Tri-County 4-H members excel at Illinois State Fair

More than 100 4-H members – representing 4-H clubs from DuPage, Kane and Kendall counties – were among the more than 3,000 4-H general project exhibits from across Illinois judged and displayed during the 2019 Illinois State Fair.

The local youth earned the right to exhibit at Illinois State Fair by being selected at the top of their class or division at local county fairs in July and August. 4-H youth can explore scores of projects in seven areas of study – animal science, career & leadership development, creative arts, environmental sciences, global civic engagement, healthy living & nutrition, and STEM.

“All of the youth who are invited to the state competition have shown great knowledge and growth in their chosen project area,” said Amy Henschen, U of I Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development. “During 4-H conference judging at state fair, youth receive individual time with a professional in that topic. 4-H members then share what they did, what they learned and what skills they gained in the project, and judges offer positive feedback, constructive critique, and suggestions for continuing to grow.”

The 4-H conference judging experience allows youth to demonstrate their mastery beyond just what the physical exhibit may show, and it emphasizes the important skills of communication and presentation. The final awards are based both on the execution of the project work and the interview process.

All 4-H general project participants received a state fair exhibitor ribbon, and those exceeding requirements for more than 80 percent of the scoresheet criteria received an Outstanding designation. New this year, youth also could earn other special honors – medals for Champion and Reserve Champion in each class on each judging day, and backpacks for Inspire Award honorees who named by judges who felt moved by a 4-H member’s passion.

In addition to the individual awards below, three local 4-H clubs received Superior ratings for group Intercultural projects: Trinity Trailblazers 4-H Club of DuPage County (Reserve Champion), The Challengers 4-H Club of Kane County, and Barn and Beyond 4-H Club of Kendall County (Outstanding).

Individual honorees in each county are as follows (listed by name, town and project name):

DUPAGE COUNTY:

  • Levi Barshinger, Wheaton, Creative Writing – Outstanding     

  • Moriah Berberich, Villa Park, Woodworking 2 – Reserve/Inspire

  • Anna Buonincontro, Westmont, Visual Arts Fiber – Participant

  • Megan Campbell, Naperville, Rock Hounds 2 – Outstanding/Champion/Inspire

  • Elias Carder, Burr Ridge, Woodworking 4 – Participant     

  • Benjamin Cassioppi, Willow Springs, Computer-Generated Art  – Outstanding     

  • Anna Cassioppi Willow Springs, Visual Arts-Chalk/Carbon/Pigment-Div A – Participant     

  • Hope Ann De la Rosa, Montgomery, Health 1 – Outstanding     

  • Samuel Abe De la Rosa, Montgomery, Consumer Ed Ready4Life  – Participant     

  • Alexander Ford, Elmhurst, Robotics Ready4Life Challenge  – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Justin Gergen, Lombard, 4-H Cooking 201  – Outstanding     

  • Julia Gergen, Lombard, Creative Writing – Participant     

  • Anne Gulbransen, West Chicago, Photography 2  – Outstanding      

  • Hunter Hayden, Carol Stream, Theatre Arts 1  – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Tucker Hill, Wheaton, Aerospace Display  – Outstanding/Champion/Inspire

  • Maggie Kane, Wheaton, Theatre Arts 1  – Participant     

  • Mary Kish, Westmont, Photography 2  – Participant/Inspire

  • Ashley MacDonald, Naperville, Nature – Outstanding     

  • Amy Madsen, Darien, Visual Arts-Chalk/Carbon/Pigment-Div A Participant     

  • Claudia Meek, Downers Grove, 4-H Cooking 101 – Participant     

  • Zelda Price, Darien, Visual Arts-Clay  – Outstanding     

  • Eleanor Reppe, West Chicago, Commercial or Promotional Video – Outstanding     

  • Kellie Schaffner, Warrenville, Photo Editing – Participant     

  • Gavin Schnall, Darien, Photography 1  – Outstanding     

  • Simon Smith, Westmont, Animal Science – Participant     

  • Grace Smith, Westmont, Veterinary Science  – Participant     

  • Moriah Stefanski, Villa Park, Scrapbooking-Advanced  – Participant     

  • Hannah Venzon, Downers Grove, Photography 3 – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Kayla Weinmann, Warrenville, 4-H Cooking 201 – Outstanding/Reserve

KANE COUNTY:

  • Meredith Abbs, St. Charles, Natural Resources 3 – Participant/Reserve  

  • Max Balsitis, North Aurora, Photography 1 – Participant     

  • James Bolt, Gilberts, Welding – Outstanding     

  • Rory Borger-Johnson, Batavia, Short Story Or Narrative – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Kristina Drendel, Hampshire, Photography 3 – Outstanding     

