Webster County 4-H’ers received top honors at the Iowa State Fair last month in livestock, communications, and static exhibits.

Communications

4-H’ers participated in three categories of oral communication: educational presentations, working exhibits and extemporaneous speaking. In educational presentations, the 4-H’ers taught their audience about a topic they selected and researched. In working exhibits, they invited fairgoers to try a skill as they demonstrate, and in extemporaneous speaking, the 4-H’ers prepared a speech in 30 minutes and delivered it to an audience.

“Almost any time fairgoers come into the 4-H Exhibits Building they can learn from a 4-H’er participating in a communications activity,” said Mitchell Hoyer, program leader for Iowa State University Extension 4-H Youth Development. “Effective communication means appealing to the interests of your audience.”

Webster County presenters and the results of their efforts follow:

Educational Presentations

Cora Anderson, Fort Dodge — Merit

Kaci McGonegle, Fort Dodge — Merit

Kara McGonegle, Fort Dodge — Excellence

Mae Pokorny, Fort Dodge — Recognition

Jennifer Touney, Fort Dodge — Excellence

Extemporaneous Speaking

Kara McGonegle, Fort Dodge — Excellence

Share the Fun

Aiden Anderson, Paton — Participation

Aviela Savov, Fort Dodge — Participation

Working Exhibits

Bellah and Bianca Aquino, Humboldt — Excellence

Blessing and Xavier Cunigan, Dayton — Excellence

Caleb and Emma Hayes, Dayton — Excellence

Jacob Nieland, Fort Dodge — Excellence

Livestock

Webster County 4-H youths again showed livestock during the first and second week of the Iowa State Fair.

“Youth gain so many positive skills by exhibiting livestock,” said Celine Beggs-Shoemaker, 4-H agriculture superintendent. “The dedication, responsibility, decision-making and leadership they develop can prepare them for careers that utilize these skills.”

Webster County exhibitors placed as follows:

Horses

Brock Norine, Moorland, received a blue for Intermediate Barrel Racing; and a blue for Intermediate Pole Bending.

Sheep

Grace Kauffman, Harcourt, received a blue for Black Face Commercial Ewes; a purple for Black Face Market Lambs, 2nd In Class; a blue for Junior Showmanship.

Joe Kauffman, Harcourt, received a blue for Black Face Commercial Ewes; a blue for Senior Showmanship.

Alexis Peterson, Callender, received two blues for Black Face Commercial Ewes; blue for Black Face Market Lambs; a blue for Senior Showmanship.

Blaine Peterson, Callender, received two blues for Black Face Commercial Ewes; a blue for Black Face Market Lambs; and a purple for Intermediate Showmanship, 3rd In Class 3rd Showmanship Honorable Mention.

Beef

Aleah Anderson, Pilot Mound, received a purple for Angus Breeding Beef, 3rd in Class; and a blue for Senior Showmanship.

Swine

Brinlynn Alliger, Gowrie, a blue for Market Duroc; a purple for Crossbred Market Barrow, 1st In Class; a blue for Junior Showmanship.

Brylee Alliger, Gowrie, received a purple for Crossbred Market Gilt; one purple, one blue for Crossbred Market Barrow, 1st In Class, Champion Lightweight Market Barrow; a blue for

Intermediate Showmanship.

Rabbit

Kensley Cox, Paton, received a purple for Roasters; a blue for Meat Pens; a blue for Sr. Buck Commercial, 3rd In Class; one purple, one blue for Sr. Doe Commercial, 1st in Class, Best of Breed; a blue for Intermediate Doe Commercial, 2nd In Class; a purple for Sr. Doe Fancy, 1st In Class, Best of Variety.

Gracie Kallansrud, Lehigh, received a blue for Novice Showmanship, a blue for Novice

Premier Rabbit Breeder; one blue, one red for Senior Buck Fancy; two blues for Senior Doe Fancy, 3rd in Class; a purple for Junior Buck Fancy, 1st In Class, Best of Breed, Best of Group, Best of Variety.

Goats

Emma Wilson, Dayton, received four first-place Class Awards, one 2nd In Class Award, one Reserve Champion Award and one Grand Champion Award for her Dairy Goats.

