard County Fairgrounds in Petersburg.  The 2022 Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Cat Show will be held Saturday, July 31, at the Logan County Fairgrounds in Lincoln.  All 4-H shows are open to the public.

Every year 4-H members select projects that interest them from more than 75 options in the categories of Animal Science, Creative Arts, Environmental Sciences, Civic Engagement, Food Systems, Healthy Living, Career Leadership, and Science/Technology/Engineering/Math.  After choosing a project, members learn about that topic on their own and then demonstrate what they have learned by exhibiting their work in the county 4-H shows.

“Along with seeing so many wonderful exhibits this year, we were also very excited to bring back our Family Picnic and other activities that make the show weekend fun and memorable,” said Youth Development Educator Carissa Davis.  “We are grateful for the many volunteer Judges, Superintendents, Sangamon County 4-H Foundation Board members, and setup/cleanup crews who helped create a great show experience for our members; and for the donors from our community who generously provided special awards to acknowledge members who had outstanding exhibits this year.”

The following 4-H members were chosen for Champion or Best of Show awards:

  • 2022 Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Public Speaking Contest
    • Samantha & Allison O’Neill (Athens) – Champion Public Presentation
    • Ellie Wrage (Lincoln) – Reserve Champion Public Presentation
  • 2022 Sangamon/Menard 4-H General Projects Show
    • Brayden Armstrong (Illiopolis) – Best Nature & Forestry Exhibit
    • Jenna Beck (Rochester) – Best Veterinary Science Exhibit
    • Lauren Beck (Rochester) – Best Bicycle Exhibit
    • Kolton Buckles (Mechanicsburg) – Food & Nutrition Award of Excellence
    • Elsie Dozier (Chatham) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence
    • Addison Dumas (Springfield) – Food & Nutrition Award of Excellence
    • Beatrix Edwards (Springfield) – Best Small Pets Exhibit
    • Lillian Frazee (Chatham) – Best Floriculture Exhibit
    • Audrey Gerberding (Rochester) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence
    • Alex Graff (Rochester) – Best Aerospace Exhibit
    • Ethan Greenfield (Springfield) – Best Geology Exhibit
    • Alana Hartman (Springfield) – Best Vegetable Herbs & Fruits Exhibit
    • Ada Holt (Springfield) – Best Weather Exhibit, Best Family History Exhibit
    • Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Best Small Engines/Tractor Exhibit
    • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Best Crops Exhibit, Best Welding Exhibit
    • Moxon King (New Berlin) – Best Collectibles Exhibit
    • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Food & Nutrition Award of Excellence, Best Food Decorating Exhibit
    • Jude Lumsden (Springfield) – Best Clothing 1 Exhibit, Best Civic Engagement Exhibit
    • Trinity Lumsden (Springfield) – Best Clothing 2 Exhibit
    • Jackson McBride (Springfield) – Best Electricity Exhibit
    • Carter McCarty (Springfield) – Photography Award of Excellence, Visual Arts Award of Excellence
    • Kinsley Rembusch (Springfield) – Best Healthy Living Exhibit
    • Jane Simpson (Springfield) – Best Intercultural Exhibit
    • Isaac Storey (Springfield) – Best Animal Science Display
    • Alli VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Photography Award of Excellence
    • Jadyn Wheat (Auburn) – Best Theater/Video/Communication Exhibit
    • Mollie Willis (Greenview) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence
  • 2022 Sangamon 4-H Beef Show
    • Blake Buckles (Rochester) – Champion Shorthorn Steer, Best Advanced Beef Showman
    • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Champion Simmental Heifer
    • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Best Beginner Beef Showman
    • Klayton Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Simmental Steer
    • Colbie Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Crossbred Heifer, Best Intermediate Beef Showman
    • Colt Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Champion AOB Heifer, Grand Champion Heifer, Champion Crossbred Steer, Grand Champion Steer
    • Haven Strode (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Shorthorn Heifer
    • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Angus Heifer, Reserve Grand Champion Heifer, Top Rate of Gain-Calf, Champion Angus Steer, Reserve Grand Champion Steer
  • 2022 Sangamon 4-H Goat Show
    • William Brooks (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Boer Wether
    • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Champion Sr Goat Showman
    • Lillian Lee (Chatham) – Champion Jr Doe-Dairy, Champion Sr Doe-Dairy, Champion Jr Goat Showman
    • Reagan Pearce (Chatham) – Champion Sr Boer Doe
    • Ember Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Jr Boer Doe
  • 2022 Sangamon 4-H Poultry Show (held in an adapted format due to the Avian Influenza)
    • Adam Kloppe (New Berlin) – Reserve Champion Poultry, Champion Poultry
    • Alli VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Best Dozen Eggs
  • 2022 Sangamon 4-H Rabbit Show
    • Ember Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Buck, Champion Doe, Champion Market Rabbit Pen of Three, Champion Rabbit Showmanship
  • 2022 Sangamon 4-H Sheep Show
    • Elijah Cook (New Berlin) – Champion Ram
    • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Reserve Champion Market Lamb
    • Carly Edwards (Auburn) – Best Jr Sheep Showman
    • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Champion Ewe, Champion Market Lamb, Best Sr Sheep Showman
  • 2022 Sangamon 4-H Swine Show
    • Blake Buckles (Rochester) – Champion Duroc Barrow
    • Elijah Cook (New Berlin) – Champion Duroc Gilt, Champion AOB Gilt
    • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Champion Yorkshire Barrow, Best Beginner Swine Showman
    • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Champion Yorkshire Gilt
    • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Berkshire Gilt, Champion Purebred Gilt, Grand Champion Gilt, Champion Crossbred Barrow, Grand Champion Barrow, Best Advanced Swine Showman
    • Klayton Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Spot Gilt, Champion Berkshire Barrow, Champion Purebred Barrow, Reserve Champion Barrow
    • Colbie Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Hampshire Gilt, Champion Crossbred Gilt, Reserve Champion Gilt
    • Dawson Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Best Intermediate Swine Showman
    • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Hampshire Barrow
  • Additional Livestock Awards
    • Blake Buckles (Rochester) – Top Senior Round Robin Showman
    • Justin King (New Berlin) – Clean Pen Award, Top Herdsman
    • Colbie Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Top Junior Round Robin Showman
  • 2022 Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Dog Show
    • Elliot Lee (Chatham) – Dog Care Short Hair Award
    • Jadyn Wheat (Auburn) – Beginner Novice II Award, Preferred Novice Award, Rally Novice Award, Senior Dog Care Award
    • Jonathan Wilcox (Illiopolis) – Dog Care Long Hair Award

