4-H youth put their passion and hard work on display on 4-H Day at the Winnebago County Fair 4-H on August 14, 2024. 

In 4-H, projects are a way for members to learn about what interests them. Projects spark members to follow their passions, interests, and talents on a new path to career development, enjoyment, and belonging. 

Winnebago County 4-H Program Coordinator Becky Gocken states, “It’s wonderful to see all the kids projects in action during the fair.  The quality of the General Projects in building 4 is much higher than previous years, which demonstrates the members are choosing quality over quantity for their focus.”

Project shows serve as learning opportunities for youth to interact with subject matter experts who serve as judges and provide guidance as youth work toward mastery in their project area.   

Emma Daly, who has been a member  of the Seward Determination 4-H Club for nine years shared her General Projects Day experience, “General Projects judging went super smoothly this year and I had lots of fun answering questions and getting to tell the judge about my project.”

Over fifty Winnebago County 4-H members had the opportunity to exhibit and compete at the state level during the Illinois State Fair 4-H General Project Show, August 9 in Springfield.

General Projects Top Awards Results

Aerospace:

Best Flight Ribbon- Joaquin Rodriguez

Champion Aerospace Display- Cayden Stewart

Reserve Champion- Oscar Pagles

Champion Model Rocketry- Cheyenne Mech

Reserve Champion- Isaiah Heinisch

Animal Science:

Champion Animal Science 1- Lily Nestler

Reserve Champion- Lydia Wolfe

Champion Animal Science 2- Robert Dady

Grand Champion Animal Science- Robert Dady

Child Development:

Champion Child Development- Linnea Lyons

Reserve Champion- Isabella Reed

Civic Engagement: 

Champion Civic Engagement- Adelein Halsted

Clothing:

Grand Champion Sewn Non-Clothing Exhibits- Lily Nestler

Reserve Champion- Amelia Boeke

Champion Shopping in Style Beginning- Sophie Bland

Champion Clothing 1 Sewn Garment- Makenna Arnold

Reserve Champion- Nathan Lyons

Grand Champion Overall Exhibit- Sophie Bland

Teen’s Choice Award- Amelia Runne

College-Career Readiness:

Champion- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Communications- Journalism:

Champion Journalism, News & Social Media- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Reserve Champion- Lily Freeman

Computer Science:

Champion Computer Science- Linnea Lyons

Reserve Champion- Nathan Lyons

Consumer Ed:

Champion Consumer Ed- Linnea York

Reserve Champion- Campbell Russo

Creative Writing:

Champion Creative Writing- Linnea Lyons

Reserve Champion- Katherine Rodriguez

Crops:

Champion Soybeans- Matt Dolan

Champion Corn- Matt Dolan

Champion Small Grains- Matt Dolan

Candy Making:

Champion Candy Making- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Entomology:

Champion Entomology- Knox Beyer

Champion Beekeeping- Nathan Wolfe

Reserve Champion- Jacob Wolfe

Family Heritage: 

Champion Family Heritage- Linnea York

Reserve Champion- Linnea York

Foods:

Champion Cooking 101- Penelope Anderson

Reserve Champion- Emma Johnson

Champion 201- Jessalyn Johnson

Reserve Champion- Oscar Pagles

Champion 401- Carlie Harms

Reserve Champion- Carlie Harms

Champion Food Demonstration- Oscar Pagles

Champion Food Preservation- Cheyenne Mech

Reserve Champion- Isabella Reed

Forestry:

Champion Forestry- Gregory Hopkins

Geology:

Champion Geology- Thomas Nestler

Reserve Champion- Roselie Sirianni

Health:

Champion Health- Izzy Bland

Reserve Champion- Sebastian Lerma

Horticulture- Floriculture:

Champion Floriculture- Emma Johnson

Reserve Champion- Anabel Halsted

Horticulture- Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits:

Champion Herb Container Display- Oscar Pagles

Champion Vegetable Plate- Faith Heinisch

Reserve Champion- Garrison Beckett

Champion Vegetable Gardening Display- Kateri Beck

Intercultural:

