Webster County 4-H’ers earned awards for their efforts in several areas at the 2021 Iowa State Fair. It is an honor to have an exhibit selected for the Iowa State Fair. These projects were selected at the Webster County Fair in July.

“Counties send many beautiful examples of skill mastery in all categories,” said Mitch Hoyer, program coordinator for Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. ”4-H’ers received placings on their exhibits based on how well they meet their goals and on the evaluation standards set for a particular item.”

Webster County exhibitors and their awards follow:

Emma Alstott, Fort Dodge, Horticulture and Plant Science, 2 Blue.

Megan Anderson, Vincent, Photography, Blue.

Bianca Aquino, Humboldt, 4-H Poster, Seal of Merit

Annalise Cobb, Callender, Photography, Blue.

Jubilee Cunigan, Dayton, Photography, Blue.

Julia Eastman, Fort Dodge, $10 Meal Challenge, White.

Harley Eckert, Lehigh, Visual Art, Blue.

Nolan Eslick, Lehigh, Woodworking, Blue.

Morgan Farnham, Gowrie, Citizenship, White; Food & Nutrition, Blue.

Josie Harvey, Fort Dodge, Visual Art, Blue.

Jacob Muench, Ogden, Crop Production, Blue, Iowa Department of Ag and Land Stewardship Award.

Luke Muench, Ogden, Other Agriculture & Natural Resources, Red; 4-H Poster, Seal of Merit.

Aiden Nelson, Clare, Woodworking, Blue.

Alexis Peterson, Callender, Food & Nutrition, Blue; Consumer Management, Blue.

Hailey Rees, Duncombe, Self-Determined, Blue.

Nathan Rethwisch, Fort Dodge, Food & Nutrition, Red; Home Improvement, Blue; Sewing, Red; Photography, Blue.

Aviela Savov, Fort Dodge, Visual Art, Blue.

Mykaela Stuhrenberg, Fort Dodge, Visual Art, Blue.

Mykenzie Stuhrenberg, Fort Dodge, Photography, Blue.

Emma Sytsma, Harcourt, Woodworking, Blue.

Sylvia Wacholtz, Fort Dodge, Photography, Blue, Professional Photographers of Iowa Gallery Award (Top 20).

Zoey Wacholtz, Fort Dodge, Photography, Red.

Keaton Wittrock, Barnum, Woodworking, Blue.

Logan Wittrock, Barnum, Photography, Blue.

Webster County 4-H’ers also participated in the 4-H Awardrobe Clothing Event for Fashion Revue, and $15 Challenge for the Iowa State Fair. The event was held on Thursday, Aug. 12 in the Youth Inn at the Iowa State Fair.

The Awardrobe Clothing Event is an Iowa State Fair 4-H event that provides youth participants with opportunities to showcase their apparel design and production knowledge, as well as creativity skills. During the event, youth participated in hands-on educational workshops; learned more about potential career opportunities in the field of apparel, merchandising and design; and engaged in a service learning activity. The youth also completed an interview with a judge and model selected or constructed garments in a public runway show.

“4-H participants in the Awardrobe Clothing Event are evaluated on their oral and written communication skills through a written report and one-on-one interview with a judge. The youth are also evaluated on their fashion goals, choice of clothing, knowledge of the garment as well as their poise and confidence displayed while modeling their outfits,” said Bonnie Dalager, Youth Program Specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development.

The youth participate in three categories: Clothing Selection–participants select or purchase an outfit for a specific occasion; Fashion Revue–garment is constructed, hand-knitted, machine-knitted or crocheted by a participant; and The $15 Challenge–4-H’er purchases an outfit for $15 or less from garage sales, consignment shops or clothing resale stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

Youth in grades 9-12 who compete in the 4-H fashion classes at the Webster County Fair can be awarded a special recognition opportunity to participate in the state fair Awardrobe Clothing Event.

Emma Alstott, Josie Novencido, and Ignatius Kirby, all of Fort Dodge participated in Clothing Selection. Amelia Rake, of Vincent and Ashlyn Wacholtz, of Fort Dodge, participated in Fashion Revue. Nathan Rethwisch, of Fort Dodge, participated in the $15 Challenge. They all received participation ribbons.

Emma Alstott earned a top-five class award for her Clothing Selection entry. The recognition includes a certificate and gift card.

Ashlyn Wacholtz was one of two recipients of a specialty award sponsored by The Central Iowa Sewing Guild for excellence in the fashion revue (constructed garment) class.