The following Sangamon and Menard County 4-H members will exhibit their project work at the Illinois State Fair in the Orr Building on Sunday, August 14:

  • Alexis Armstrong (Illiopolis) – Visual Arts-Chalk/Carbon/Pigment
  • Brayden Armstrong (Illiopolis) – Sportsfishing
  • Milo Bacon (Greenview) – Photography 1
  • Jenna Beck (Rochester) – Veterinary Science
  • Lauren Beck (Rochester) – Sportsfishing
  • Kolton Buckles (Mechanicsburg) – Cooking 401
  • Elizabeth Ciaccio (Springfield) – Woodworking 1
  • Addison Dumas (Springfield) – Cooking 101
  • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Cooking 101
  • Beatrix Edwards (Springfield) – Animal Science
  • Evan Frazee (Chatham) – Cooking 201
  • Lillian Frazee (Chatham) – Visual Arts-Glass/Plastic
  • Alex Graff (Rochester) – Aerospace Display
  • Haley Graff (Rochester) – Child Development
  • Ethan Greenfield (Springfield) – Geology 1
  • Alana Hartman (Springfield) – Horticulture-Herb Display
  • Eva Hartman (Springfield) – Horticulture-Vegetable Plate
  • Jacob Hartman (Springfield) – Horticulture-Vegetable Gardening Display
  • Ada Holt (Springfield) – Weather
  • Hypatia Holt (Springfield) – Visual Arts-Clay
  • Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Tractor
  • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Welding
  • Eli Ladage (Auburn) – Family Heritage
  • Harper Ladage (Chatham) – Cooking 101
  • McKenzie Ladage (Chatham) – Woodworking 1
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Cooking 301
  • Trinity Lumsden (Springfield) – Clothing 2
  • Aiden Luna (Illiopolis) – Cooking 201
  • Jackson McBride (Springfield) – Electricity
  • Carter McCarty (Springfield) – Photography 2
  • Declan McCarty (Springfield) – Shooting Sports Display-Archery
  • Camden Perry (New Berlin) – Interior Design
  • Ethan Perry (New Berlin) – Electricity
  • Tristen Perry (New Berlin) – Small Engines
  • Kinsley Rembusch (Springfield) – Health 1
  • Jane Simpson (Springfield) – Passport to the World
  • Sarah Simpson (Springfield) – Natural Resources 1
  • Kaitlyn Smith (Rochester) – Interior Design
  • Isaac Storey (Springfield) – Animal Science
  • Ali VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Photography 1
  • Jadyn Wheat (Auburn) – Communication-Creative Writing
  • Jonathan Wilcox (Illiopolis) – Electricity
  • Macie Willis (Greenview) – Visual Arts-Fiber
  • Mollie Willis (Greenview) – Visual Arts-Chalk/Carbon/Pigment
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Visual Arts-Paper

To learn more about the opportunities available to local youth through the 4-H program, please contact the Sangamon Extension Office at 217-782-4617.

WRITER: Amy Zepp, 4-H Program Coordinator, Sangamon County, azepp2@illinois.edu

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.

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