Champion GROUP Intercultural- Clover Crusaders 4-H Club

Champion Individual Intercultural- Eloise Franklin

Reserve Champion- Megan Harms

Interior Design:

Champion Interior Design- Heather Boeke

Reserve Champion- Jessalyn Johnson

Leadership:

Champion GROUP Leadership- Midway Marvels 4-H Club

Champion Individual Leadership- Angelina Sirianni

Reserve Champion- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Natural Resources:

Champion Natural Resources- Angelina Siranni

Champion Sport Fishing- Cayden Stewart

Photography:

Champion Photography 1- Evan Cordell

Reserve Champion- Lyla Rodriguez

Champion Photography 2- Carlie Harms

Reserve Champion- Oscar Pagles

Champion Photography 3- Natalie Harms

Reserve Champion- Megan Harms

Champion Photo Editing- Maxmillian Vogrinc

Reserve Champion- Amelia Vogrinc

Grand Champion Photography- Carlie Harms

Reserve Grand Champion- Natalie Harms

Plant & Soil Sciences:

Champion Cover Crops- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Public Presentations: 

Champion Public Presentations Beginner- Addison Coke

Champion Public Presentation Advanced- Claire Hopkins

Reserve Champion- Kathleen Harrington

Robotics:

Champion Robotics- Jaxon Ketchum

Shooting Sports:

Champion Rifle Display- Peter Bageanis

Reserve Champion- Malachaih Miller

Small Engines & Tractor:

Champion Small Engines- Jacob Wolfe

Reserve Champion- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Champion Tractor- Abbigail Combs

Theatre Arts:

Champion Theatre Arts- Live Performance- Amelia McCray-Grotto

Reserve Champion- Lillian Klinger

Champion Theatre Arts Display- Maximillian Vogrinc

Reserve Champion- Lela Pagles

Veterinary Science:

Champion Vet Science- Megan Harms

Visual Arts:

Champion 3D Mixed Media- Natalie Harms

Reserve Champion- Lily Nestler

Champion Cake Decorating- Cheyenne Mech

Reserve Champion- Oscar Pagles

Champion Chalk, Carbon, Pigment A- Andrew Halsted

            Reserve Champion- Lydia Wolfe

Champion Chalk, Carbon, Pigment B- Natalie Harms

            Reserve Champion- Natalie Harms

Champion Clay- Lily Nestler

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Computer Generated Art- Nadia Brown

            Reserve Champion- Lyla Rodriguez

Champion Fiber- Anna Zimmerman

            Reserve Champion- Holly Daly

Champion Fiber Ages 8-10 (non-original)- Sophie Bland

Champion Glass, Plastic- Emma Coke

            Reserve Champion- Sophie Bland

Champion Heritage Arts- Lydia Wolfe

            Reserve Champion- Amelia Vogrinc

Champion Leather- Thomas Nestler

            Reserve Champion- Isaiah Furer

Champion Metal- Oscar Pagles

            Reserve Champion- Evangeline Anderson

Champion Nature- Isabella Reed

            Reserve Champion- Carlie Harms

Champion 2D Paper- Megan Harms

            Reserve Champion- Izzy Bland

Champion 3D Paper- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Champion- Lily Nestler

Champion You Can Quilt- Lauren Hart

            Reserve Champion- Lauren Hart

Champion Scrapbooking- Megan Harms

            Reserve Champion- Emma Daly

Champion Wood- Lily Nestler

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Welding:

Champion Welding- Abbigail Combs

            Reserve Champion- Wyatt Johnston

Woodworking:

Champion Woodworking 2- Ivy Nelson

            Reserve Champion- Isabella Reed

Cloverbud Participants

Tennyson Anderson

Henry Combs

Sayleen Cornell

Jack Dixon

Jameson Doll

Ellieana Garrison

Rebecca Hopkins

Audra Johnson

Mason Johnson

Jackson Lanza

Maybelle Mech

Cole Moore

Porter Moore

Vivian Pederson

Bosco Vogrinc

William Vogrinc

Winnebago County 4-H Animal & Livestock Results

Beef:

