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DuPage youth share projects online for 2020 virtual 4-H show

NAPERVILLE, Ill. – DuPage County 4-H members marked the culmination of their 4-H year virtually this year, through an online project show.  More than 370 entries were submitted in this format as families embraced this adaptation to their normal in-person summer fairs and shows.

“Although it was a different experience, the 4-H virtual show still provided a way for members to show what they have learned and accomplished throughout the year,” said Andrea Farrier, 4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator in DuPage County. “This year, photos and videos of those project exhibits, along with one-page reports for each entry, were uploaded to an online system in place of being brought to a physical show.”

Each 4-H year, members select projects that interest them from a list of more than 80 across the broader areas of animal science; civic engagement; creative arts; environment; healthy living; science, technology, engineering and math; and career and leadership development. Once youth choose projects, they dive into learning on their own, through local workshops or clubs, or with the help of caring adults in their lives. Often their goal is to show off their project work through the summer 4-H show.

Winfield Bluebirds 4-H Club member Trent Wisdom is especially proud of a visual arts project he made for the fiber category, a scarf. “Three things I learned when working on this project were patience, perseverance, and how to weave on a larger loom,” said the 10-year-old, who went on to earn grand champion honors.

During the 2020 virtual show, just like with in-person competitions, youth had the opportunity to get feedback on their work through judging. Knowledgeable judges reviewed virtual submissions and provided positive, constructive feedback to help 4-H’ers continue growing and learning into the next year.

“We thank all of our DuPage County 4-H show volunteer judges, award sponsors, superintendents, club leaders and other volunteers for giving our youth this important experience in a memorable year,” said Farrier. “Thank you also to our 4-H members and families for your hard work and dedication.”

The 2020 DuPage County 4-H show project entries and results are available for public viewing until Aug. 21 at https://fairentry.com/Fair/Results/13947.

Top award winners in each of this year’s project areas are as follows: (listed by project, award, 4-H member name, 4-H club and city of residence). In general project areas, an asterisk (*) denotes a 4-H member who won multiple champion or reserve champion awards in the same category but earned them in different classes.

Aerospace

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Tucker Hill, Just Say Nay, Wheaton

 

Animal Science

Grand Champion – Anne Gulbransen, Just Say Nay, West Chicago

Reserve Champion – Simon Smith, High Hopes, Westmont

 

Civic Engagement

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Alexander Ford, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst

 

Clothing & Textiles

Grand Champions/State Fair Delegates – Eliyah Stefanski, Trinity Trailblazers, Villa Park; Alexander Ford, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst

 

College and Career Readiness

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Alexander Ford, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst

 

Communications

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Levi Barshinger, Winfield Bluebirds, Lombard

 

Family Heritage

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Eamon Bargher, Darien Dragons, Darien

Reserve Champion – Alexander Ford, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst

 

Food and Nutrition

Grand Champions/State Fair Delegates – Zelda Price, Darien Dragons, Darien; Gavin Schnall, Darien Dragons, Darien; Alexander Ford*, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst; Elizabeth Berberich, Trinity Trailblazers, Villa Park

Reserve Champion – Emma Madsen, Darien Dragons, Darien

State Fair Alternates – Emma Madsen, Alexander Ford

 

Forestry

State Fair Delegate – Gavin Schnall

 

Goats

Grand Champion Overall Sr. Milking Goat – Oliver Barraclough, Whirlybirds, Carol Stream

Reserve Grand Champion Overall Sr. Milking Goat – Samantha Marwedel, Warrenville Acorns, Wheaton

Grand Champion Overall Dry Goat – Samantha Marwedel

Champion Jr. Lamancha – Samantha Marwedel

Reserve Champion Jr. Lamancha – Samantha Marwedel

Champion Jr. All Other Breeds (AOB) – Daisy Marwedel

Champion Jr. Grade – Oliver Barraclough

Champion Sr. Alpine – Oliver Barraclough

Champion Sr. AOB – Samantha Marwedel

Champion AOB Buck Kid – Daisy Marwedel

Grand Champion Overall Wether – Oliver Barracloughs

Champion Meat Goat Wether – Oliver Barracloughs

Champion Dairy Wether – Samantha Marwedel

Reserve Champion Dairy Wether – Daisy Marwedel, Warrenville Acorns, Wheaton

 

