SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members earned awards during the local 2024 4-H Shows by demonstrating knowledge and skills they gained this year. Sangamon County 4-H members showed 207 live animal exhibits, and members from Sangamon and Menard counties showed 271 general project exhibits during shows held at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds in New Berlin on June 29-30.

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:

• 2024 Sangamon/Menard 4-H General Projects Show
  • Dalton Leka (Buffalo) – Award of Excellence: Food & Nutrition
  • Elsie Dozier (Chatham) – Award of Excellence: Food & Nutrition
  • Alli VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Award of Excellence: Food & Nutrition
  • Aria Henry (Athens) – Best Healthy Living Exhibit
  • Sally Draughan (Springfield) – Award of Excellence: Visual Arts
  • Macie Willis (Greenview) – Award of Excellence: Visual Arts
  • Ben Willey (Chatham) - Award of Excellence: Visual Arts
  • Levi Dean (Pleasant Plains) - Award of Excellence: Visual Arts
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) - Award of Excellence: Visual Arts
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Best Food Decorating Exhibit
  • Rebecca Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Award of Excellence: Photography
  • Declan McCarty (Springfield) – Award of Excellence: Photography
  • Brooks Ghosh (Chatham) – Best Nature/Forestry/Sportsfishing Exhibit
  • Isabella Ruiz (Sherman) – Best Electricity Exhibit
  • Nathaniel Bland (Springfield) – Best Small Engines/Tractor Exhibit
  • Harper & McKenize Ladage (Auburn) – Best Woodworking Exhibit
  • Alex Graff (Rochester) – Best Aerospace Exhibit
  • Levi Dean (Pleasant Plains) – Best Animal Display
  • Haley Graff (Rochester) – Best Small Pets Exhibit
  • June Stehling (Pleasant Plains) – Best Veterinary Science Exhibit
  • Greenview Boosters 4-H Club (Greenview) Best Civic Engagement/Service-Learning Exhibit
  • Noah Marques (Auburn) – Best Family History Exhibit
  • Travis Draughan (Springfield) – Best Collectibles Exhibit
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Best Intercultural Exhibit
  • Journey Curry (Springfield) – Award of Excellence: Clothing
  • Jude Lumsden (Springfield) – Best Clothing Exhibit
  • William Brooks (Mechanicsburg) – Best Computer & Technologies Exhibit
  • Carrie Barlow (Pawnee) – Best Interior Design Exhibit
  • Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Best Beekeeping/Entomology Exhibit
  • Moxon King (New Berlin) – Best Crops Exhibit
  • Sarah Simpson (Springfield) – Best Floriculture Exhibit
  • Ethan Greenfield (Springfield) – Best Geology Exhibit
  • Zach Dean (Pleasant Plains) – Best Shooting Sports Exhibit
  • Ada Holt (Springfield) – Best Weather Exhibit
• 2024 Sangamon 4-H Beef Show
  • Briar McCullough (Riverton) – Champion Crossbred Heifer
  • Peyton Sidles (Buffalo) – Champion Hereford Heifer
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Reserve Grand Champion Heifer
  • Peyton Sidles (Buffalo) – Best Intermediate Beef Showman
  • Jimmy Britz (Riverton) – Top Rate of Gain – Steer
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Grand Champion Steer
  • Justin King (New Berlin) – Reserve Grand Champion Steer
  • Peyton Krohe (New Berlin) – Champion AOB Heifer
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Angus Heifer
  • Paisley McCullough (Riverton) – Champion Hereford Steer
  • Peyton Sidles (Buffalo) – Grand Champion Heifer
  • Justin King (New Berlin) – Champion Crossbred Steer
  • Justin King (New Berlin) – Champion Simmental Heifer
  • Kallen Beutke (Buffalo) – Best Beginner Beef Showman
  • Peyton Krohe (New Berlin) – Champion Shorthorn Heifer
  • Peyton Krohe (New Berlin) – Best Advanced Beef Showman
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) - Champion Angus Steer
  • Justin King (New Berlin) – Champion Shorthorn Steer
• 2024 Sangamon 4-H Goat Show
  • Ena Earles (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Meat Goat Buck