Champion Beef Bucket Calf- Jaxon Ketchum

Champion Simmental Female- Kaeden Langholf

Champion Cross-Bred Female- Amber Lee

            Reserve Champion- Blake Linder

Grand Champion Overall Breeding Beef- Amber Lee

            Reserve Grand Champion- Blake Linder

Champion Senior Showmanship- Amber Lee

            Reserve Champion- Aurora Hilton

Champion Intermediate Showmanship- Zaedyn Stirling

            Reserve Champion- Penelope Anderson

Champion Junior Showmanship- Carson Kruse

            Reserve Champion- Graham Geddes

Champion Market Heifer- Penelope Anderson

            Reserve Champion- Evie Anderson

Champion Cross-Bred Steer- Amber Lee

            Reserve Champion- Carson Kruse

Grand Champion Overall Steer- Amber Lee

            Reserve Grand Champion- Carson Kruse

Rate of Gain-  First Place- Ryan Weber- 4.15 pounds per day

                        Second Place- Kaeden Langholf- 3.31 pounds per day

                        Third Place- Carson Kruse- 2.95 pounds per day

Cat:

Grand Champion Cat Overall- Isabella Reed

            Reserve Grand Champion- Isabella Reed

Champion Male Cat- Isabella Reed

Champion Female Cat- Isabella Reed

Champion Short-Hair Neutered Male- Savannah Cornell

Champion Short-Hair Spayed Female- Sarenity Cornell

Dairy:

Junior Champion Registered Holstein- Emma Lenkatis

            Reserve Champion- Makenzy Zimmerman

Senior Champion Registered Holstein- Kaydence West

            Reserve Champion- Luke Zimmerman

Grand Champion Registered Holstein- Kaydence West

            Reserve Grand Champion- Luke Zimmerman

Junior Champion All Other Breeds- Hailey Kinney

            Reserve Champion- Makenzy Zimmerman

Senior Champion All Other Breeds- Hailey Kinney

            Reserve Champion- Luke Zimmerman

Grand Champion All Other Breeds- Hailey Kinney

            Reserve Grand Champion- Luke Zimmerman

Grand Champion Overall Dairy Calf- Makenzy Zimmerman

            Reserve Grand Champion- Makenzy Zimmerman

Champion Club Herd- Hailey Kinney- New England Banner

Champion Junior Showmanship- Harper Kinney

            Reserve Champion- Blake Perrot

Champion Intermediate Showmanship- Hailey Kinney

            Reserve Champion- Alexis Kuhlmeier

Champion Senior Showmanship- Alaina Warkentien

            Reserve Champion- Hailey Kinney

Grand Champion Mitchell Memorial Showmanship Winner- Alaina Warkentien

            Reserve Grand Champion- Hailey Kinney

Dog:

Champion Obedience Beginner Novice- Isabella Reed

            Reserve Champion- Jaxon Ketchum

Champion Pre-Novice Obedience- Ava Ackerman

Champion Novice Obedience- Sophie Thomann

Champion Graduate Novice- Obedience- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Rally Novice- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Champion- Sophie Thomann

Champion Junior Showmanship- Sophie Thomann

            Reserve Champion- Isabella Reed

Champion Senior Showmanship- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Champion- Ava Ackerman

Champion Dog Costume- Cheyenne Mech

Goats:

Grand Champion Meat Goat- Ava Ackerman

            Reserve Grand Champion- Emma Johnson

Grand Champion Dairy Goat- Khyler Christen

            Reserve Grand Champion- Amelia Vogrinc

Grand Champion Costume- Emma Johnson

            Reserve Grand Champion- Ava Ackerman

Grand Champion Junior Showmanship- Emma Johnson 

            Reserve Grand Champion- Maxmillian Vogrinc

Grand Champion Intermediate Showmanship- Khyler Christen

            Reserve Grand Champion- Aksel Ackerman

Grand Champion Senior Showmanship- Ava Ackerman

Horse:

Grand Champion Overall Novice (High Point)- Paisley Anderson

            Reserve Grand Champion- Keagan Milelr

Grand Champion Overall Junior (High Point)- Jennika Bausic

            Reserve Grand Champion- Ashlynn Carlson

Grand Champion Overall Senior (High Point)- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Grand Champion- Ella Vice

