SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counites earned special awards for their project exhibits at the 2023 Illinois State Fair. Seventy-nine local 4-H’ers exhibited their project work alongside 4-H’ers from across the state in the Orr Building on Friday, August 11. These members were chosen to advance to the Illinois State Fair after exhibiting outstanding project work at their local 4-H shows earlier in the summer.

Twenty-eight local exhibitors representing 16 different 4-H clubs received special awards at the State Fair in recognition of their excellent project work.

Champion Medal – awarded to the exhibitor with the highest score in each class on each exhibit day:

• Brayden Armstrong (Illiopolis) – Sportfishing 3
• Dale Davison (Middletown) – Visual Arts: Plastic Block Art
• Lillian Frazee (Chatham) – Visual Arts: Glass
• Hannah Glandon (Atlanta) – Geology: Innovation Class
• Haley Graff (Rochester) – Cooking 301: Cake
• Jacob Hartman (Springfield) – Forests of Fun 3
• Ada Holt (Springfield) – Weather 2
• Carter Johnson (Middletown) – Electricity 1
• Benjamin Kinner (New Berlin) – Shooting Sports: Rifle Display
• Kinsley Rembusch (Springfield) – Health 2
• Stephen Starasta (Lincoln) – Fish/Wildlife Innovation Class
• June Stehling (Pleasant Plains) – Animal Science 1
• Ellie Wrage (Lincoln) – Clothing 2: Sewn Non-Clothing

Reserve Champion Medal – awarded to the exhibitor with the second highest score in each class on each exhibit day:

• Alex Graff (Rochester) – Aerospace: Display
• Alana Hartman (Springfield) – Vegetable Gardening: Herb Display
• Shelby Heyen (Mason City) – Photography: Photo Editing
• Tanner Jones (Beason) – Tractor C
• Lillian Lee (Glenarm) – Visual Arts: Food Decorating, Intermediate
• Jude Lumsden (Springfield) – Clothing 2: Sewn Clothing
• Sarah Simpson (Springfield) – Shooting Sports: Rifle Display

Inspire Award – given at judge’s discretion to exhibitors who presented inspirational, innovative, or unique exhibits:

• Daniel Crider (Lincoln) – Visual Arts: Clay
• Madilyn Hogan (Auburn) – Visual Arts: Cake Decorating, Beginning
• Victor Holt (Springfield) – Visual Arts: Glass
• Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Tractor B
• Camden Perry (New Berlin) – Interior Design: Beginning
• Oliver White (Beason) – Floriculture A
• Mollie Willis (Greenview) – Visual Arts: Fiber Non-Original, age 8-10
• Olivia Wrage (Lincoln) – Sportfishing 1

In 4-H, project areas represent the culmination of individual learning paths where youth are able to show off their skills and expertise in front of thousands of fairgoers. Youth also participate in conference judging as a part of the experience. This brings members and volunteer judges together to evaluate project exhibits. It involves one-on-one, face-to-face communication in which the volunteer judge and exhibitor talk directly with each other. This technique provides a unique opportunity for 4-H'ers to learn from their experiences and knowledge of the volunteer judge.

“We are proud of our all our 4-H members who exhibited at the Illinois State Fair, and we are happy to see how many were recognized with special awards,” said Youth Development Educator Carissa Davis. “We are excited to see how these young people will continue to grow their skills in the coming year.”

4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counites are also participating in the 2023 Illinois State Fair Junior Livestock Shows. In the Junior Livestock Division, 4-H and FFA members from across the state have an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills while exhibiting the animals they have raised during the past year. 

To see results of the livestock shows, please visit the webpage for Illinois State Fair competition results at https://statefair.illinois.gov/competitions/competitionresults.html.

The new 4-H year begins in September, and local clubs are always happy to welcome new members. To learn more about the opportunities available to local youth through the 4-H program, please 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.