  • Kallen Beutke (Buffalo) – Champion Jr. Goat Showman
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Champion Sr. Doe Dairy
  • Addelyn Lee (Glenarm) – Champion Jr. Doe Dairy
  • Ena Earls (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Meat Goat Doe
  • Ena Earls (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Market Goat
  • Jimmy Britz (Riverton) – Champion Sr. Goat Showman
• 2024 Sangamon 4-H Poultry Show
  • Remington Houser (Buffalo) – Reserve Champion Poultry
  • Olivia Houser (Buffalo) – Champion Poultry
  • Kolton Buckles (Mechanicsburg) – Champion Turkey
  • Sally Draughan (Springfield) – Best Dozen Eggs
  • Lillian Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Best Waterfowl
  • Lillian Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Best Pen of Poultry
  • Alli VanVeldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Laying Hen
  • Lillian Stark (Pleasant Plains) & Sally Draughan (Springfield) – Best Embryology Exhibit
  • Lillian Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Best Poultry Showmanship
• 2024 Sangamon 4-H Rabbit Show
  • Dawson Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Market Rabbit Pen of Three
  • June Stehling (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Rabbit Showmanship
  • Ember Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Buck
  • Dawson Wieland (Pleasant Plains) – Champion Doe
• 2024 Sangamon 4-H Sheep Show
  • Cooper Ramm (Auburn) – Champion Market Lamb
  • Cooper Ramm (Auburn) – Champion Ewe
  • Clayton Cromwell (Buffalo) – Champion Ram
  • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Reserve Champion Market Lamb
  • Carly Ramm (Auburn) – Best Jr. Sheep Showman
  • Cooper Ramm (Auburn) – Best Sr. Sheep Showman
• 2024 Sangamon 4-H Swine Show
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Hampshire Barrow
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Purebred Gilt
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Best Advanced Swine Showman
  • Nolan Komnick (Auburn) – Champion AOB Gilt
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Champion AOB Barrow
  • Nolan Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Duroc Barrow
  • Nolan Komnick (Auburn) – Best Intermediate Swine Showman
  • Nolan Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Berkshire Barrow
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Reserve Champion Gilt
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Grand Champion Barrow
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) - Grand Champion Gilt
  • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Best Beginner Swine Showman
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Berkshire Gilt
  • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Champion Yorkshire Gilt
  • Eli Cook (New Berlin) – Champion Crossbred Gilt
  • Nolan Komnick (Auburn) – Reserve Champion Barrow
  • Lily Wilson (Springfield) – Champion Crossbred Barrow
  • Nolan Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Purebred Barrow
  • Austin Komnick (Auburn) – Champion Duroc Gilt
  • Adelynn Edwards (Auburn) – Champion Yorkshire Barrow
• Additional 2024 Livestock Awards
  • Peyton Krohe (New Berlin) – Top Herdsman
  • Peyton Krohe (New Berlin) – Top Junior Round Robin Showman
  • Jimmy Britz (Riverton) – Top Senior Round Robin Showman
  • Wyatt Sanders (Taylorville) – Clean Pen Award
• 2024 Logan/Menard/Sangamon 4-H Dog Show
  • Kaylee Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Dog Care Long Hair Award
  • Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Dog Care Short Hair Award
  • Jayden Wheat (Auburn) – Novice Award
  • Jonathan Wilcox (Illiopolis) Beginner Novice Award
  • Lily Evoy (Springfield) – Dog Obedience 101 Award
  • Jayden Wheat (Auburn) – Rally Novice Award
  • Kaylee Stark (Pleasant Plains) – Dog Showmanship

Seventy-six 4-H members from Sangamon and Menard counites will exhibit their project work at the Illinois State Fair in the Orr Building on Saturday August 10. 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.