Champion Junior “Vern Funnel Memorial” Showmanship- Ashlynn Calrson

            Reserve Champion- Jennika Bausic

Champion Novice “Shirley Hall Memorial” Showmanship- Paisley Anderson

            Reserve Champion- Keagan Miller

Champion Senior “Marian Carter Memorial” Showmanship- Ella Vice

            Reserve Champion- Brooke Boehm

Champion AQHA Halter- Ella Vice

Champion Spotted Horse Halter- Ashelynn Carlson

            Reserve Champion- Ella Vice

Champion Open Horse Halter- Brooke Boehm

            Reserve Champion- Jennika Bausic

Champion Novice Halter- Paisley Anderson

            Reserve Champion- Keagan Miller

Champion Open Pony Halter- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Champion- Isabella Reed

Grand Champion Halter Horse- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brooke Boehm

Champion Hunt Seat Equitation- Cheyenne Mech

Champion English Pleasure- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Novice Walk-Trot Pleasure- Keagan Miller

            Reserve Champion- Paisley Anderson

Champion Walk-Trot Pleasure- Ashlynn Carlson

            Reserve Champion- Brooke Boehm

Champion Novice Walk-Trot Equitation- Paisley Anderson

Champion Senior Horse Pleaseure- Jennika Bausic

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Western Pleasure (Exhibitors 14 and under)- Jennika Bausic

Champion Western Pleasure (Exhibitors 15 & older)- Ella Vice

Champion Open Bareback Pleasure- Jennika Bausic

Champion Pole Bending- Ella Vice

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Novice Pole Bending- Paisley Anderson

Champion Horse Barrels- Ella Vice

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Novice Barrels- Paisley Anderson

Champion Horse Flag Race- Jennika Bausic

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Novice Flag Race- Paisley Anderson

Champion Horse Plug- Jennika Bausic

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Novice Plug- Paisley Anderson

Champion Costume- Isabella Reed

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Novice Trail- Paisley Anderson

Champion Junior Trail- Jennika Bausic

            Reserve Champion- Ashlynn Carlson

Champion Senior Trail- Cheyenne Mech

            Reserve Champion- Ella Vice

Poultry:

Champion Pair of Game Bantams- Landon Hopkins

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Pair- Any Single Comb Clean Legged Other than Game Bantam- Fernando Rodriguez

Champion Pair of Pullets (Heavy Breed)- Ella Vice

            Reserve Champion- Landon Hopkins

Grand Champion Pen of Laying Hens- Landon Hopkins

            Reserve Grand Champion- Thomas Nestler

Champion Pair of American Class Chickens- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Pair of Feather Legged Bantam- Landon Hopkins

Champion Pair of English Class Chickens- Ella Vice

Champion Pair of Other Standard Breed Chickens- Ella Vice

            Reserve Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Grand Champion Egg Production Project- Landon Hopkins

            Reserve Grand Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Grand Champion Rooster Crowing Contest- Landon Hopkins

            Reserve Grand Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Grand Champion Overall Pair/ Pen of Chickens- Ella Vice

            Reserve Grand Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Grand Champion Bantam Chickens- Landon Hopkins

            Reserve Grand Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Grand Champion Ducks- Madison Brown

Grand Champion Junior Showmanship- Landon Hopkins

            Reserve Grand Champion- Gilberto Rodriguz

Grand Champion Intermediate Showmanship- Lily Nestler

            Reserve Grand Champion- Thomas Nestler

Grand Champion Senior Showmanship- Cheyenne Mech

Rabbits:

Purebred Classes:

Grand Champion Best in Show Overall Rabbit- Addyson Hayunga

            Reserve Grand Champion- Isabella Reed

Market Classes:

Grand Champion Best Rabbit Project- Addyson Hayunga

Rabbit Showmanship Classes:

Champion Junior Showmanship- Isabella Reed

Champion Senior Showmanship- Cheyenne Mech

Purebred Cavies:

Champion Senior Cavy- Cheyenne Mech

Best in Show Cavies (Purebred)- Cheyenne Mech

Small Pet:

