SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – 127 youth from Grundy, Kankakee, and Will Counties recently competed at the state level at the 4-H General Project Show held August 8 at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in Springfield.
Award-winning 4-H members from across Illinois competed at the county level before advancing to the state level where the best of the best were on display at the Illinois State Fair.
"Exhibiting at the Illinois State Fair is such an honor for these young people," says Brittney Muschetto, Illinois Extension youth development educator. "Seeing their hard work on display amongst their peers across the state is an opportunity for them to learn and grow while having fun."
The following youth received advanced awards at the Illinois State Fair in their projects:
GRUNDY COUNTY
Grand Champion
James Emmerich, Aerospace
McKenna Brockman, Clothing and Textiles
Emalyn Williams, Clothing and Textiles
Margaret Feldman, Consumer Education
Kami Greene, Creative Writing
Samuel Biros, Crops
Sebastian Kaluzny, Crops
Raylan Smith, Electricity
Austin Brockman, Interior Design
Matthew Bauerly, Shooting Sports
Selah Weiss, Theatre Arts
Micah Greene, Visual Arts
Benjamin Biros, Weather
Reserve Champions
Rosemary Kindelspire, Clothing and Textiles
Bradley Burla, Crops
Onne Rogers, Entomology
Callen White, Interior Design
Matthew Greene, Natural Resources
Hannah Greene, Photography
Michael Emmerich, Plants and Soil Sciences
Rhett Steiner, Tractor
Eden Weiss, Visual Arts
Inspire Awards
Kylee Connell, Family Heritage
Ethan Gerber, Geology
Riley Wilson, Horticulture - Floriculture
Drew Bibly, Horticulture - Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits
KANKAKEE COUNTY
Grand Champion
Leah Grider, Clothing and Textiles
Phoebe Davies, Entomology
Kaitlyn Costello, Entomology-Beekeeping
Lara Grider, Foods and Nutrition
Leslie Grider, Foods and Nutrition
Joaquin Marin, Foods and Nutrition
Megan Tibbetts, Foods and Nutrition
Tate Goers, Interior Design
Hope Thurston, Visual Arts
Isabella Barnas, Weather
Reserve Grand Champion
George Helwich, Aerospace
Avery Adams, Foods and Nutrition
Clara Chappell, Foods and Nutrition
Ashlyn Goers, Visual Arts
Magaly Marin, Visual Arts
Wesley Richardson, Visual Arts
Inspire Awards
Dominic Michalek, Geology
WILL COUNTY
Grand Champion
Rosemary Widinski, Civic Engagement (Group)
Peter Widinski, Civic Engagement (Group)
Avery Edler, Civic Engagement (Group)
Henry Reus, Civic Engagement (Group)
Sophia Rog, Clothing and Textiles
Avery Edler, Clothing and Textiles
Emily Rog, Foods and Nutrition
Jacob Floyd, Forestry
Peter Widinski, Geology
Abigail Henning, Intercultural (Group)
Autumn Burdick, Intercultural (Group)
Matthew Selucky, Intercultural (Group)
Douglas Schreurs, Intercultural (Group)
Elizabeth Schreurs, Intercultural (Group)
Emily Pierce, Intercultural (Group)
Truely Molitor, Intercultural (Group)
Benjamin Simanis, Natural Resources
Alexandra Bruinius, Natural Resources
Emily Pierce, Ready4Life
Elizabeth Schreurs, Visual Arts
Reserve Grand Champion
Ashlyn Hundley, Clothing and Textiles
Rosemary Widinski, Entomology
Brooklyn Barney, Intercultural (Group)
Easton Barney, Intercultural (Group)
Vanessa Edler, Intercultural (Group)
Alexandra Bruinius, Intercultural (Group)
Morgan Lukas, Intercultural (Group)
Allison Jacobs, Intercultural (Group)
Emily Jacobs, Intercultural (Group)
Brigid Reiter, Intercultural (Group)
Brenna Reiter, Intercultural (Group)
Caleb Merkel, Natural Resources
Corin Leyburn, Robotics
Joleigh Hacko, Veterinary Science
Allison Jacobs, Visual Arts
Brooke Simanis, Visual Arts
Inspire Awards
Brenna Reiter, Weather
Austin Hundley, Welding
Chloe Miller, Woodworking
A full listing of results including those who received participation ribbons can be found online at fairentry.com/Fair/Results/21108.
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:
"Conference judging is a unique element of 4-H which brings members and volunteer judges together to evaluate project exhibits," explains Muschetto, "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 members to learn from their experiences and knowledge of the volunteer judge."
Youth are able to compete at a state level, meet with youth across the state, and take the next step in their learning journey by meeting with a volunteer who has expertise in their project area.
For more information about 4-H in your county, visit go.illinois.edu/About4hGKW
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 700 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 six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.
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.