SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members earned awards during the local 2023 4-H Shows by demonstrating knowledge and skills they gained this year.  Sangamon County 4-H members showed 237 live animal exhibits, and members from Sangamon and Menard counties showed 241 general project exhibits during shows held at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds in New Berlin on June 24-25.

The 2023 Menard 4-H Livestock Shows will be held July 18-22 at the Menard County Fairgrounds in Petersburg.  The 2023 Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Cat Show will be held Saturday, July 29, 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 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.

“We enjoyed seeing so many wonderful exhibits this year,” 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:

• 2023 Sangamon/Menard 4-H General Projects Show
  • Brayden Armstrong (Illiopolis) – Best Nature & Forestry Exhibit
  • Jenna Beck (Rochester) – Best Interior Design Exhibit
  • David Burnside (Pleasant Plains) – Best Entomology/Beekeeping Exhibit
  • Sally Draughan (Springfield) – Best Clothing 1 Exhibit
  • Travis Draughan (Springfield) – Best Collectibles Exhibit
  • Lillian Frazee (Chatham) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence
  • Alex Graff (Rochester) – Best Aerospace Exhibit
  • Ella Greenfield (Springfield) – Photography Award of Excellence
  • Ethan Greenfield (Springfield) – Best Geology Exhibit
  • Alana Hartman (Springfield) – Best Vegetables, Herbs & Fruits Exhibit
  • Ada Holt (Springfield) – Best Small Pets Exhibit, Best Weather Exhibit
  • Victor Holt (Springfield) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence
  • Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Best Small Engines/Tractor Exhibit
  • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Best Crops Exhibit, Best Welding Exhibit
  • Savannah Kennedy (Springfield) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence
  • Benjamin Kinner (New Berlin) – Best Shooting Sports Exhibit
  • Harper Ladage (Chatham) – Visual Arts Award of Excellence, Best Woodworking Exhibit
  • Adelynn Lee (Glenarm) – Food & Nutrition Award of Excellence
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Best Food Decorating Exhibit
  • Jude Lumsden (Springfield) – Best Clothing 2 Exhibit
  • Trinity Lumsden (Springfield) – Best Clothing 3 Exhibit
  • Jackson McBride (Springfield) – Best Electricity Exhibit
  • Michael Moldenhauer (Auburn) – Food & Nutrition Award of Excellence
  • Allison O’Neill (Athens) – Best Intercultural Exhibit
  • Samantha O’Neill (Athens) – Best Veterinary Science Exhibit
  • Kinsley Rembusch (Springfield) – Best Healthy Living Exhibit
  • Lily Simmons (Waverly) – Best Plants & Soils Exhibit
  • Jane Simpson (Springfield) – Food & Nutrition Award of Excellence
  • June Stehling (Pleasant Plains) – Best Animal Science Display
  • Ethan Storey (Springfield) – Best Theater/Video/Communication Exhibit
  • Alli VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Photography Award of Excellence
• 2023 Sangamon 4-H Beef Show
  • Kallen Beutke (Buffalo) – Best Beginner Beef Showman
  • Cadan Brockman (Dawson) – Champion Simmental Heifer, Champion Simmental Steer
  • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Best Advanced Beef Showman
  • Justin King (New Berlin) – Champion Crossbred Heifer, Champion Hereford Steer
  • Peyton Krohe (New Berlin) – Best Intermediate Beef Showman
  • Peyton Sidles (Buffalo) – Champion Hereford Heifer, Reserve Grand Champion Heifer
  • Colbie Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Champion AOB Heifer
  • Colt Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Angus Heifer, Grand Champion Heifer, Champion Crossbred Steer, Grand Champion Steer
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Angus Steer, Reserve Grand Champion Steer, Top Rate of Gain-Calf
• 2023 Sangamon 4-H Goat Show
  • Kallen Beutke (Buffalo) – Champion Meat Goat Wether
  • Jimmy Britz (Riverton) – Champion Sr AOB Doe, Champion Sr Goat Showman
  • Paige Burton (Springfield) – Champion AOB Wether
  • Ena Earles (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Jr AOB Doe, Grand Champion AOB Goat, Champion Jr Goat Showman
  • Elliot Lee (Glenarm) – Champion Jr Doe-Dairy, Champion Dry Yearling-Dairy
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Champion Sr Doe-Dairy, Grand Champion Dairy Goat
  • Gauge Nihiser (Riverton) – Champion Meat Goat Buck
• 2023 Sangamon 4-H Poultry Show
  • Kolton Buckles (Mechanicsburg) – Best Dozen Eggs, Champion Turkey
  • Travis Draughan (Springfield) – Best Embryology Exhibit
  • Ian Schmidt (Springfield) – Champion Waterfowl
  • Lillian Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Laying Hen, Champion Poultry
  • Alli VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Best Pen of Poultry, Reserve Champion Poultry, Best Poultry Showmanship
• 2023 Sangamon 4-H Rabbit Show
  • Paige Burton (Springfield) – Champion Market Pen of Three
  • Savannah Kennedy (Springfield) – Champion Doe
  • June Stehling (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Rabbit Showmanship
  • Ember Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Buck
• 2023 Sangamon 4-H Sheep Show
  • Cannon Greer (Springfield) – Champion Ewe, Champion Ram Lamb, Champion Market Lamb
  • Carly Ramm (Auburn) – Reserve Champion Market Lamb
  • Cooper Ramm (Auburn) – Best Jr Sheep Showman
  • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Best Sr Sheep Showman
• 2023 Sangamon 4-H Swine Show
  • Blake Buckles (Rochester) – Champion Spot Barrow
  • Elijah Cook (New Berlin) – Champion Duroc Gilt, Champion AOB Gilt
  • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Champion Yorkshire Gilt, Champion Yorkshire Barrow
  • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Champion Duroc Barrow, Champion Purebred Barrow, Reserve Grand Champion Barrow
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Berkshire Gilt, Champion Purebred Gilt, Champion Crossbred Gilt, Reserve Grand Champion Gilt, Grand Champion Gilt, Champion AOB Barrow
  • Klayton Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Spot Gilt, Champion Berkshire Barrow, Best Advanced Swine Showman
  • Colbie Stremsterfer (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Hampshire Gilt, Champion Crossbred Barrow, Grand Champion Barrow, Best Intermediate Swine Showman
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Hampshire Barrow, Best Beginner Swine Showman
• Additional 2023 Livestock Awards
  • Erik Keeton (Waverly) – Top Senior Round Robin Showman
  • Justin King (New Berlin) – Clean Pen Award
  • Klayton Komnick (Auburn) – Top Herdsman
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Top Junior Round Robin Showman
• 2023 Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Dog Show
  • Lily Evoy (Springfield) – Jr Dog Showmanship
  • Elliot Lee (Glenarm) – Dog Care Short Hair Award
  • Jadyn Wheat (Auburn) – Novice I Award, Rally Novice Award
  • Jonathan Wilcox (Illiopolis) – Dog Obedience 101 Award, Dog Care Long Hair Award, Sr Dog Showmanship

Forty-nine 4-H members from Sangamon and Menard counites will exhibit their project work at the Illinois State Fair in the Orr Building on Friday August 11. The public is welcome to view these exhibits throughout the day alongside the very best exhibits from other counties across the state. Local 4-H members will also be participating in the Junior Livestock shows during the Illinois State Fair.

To learn more about the opportunities available to local youth through the 4-H program, visit extension.illinois.edu/lms/4-h-youth-development.

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.