DECATUR, Ill. — The Illinois State Fair welcomed 101 enthusiastic 4-H members from DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties to the Orr Building on August 9 for a full day of general project judging. Participants proudly showcased their hard work and creativity through a wide range of exhibits, which remained on display throughout the day.
The highest-scoring exhibit in each class earned Grand Champion honors, while the second-highest received Reserve Champion. Inspire Awards recognized exhibits that stood out for their creativity and innovation.
The following 4-H members and 4-H clubs received Grand Champion, Reserve Champion, or a judge’s Inspire award for their project.
DeWitt
Weather and Climate Science 2- Emily Drozs: Reserve Champion
Agronomy/Hay-Anna Clarkson: Reserve Champion
Build Your Own Future- Alicia Trimble: Reserve Champion
Costume Design- Beginner- Phoebe Craft: Reserve Champion
Creating with Building Bricks-Building- Liam Lux: Inspire Award
Creating with Building Bricks- Vehicle- Joshua Wilson: Reserve Champion
4-H Cooking 101 Cereal Bars- Kameron Sparks: Reserve Champion
4-H Cooking 301 Yeast Bread- Lillian Elsea: Grand Champion
4-H Cooking 301 Cake- Cari Aughenbaugh: Grand Champion
Food Preservation Canning- Case Wilson: Reserve Champion
Your Thoughts Matter- Lillian Hammer: Grand Champion
Leadership Group- Community Clovers 4-H Club: Grand Champion
Photography 3- Owen Rexshell: Grand Champion
Junk Drawer Robotics- Dexter Watterson: Grand Champion
Veterinary Science 1- Bailey Walters: Reserve Champion
Veterinary Science 2- Lexi Merriman: Reserve Champion
Commercial or Promotional Video- Lucy Smith: Grand Champion
Animated Video- Kolten Sparks: Inspire Award
Metal Arts- Kate Cunningham: Inspire Award
Nature Arts- Bailey Rogers: Inspire Award
Welding: Carter Herring: Grand Champion
Macon
Civic Engagement Group- Long Creek Critters 4-H Club: Grand Champion
Sewing 1 Clothing- Rebekah Marley: Inspire Award
Costume Design- Advanced- Lucy Niebrugge: Grand Champion
Beekeeping 1- Wu McKinney: Inspire Award
Family Heritage-Elizabeth Oost: Grand Champion
4-H Cooking 101 Coffee Cake- Le'Moni Bragg: Inspire Award
4-H Cooking 101 Cookies- Katie Matlock: Inspire Award
4-H Cooking 301 Dinner Rolls- Addison Rogers: Grand Champion
Forests of Fun 3- Emmett Reed: Grand Champion
Floriculture-Wearable Flowers- Delaney Crouch: Grand Champion
Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetable Plates-Jack Rogers: Reserve Champion
Passport to the World-Individual- Willa Weikle: Inspire Award
Sportfishing 1- Nicholas Tibbs: Reserve Champion
Fiber Arts- Annie Niebrugge: Reserve Champion
Woodworking 1- Lincoln Goldman: Reserve Champion
Piatt
Sewing 1 Non-Clothing- Sophia Cornwell: Grand Champion
Sewing 1 Clothing- Alexandra Pruski: Grand Champion
Clothing Embellishment Stitched- Kenley Owen: Grand Champion
Creative Writing- Audriana Defend: Reserve Champion
Creative Writing Poetry- Ginny Blacker: Grand Champion
Food Science 1-4- Abby Pilcher: Inspire Award
Food Preservation Jams, Jellies, Preserves- Cassandra Block: Reserve Champion
Leadership 1- Hanna Grafton: Grand Champion
Sportfishing 3- Ava Harper: Inspire Award
Plants and Soils 1- Emily Harrington: Reserve Champion
Veterinary Science 2- Lauren Harrington: Inspire Award
Food Decorating-Beginning- Halcyon Schweska: Grand Champion
Food Decorating- Master- Claire Reedy: Grand Champion
Plastic Arts- Ellie Stern: Reserve Champion
“The Illinois State Fair provides an opportunity for our members to celebrate their hard work and be proud of the effort, time, and dedication they have put into their projects,” says Marisa Capps, 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator. “We are incredibly proud of all of our 4-H members who participated in the Illinois State Fair 4-H show and congratulate each of our award winners on their achievements.”
More than 250 4-H members participated in DeWitt, Macon, and Piatt counties’ General Projects and Livestock shows, Public Speaking, and Shooting Sports competitions in 2026.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 500 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through five program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, health and community wellness, and natural resources, environment, and energy.