“During the 4-H program year, members set goals for themselves, and work in partnership with caring adult volunteers and mentors to develop their skills in each of their project areas,” said Brooke McKibban, county youth coordinator at the ISU Extension and Outreach Webster County office. “We’re pleased that these Webster County 4-H members have chosen to showcase their successes in project area learning at the Iowa State Fair.”

Static Exhibits

Webster County 4-H’ers earned awards for their efforts in several areas at the 2024 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 leader 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:

Turner Ahlers, Callender, Electric, blue.

Aiden Anderson, Paton, Food Preservation, blue.

Camille Banks, Fort Dodge, Food and Nutrition, blue.

Charlotte Blair, Dayton, Food, blue.

Wyatt Blair, Dayton, Tractor Display, blue, International Harvester (IH) Collectors Club Award.

Annalise Cobb, Callender, Photography, blue, Professional Photographers of Iowa (PPI) Gallery Award.

Corbin Eslick, Lehigh, Other Ag, blue; Photography, red.

Grant Farnham, Gowrie, Crop Production, blue; Photography, blue.

Adalyn Ford, Fort Dodge, Home Improvement, blue.

Alex Guddall, Fort Dodge, Entomology, blue.

Sara Grace Haney, Fort Dodge, Sewing and Needle Arts, blue.

Emma Hayes, Burnside, Child Development, blue.

Karah Hayes, Dayton, Visual Art, red.

Paige Holmes, Dayton, Visual Art, red.

Emma Johnson, Palmer, Home Improvement, blue.

Kaleb, Johnson, Fort Dodge, Woodworking, blue.

Maxwell Johnson, Fort Dodge, Home Improvement, blue.

Gracie Kallansrud, Lehigh, Photography, blue.

Joe Kauffman, Harcourt, Welding, blue; Woodworking, blue.

James Kavanaugh, Fort Dodge, Welding, blue.

Lyra Lane, Fort Dodge, Visual Art, red.

Kara McGonegle, Fort Dodge, Music, red; Photography, blue; Health, red.

Luke Muench, Ogden, Photography, red; 4-H Poster, Seal of Merit.

Lillian Newell, Callender, Sewing and Needle Arts, blue.

Mason Newell, Callender, Photography, blue; Visual Art, blue.

Brock Norine, Moorland, Photography, blue; Visual Art, purple, Judge’s Choice Award.

Alexis Peterson, Callender, Self Determined, blue.

Blaine Peterson, Callender, Consumer Management, blue; Food Educational Display, blue.

Grant Peterson, Dayton, Photography, blue.

Hailey Rees, Duncombe, Citizenship, blue.

Aviela Savov, Fort Dodge, Photography, blue; Visual Art, blue.

Kenley Spece, Gowrie, 4-H Poster, Seal of Merit.

Haley Stewart, Otho, Food and Nutrition, blue.

Jennifer Touney, Fort Dodge, Home Improvement, blue.

Molly VanSickle, Dayton, Food and Nutrition, blue.

Benjamin Wanat, Gowrie, Sewing and Needle Arts, blue.

Tyler Wanat, Gowrie, Home Improvement, blue.

Hanna Wicklein, Gowrie, Thrifty Meal Challenge, red.

Jacob Wicklein, Otho, Woodworking, blue.

Madelyn Wittrock, Woodworking, red.

Webster County 4-H’ers also participated in the 4-H Wardrobe Clothing Event for Clothing Selection, Fashion Revue, and $15 Challenge for the Iowa State Fair. The event was held on Aug. 8 in the Youth Inn at the Iowa State Fair.

The Wardrobe 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, youths 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 youths also completed an interview with a judge and model selected or constructed garments in a public runway show.

“4-H participants in the Wardrobe 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 youths 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; $20 Challenge — 4-H’er purchases an outfit for $20 or less from garage sales, consignment shops or clothing resale stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army; and Innovative Design — participants create a theatrical costume, cosplay, wearable technology, sustainable/upcycled fashion, and/or outfits that use unconventional materials.

Youths 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 Wardrobe Clothing Event.

Aianna Kirby, of Fort Dodge, participated in Clothing Selection. Bianca Aquino, of Humboldt, participated in Fashion Revue. Josie Novencido and Sydney Novencido, both of Fort Dodge, participated in the $20 Challenge. They all received participation ribbons.