DUQUOIN, Ill. – Through a partnership with Illinois Extension and the DuQuoin State Fair, 4-H youth demonstrated their knowledge and skills during the 4-H Regional Showcase at the 2024 DuQuoin State Fair.

The showcase was held on three separate days, with a general show the weekend before the fair featuring project areas like aerospace, visual arts, photography, food and nutrition, robotics, and more. The first evening of the fair also featured the goat and sheep livestock show, with the swine, beef, and dairy show held the following day.

During the inaugural event, 98 youth showcased 322 projects. Those who placed included:

General Show

• Animal Science: Julie Heins (Jackson County)
  • Reserve Champion: Isabelle Wargel (Gallatin County) 
• Career and Leadership: Jaylnn Phillips (White County)
  • Reserve Champion: Charley Schefer (Jefferson County) 
• Civic Engagement: Brayden Armstrong (Coles County) 
  • Reserve Champions: Ellie DeNeal (Saline County) 
• Creative Arts: Emma Rieckenberg (Randolph County)
  • Reserve Champion: Julie Heins (Jackson County) 
• Environmental Sciences: Ethan Womble (Jackson County) 
  • Reserve Champion: David Hooper (Franklin County) 
• Foods: Marissa McLaren (Richland County) 
  • Reserve Champion: Maddelyn Kitchens (Gallatin County)
• Gardening, Ag, and Food Access: Brooklyn Thompson (White County)
  • Reserve Champion: Andrew Grizzell (Saline County)
• Healthy Living: Marissa McLaren (Richland County) 
  • Shooting Sports: Coen Kunneman (Washington County) 
• Visual Arts: Lyla Mefford (Hamilton County)
  • Ainsley Swoboda (Washington County)

Goat Show

• Breeding Buck under 6 months: Logan Ledhe (Randolph County)
  • Reserve: Loughlyn Kurtz (Randolph County)
• Overall Breeding Female (Goat): Hallee Whitlock (Saline County)
  • Reserve: Laney Jo Adams (Saline County)
• Market Wether: Madalyn Bergman (Massac County)
  • Reserve: Hallee Whitlock (Saline County)
• Market Doe: Bailee Dorsey (Madison County) 
  • Reserve: Grace Usery (Jefferson County)
• Senior Showmanship: Madalyn Bergman (Massac County)
• Intermediate Showmanship: Laney Jo Adams (Saline County)
• Junior Showmanship: Hallee Whitlock (Saline County)

Sheep Show

• Breeding Ram under 6 months: Gracie Walker (Hamilton County)
  • Reserve: Ryan Dehlinger (Richland County)
• Overall Breeding Female (Sheep): Brady Bosecker (Wabash County) 
  • Reserve: Gracie Walker (Hamilton County)
• Market Wether: Brady Bosecker (Wabash County)
  • Reserve: Brady Bosecker (Wabash County)
• Market Ewe: James Braddy (Washington County) 
  • Reserve: Mikala Schultz (Union County)
• Senior Showmanship: Zeb Ankenbrand (Edwards County)
• Intermediate Showmanship: Annsley Healy (White County)
• Junior Showmanship: James Braddy (Washington County)

Swine Show

• Overall Breeding Female (Swine): Gracie Stechmesser (Monroe County)
  • Reserve: Hallie Borcherding (Marion County)
• Market Barrow: Bayli Brown (Lawrence County)
  • Reserve: Beau Green (Douglas County)
• Market Gilt: Bayli Brown (Lawrence County)
  • Reserve: Knox Colboth (Union County)
• Senior Showmanship: Lydia Dush (Fayette County)
• Intermediate Showmanship: Hallie Borcherding (Marion County)
• Junior Showmanship: Gracie Stechmesser (Monroe County)

Beef Show

• Overall Breeding Female (Beef): Bailey Pearl (Perry County) 
  • Reserve:  Anna Kinley (Perry County)
• Market Steer: Bailey Pearl (Perry County)
  • Reserve: Charlotte Dehlinger (Richland County)
• Senior Showmanship: Shelby Pearl (Perry County)
• Intermediate Showmanship: Nickole Weber (Randolph County)
• Junior Showmanship: Anna Kinney (Perry County)

Dairy Show

• Overall Breeding Female (Dairy): Kenzie Krausz (Bond County)
  • Reserve: Kasey Clanton (Bond County)
• Senior Showmanship: Emma Carlile (Saline County)
• Intermediate Showmanship: Denver Lenkaitis (Saline County)
• Junior Showmanship: Makenzie Krausz (Bond County)

Illinois 4-H prepares youth to solve Illinois' problems by producing the leaders, innovators, entrepreneurs, stewards, and builders we need. Learn how to get involved with 4-H in your community at 4h.extension.illinois.edu.