Horse

Champion Western Pleasure – Shay Mcelwee, Just Say Nay, Carol Stream

Champion English Pleasure – Anne Gulbransen

Champion English Equitation – Shay Mcelwee

Reserve Champion Equitation – Kyla Rowley, Just Say Nay, Wheaton

Champion Hunter Hack – Shay Mcelwee

Reserve Champion Hunter Hack – Anne Gulbransen

 

Intercultural

Grand Champion Club/State Fair Delegate – Trinity Trailblazers

Reserve Champion Club/State Fair Alternate – Opportunity Getters

State Fair Delegate Individual – Ian Wang, The Goatinators, Naperville

 

Leadership

Grand Champion Club/State Fair Delegate – Trinity Trailblazers

 

Natural Resources

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Alexander Ford, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst

 

Photography

Grand Champion – Zelda Price, Darien Dragons, Darien

Reserve Champion – Isabella Rigatos, Opportunity Getters, West Chicago

State Fair Delegates – Zelda Price; Isabella Rigatos; Anne Gulbransen, Just Say Nay, West Chicago

State Fair Alternates – Levi Barshinger, Winfield Bluebirds, Lombard; Skylar Otey, Warrenville Acorns, Glen Ellyn; Gavin Schnall, Darien Dragons, Darien

 

Public Presentations

Champion-Individual/State Fair Delegates – Justin Hartsell, Winfield Bluebirds, West Chicago; Veronica Rauch, Just Say Nay, Downers Grove

Champion-Team/State Fair Delegates – Justin and Xander Hartsell, Winfield Bluebirds, West Chicago

 

Poultry

Best of Show –Adam Kowalyshen, Opportunity Getters, Naperville

 

Rabbits

Grand Champion Overall Rabbit – Nora Tobin Newell

Reserve Grand Champion Overall Rabbit – Adam Kowalyshen

Champion Grade – Nora Tobin Newell, Whirlybirds, Winfield

Champion Californian – Nora Tobin Newell

Reserve Champion Californian – Emily Lesko, Whirlybirds, Naperville

Champion New Zealand- Adam Kowalyshen

Reserve Champion New Zealand- Adam Kowalyshen

Champion Dutch – Adam Kowalyshen

Reserve Champion Dutch – Adam Kowalyshen

Champion Mini Lop Solid – Emily Lesko

Reserve Champion Mini Lop Solid – Emily Lesko

Champion Mini Lop Broken – Emily Lesko

Champion Holland Lop Solid – Nora Tobin Newll

 

Veterinary Science

Grand Champion – Simon Smith, High Hopes, Westmont


Visual Arts

Grand Champions – Lucy Rozylowicz*, Ku-Dus, Wheaton;  Eva Bargher, Darien Dragons, Darien; Peyton Weinmann, Warrenville Acorns, Warrenville;  Trent Wisdom, Winfield Bluebirds, West Chicago; Allison Gochee, Warrenville Acorns, Wheaton; Mary Kish, Trinity Trailblazers, Westmont; Alexander Ford, Trinity Trailblazers, Elmhurst; Skylar Otey*, Warrenville Acorns, Glen Ellyn; Eliyah Stefanski, Trinity Trailblazers, Villa Park

Reserve Champions – Gavin Schnall, Darien Dragons, Darien; Lucy Rozylowicz; Anna Buonincontro*, High Hopes, Westmont; Allison Gochee, Julia Gergen, Trinity Trailblazers, Lombard; Anne Gulbransen, Just Say Nay, West Chicago; Rose Vining, Trinity Trailblazers, Westmont

State Fair Delegates – Michael Gochee, Warrenville Acorns, Wheaton; Eva Bargher, Lucy Rozylowicz, Anna Buonincontro, Peyton Weinmann, Trent Wisdom, Alexander Ford, Eliyah Stefanski

State Fair Alternates – Lucy Rozylowicz, Mary Kish, Skylar Otey, Allison Gochee, Anna Buonincontro, Rose Vining

 

Woodworking

Grand Champion/State Fair Delegate – Moriah Berberich, Trinity Trailblazers, Villa Park

Reserve Champion/State Fair Delegate – Nora Tobin Newell, Whirlybirds, Winfield

State Fair Alternate – Skylar Otey, Warrenville Acorns, Glen Ellyn

 

For more information on 4-H opportunities in DuPage, Kane or Kendall County, visit go.illinois.edu/info4Hdkk

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