  • Caden Einwich, St. Charles, Pebble Pups 2 – Participant/Reserve  

  • Rhett Einwich, St. Charles, Woodworking 1 – Participant     

  • Noa Greenfeld, Elgin, STEAM Clothing 3-Sewn Clothing  – Outstanding/Inspire

  • Morgan Hahn, St. Charles, 3-D Design/Mixed Media – Outstanding/Inspire

  • Mia Harlan, Maple Park, Maker – Participant/Reserve  

  • Samuel Haviland, Elgin, Beekeeping 1 – Outstanding/Champion/Inspire

  • Andrew Haviland, Elgin, Welding – Outstanding     

  • Francis Haviland, Elgin, Electricity 2 – Participant     

  • Christopher Haviland, Elgin, Entomology 1 – Participant/Reserve  

  • Alyssa Kave, South Elgin, Photography 2 – Outstanding     

  • Keira King, South Elgin, Shopping in Style: Beginning – Outstanding     

  • Dillon Marcotte, St. Charles, Health 3 – Participant/Reserve  

  • Andrew McCafferty, Geneva, STEAM Clothing 3-Sewn Clothing – Outstanding     

  • Patrick McCafferty, Geneva, Model Rocketry – Participant     

  • Rachel Miller, St. Charles, Paper – Outstanding     

  • Avery Nackovic, Elburn, Animal Science – Participant     

  • Cecilia Ochs, Carpentersville, Civic Engagement 1 – Outstanding     

  • Maria Ochs, Carpentersville, STEAM Clothing 2-Sewn Clothing – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Evan Sass, Elgin, Robotics 2 – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Charlotte Sass, Elgin, 4-H Cooking 401 – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Aaron Sass, Elgin, Electricity 1 – Participant     

  • Daniel Smeenge, Elgin, Shopping in Style: Beginning – Outstanding     

  • Madison Solomon, St. Charles, Theater Arts Ready4Life – Outstanding     

  • Ava Wukitsch, Maple Park, Design Decisions-Beginning  – Outstanding    

KENDALL COUNTY:

  • Walter Behan, Yorkville, Pebble Pups 1 – Participant     

  • Adalyn Behan, Yorkville, Photography 2 – Participant     

  • Aidan Brummel, Yorkville, Visual Arts Metal – Outstanding     

  • Morgan Buddy, Montgomery, Visual Arts Chalk/Carbon/Pigment-Div A – Outstanding/Champion 

  • Brayden Caraynoff-Huber, Minooka, Commercial or Promotional Video – Outstanding     

  • Lilianna Casbarian, Montgomery, Photography 2 – Outstanding/Inspire

  • Carter Cumbey, West Chicago, Short Story or Narrative – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Emma Davidson, Newark, Photography 3 – Participant/Inspire

  • Aiden Ferguson, Plano, Pebble Pups 1 – Participant/Reserve  

  • Elizabeth Franzen, Somonauk, 4-H Cooking 301 – Participant

  • Madisyn Glenn, Oswego, 4-H Cooking 201 – Participant     

  • Jordan Goebel, Sandwich, Scrapbooking-Advanced  – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Matias Habib, Sandwich, Entomology Display, Other  – Outstanding/Champion/Inspire

  • Jacquelin Harvey, Newark, STEAM Clothing 3-Sewn NonClothing  – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Sofie Heidrich, Oswego, Shopping in Style: Beginning  – Outstanding

  • Julian Heidrich, Oswego, Open Source Computer Science  – Outstanding/Reserve/Inspire

  • Jacob Homerding, Yorkville, Corn – Outstanding     

  • Jack Homerding, Yorkville, Woodworking 1  – Participant     

  • John Kellogg, Yorkville, Passport to the World-Individual  – Outstanding     

  • Tawney Kellogg, Yorkville, Design Decisions-Beginning  – Participant     

  • Nathaniel Kwiatkowski, Minooka, Model Rocketry – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Abigail Munar, Plano, Visual Arts Nature – Participant/Inspire

  • Austin Nakaerts, Plainfield, Woodworking 4 – Participant     

  • Emmalyn Nelson, Yorkville, STEAM Clothing 1-Sewn Clothing – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Ania Nelson, Yorkville, STEAM Clothing 3-Sewn Clothing – Outstanding/Champion/Inspire

  • Sadie Grace Nelson, Yorkville, Design Decisions-Beginning – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Evan Nelson, Yorkville, Electricity Ready4Life Challenge – Participant     

  • Lydia Oker, Sandwich, Visual Arts Fiber – Outstanding     

  • Michaela Persico, Montgomery, Animal Science–  Outstanding     

  • Annie Ralston, Yorkville, Shopping in Style: Beginning – Outstanding/Champion 

  • Joey Ralston, Yorkville, Vegetable Gardening Display – Participant     

  • Sydney Reppy, Minooka, Leadership Innovation – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Emily Reppy, Minooka, Health Innovation – Outstanding/Champion   

  • Morgan Rosenwinkel, Plano, Electricity 1 – Outstanding/Reserve  

  • Brendan Schille, Naperville, Small Engines – Participant     

  • Hannah Severson, Newark, Entomology 2 – Participant/Reserve  

  • Aimee Snyder, Oswego, Veterinary Science – Participant     

  • Nathanael Vickery, Bristol, Electricity 1 – Outstanding     

  • Elizabeth Vickery, Bristol, Food Preservation – Participant     

  • Molly Wheeler, Yorkville, Creative Writing – Participant     

  • Kailynn Wietting, Joliet, Photo Editing – Participant     

  • Madilynn Wietting, Joliet, Visual Arts Glass/Plastic – Participant     

  • Zachary Zabel, Newark, Electricity 2  – Participant     

4-H Youth Development programs provide ways for youth to belong to a community, give back, learn things they're interested in and develop independence. Enrollment for the 2019-20 4-H year begins this fall. To learn more, visit http://go.illinois.edu/info4hdkk and for upcoming informational events, visit https://extension.illinois.edu/dkk/events