LEWISTOWN, Ill. - Earlybird Nutrition, in partnership with Fulton County Farm Bureau Young Leader Committee and Fulton County 4-H, hosted a free Livestock Showmanship Clinic for all interested youth on Sunday, March 22, 2026, at the Fulton County Fairgrounds in Lewistown. Robyn Hendel, Grant Bedel, Kyle Beutke, and Sawyer Schlipf from Earlybird Nutrition, along with veteran livestock exhibitors Anna Serven, Jessica Johnson, Harper Hess, Mallory Corzatt, and Sloan Gentes, demonstrated proper showmanship techniques to beef, goat, sheep, and swine livestock exhibitors. Over 100 youth and adults from around the state attended this educational event. Young exhibitors gained invaluable information – from working with and handling their livestock, to proper grooming and conditioning tips, to exhibiting their animal in the livestock show ring. Feeding and watering tips were also shared, in addition to the experienced exhibitors advising the younger exhibitors on how to dress and what type of shoes to wear.
Weaver Livestock and Earlybird Nutrition generously donated several prizes for youth to assist them with their livestock projects once they returned home to work with their animals. Grand prize winners were Kash McKee, who won a Stall Chute, and William Tilton, who walked away as the proud new owner of a Deep Hanging Show Box. Fulton County Fair & Racing Association donated the use of the Fairgrounds, Ryan Spangler, Shawn Hendel, and Jacob Johnson brought animals for the veteran exhibitors to demonstrate in the ring, and Fulton County HEA made and donated treats for all in attendance.
4-H is the youth program of University of Illinois Extension. To find out how young people ages 8-18 can become members of 4-H, contact the University of Illinois Extension, Fulton County Office, at 309-547-3711 or email Krista Gray at kristakg@illinois.edu .
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.