SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 4-H members from Logan, Menard, and Sangamon counites earned special awards for their project exhibits at the 2024 Illinois State Fair. One hundred and twelve local 4-H’ers exhibited their project work alongside 4-H’ers from across the state in the Orr Building on Saturday, August 10. 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.

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

• Eva Gowin (Lincoln) – Creative Writing 
• Norah Judd (Lincoln) – Health 2
• Asher Morris (Lincoln) - Visual Arts: Plastic Block Art
• Sophia Schneider (Mason City) - Photo Editing 
• Cameron Wilmert (Lincoln) – Theater Arts 1
• Kirby Jo Bacon (Greenview) – Civic Engagement Group
• Milo Bacon (Greenview) - Civic Engagement Group
• Adalynn Beiermann (Athens) - Civic Engagement Group
• Avery Breedlove (Petersburg) - Civic Engagement Group
• Carly Breedlove (Petersburg) - Civic Engagement Group
• Waylon Carls (Greenview) - Civic Engagement Group
• Aria Henry (Athens) - Civic Engagement Group
• Kendall Underwood (Greenview) - Civic Engagement Group
• Luke Willis (Greenview) - Civic Engagement Group
• Mollie Willis (Greenview) - Civic Engagement Group
• Macie Willis (Greenview) - Civic Engagement Group
• Grace Burnside (Pleasant Plains) – Clothing 1 – Sewn Clothing
• David Burnside (Pleasant Plains) – Entomology 2
• Elijah Eastvold (Springfield) – Maker
• Charlotte Ghosh (Chatham) – Natural Resources 1
• Madilyn Hogan (Auburn) – Food Decorating Beginning 
• Ada Holt (Springfield) – Forests of Fun 2
• Declan McCarty (Springfield) - Forests of Fun 3

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

• Maddox Dare (Delevan) – Soybeans
• Gage Jones (Beason) – Woodworking 1
• Emily Lawrence (Middletown) – Cooking 101: Ceral Bars
• Arianna Morris (Lincoln) – Visual Arts: Paper 3D
• Olivia Wrage (Lincoln) – Sportsfishing 1
• Alex Graff (Rochester) – Aerospace Display
• Grayson Huss (New Berlin) – Beekeeping 1
• Moxon King (New Berlin) – Corn
• Elliot Lee (Glenarm) – Model Rocketry 
• Sarah Simpson (Springfield) – Floriculture B
• Isaac Storey (Springfield) – Wildlife 1

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

• Henry Farmer (Elkhart) – Small Engines
• Makia Hassebrock (Beason) – Corn
• Oliver White (Beason) – Floriculture A
• Luke Wibben (Atlanta) Forests of Fun 1
• Adalynn Beiermann (Athens) – Visual Arts: Fiber Non Original 
• Carrie Barlow (Pawnee) – Desing Decisions – Beginning 
• William Brooks (Mechanicsburg) – Maker
• Madeline Brooks (Mechanicsburg) – Scrapbooking Beginning 
• Haley Graff (Rochester) – Cooking 401: Pie Shell
• Ethan Greenfield (Springfield) – Rock Hounds 1
• Abigail Holtrop (Springfield) – Heritage Arts
• Alli Van Veldhuizen (Pleasant Plains) – Sports Nutrition 

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 also participated in the 2024 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. Certain results are in progress or not listed yet.

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.