Champion Pet Rabbit- Robert Dady

Champion Hamster- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Hedgehog- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Reptile- Thomas Nestler

Grand Champion Small Pet- Robert Dady

            Reserve Grand Champion- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Small Pet Intermediate Showmanship- Thomas Nestler

Champion Small Pet Senior Showmanship- Cheyenne Mech

Champion Small Pets Costume- Lily Hilton

Champion Cavy Costume- Cheyenne Mech

Sheep:

Champion Black Faced Market Lamb- Ashlynn Carlson

            Reserve Champion- Mason Peterson

Grand Champion Market Lamb- Ashlynn Carlson

            Reserve Grand Champion- Mason Peterson

Champion Pair of Black Faced Market Lambs- Ashlynn Carlson

            Reserve Champion- Jessalyn Johnson

Grand Champion Pair of Market Lambs- Ashlynn Carlson

            Reserve Grand Champion- Jessalyn Johnson

Champion Junior Showmanship- Ashlynn Carlson

Champion Senior Showmanship- Mason Peterson

Champion Suffolk Ram- Denton Shank

            Reserve Champion- Ayden Shank

Champion Suffolk Ewe- Denton Shank

            Reserve Champion- Dillon Shank

Champion Southdown Ram- Mason Peterson

Champion Southdown Ewe- Mason Peterson

Champion All Other Breeds Ram- Ayden Shank

            Reserve Champion- Ayden Shank

Champion All Other Breeds Ewe- Ayden Shank

            Reserve Champion- Ayden Shank

Champion Shropshire Ram- Mason Peterson

            Reserve Champion- Mason Peterson

Champion Stropshire Ewe- Mason Peterson

            Reserve Champion- Mason Peterson

Grand Champion Ram- Denton Shank

            Reserve Grand Champion- Ayden Shank

Grand Champion Ewe- Ayden Shank

            Reserve Grand Champion- Denton Shank

Swine:

Grand Champion Junior Showmanship- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Wade Pederson

Grand Champion Intermediate Showmanship- Addy Miller

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brock Lilja

Grand Champion Senior Showmanship- Samantha Abate

            Reserve Grand Champion- Kyla Warkentein

Grand Champion Lightweight Crossbred Single Barrow- Paisley Anderson

Grand Champion Middleweight Crossbred Single Barrow- Brock Lilja

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brdy Moore

Grand Champion Heavyweight Crossbred Single Barrow- Brock Lilja

            Reserve Grand Champion- Wade Pederson

Grand Champion Crossbred Single Barrow- Brock Lilja

            Reserve Grand Champion- Paisley Anderson

Grand Champion Single Purebred Barrow- Addy Miller

            Reserve Grand Champion- Paisley Anderson

Grand Champion Purebred Red Barrow- Addy Miller

            Reserve Grand Champion- Payton Anderson

Grand Champion Purebred White Barrow- Paisley Anderson

            Reserve Grand Champion- Trey Brown

Grand Champion Purebred Black Barrow- Addy Miller

            Reserve Grand Champion- Landon Hopkins

Grand Champion Barrow Overall- Addy Miller

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brock Lilja

Grand Champion Pair of Barrows- Paisley Anderson

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brock Lilja

Grand Champion Lightweight Crossbred Single Gilt- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Kyla Warkentien

Grand Champion Middleweight Crossbred Single Gilt- Alaina Warkentien

            Reserve Grand Champion- Jack Abate

Grand Champion Heavyweight Crossbred Single Gilt- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brock Lilja

Grand Champion Single Purebred Market Gilt- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Addy Miller

Grand Champion Purebred Red Market Gilt- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Trey Brown

Grand Champion Purebred White Market Gilt- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Samantha Abate

Grand Champion Purebred Black Market Gilt- Addy Miller

            Reserve Grand Champion- Wade Pederson

Grand Champion Gilt Overall- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brock Lilja

Grand Champion Pair of Gilts- Trey Brown

            Reserve Grand Champion- Brock Lilja

Enrollment for the 2024-2025 4-H year opens on October 1st. To learn more about 4-H experiences in Winnebago County, please contact Becky Gocken at 815-986-4357 or email at rgocken@illinois.edu.

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.