OREGON, Ill.— The 2025 Ogle County 4-H Senior Master Showman winner was Luke Lichty of Ogle Jolly 4-H Club! The runner up was Ayden Alderks, Ogle Jolly 4-H Club. Other senior participants ages 14-18 included Lucas Thurow, Ogle Jolly 4-H Club; Addison Yordy, Leaf River Busy Beavers 4-H Club; Allissa Martin, Carefree 4-H Club; Max Thurow, Ogle Jolly 4-H Club; Robbie Thurow. Ogle Jolly 4-H Club and Boone Alderks, Carefree 4-H Club.
The 2025 Ogle County 4-H Junior Master Showman winner was Grady Poliska of Ogle Jolly 4-H Club! The runner up was Jaxon Alderks, Ogle Jolly 4-H Club. Another junior participant, ages 8 – 13, was Blake Frisbie, Ogle Jolly 4-H Club.
To earn the title, each participant had to show a pig, steer, and sheep. Showmanship is based on the knowledge of the species; how the participant shows the animal, following directions, moving the animal, setting up, stopping, control and safety of the animal, and the attention given to the judge and animal; and the appearance of the club member, clean and neat, prompt, alert, confident, and courteous.
Congratulations to each of these individuals. The winner of the Senior Master Showmanship contest won a belt buckle, $100 cash award, and the opportunity to attend the Master Showmanship contest at the Illinois State Fair. The senior runner-up won a $50 cash award. The Junior Master Showmanship winner won a belt buckle and a $50 cash award. The junior runner-up won a $25 cash award.
Cash Awards were sponsored by Hackbarth Farms. Belt buckles were sponsored by Maplehurst Farms, Inc.
4-H is an informal youth education program conducted by University of Illinois Extension. U of I Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment. If you need reasonable accommodations to participate in 4-H, contact the Ogle County Extension staff at 815-732-2191.
Article photo: Ogle County Master Showmanship participants line up to await results.
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.