Kane 4-H'ers take multitude of prizes at the state fair

Forty 4-H'ers from throughout Kane County sent their award-winning projects from the Kane County Fair to compete in the 4-H division at the 2007 Illinois State Fair.

• The following youth won Awards of Excellence: Morgan Bollech of Kingston and Brian Stuehler of Hampshire, Woodworking; Kimberly Braddock of St. Charles, Breads and Cereals; Rachel Clack of St. Charles, Hayden Gill of Elgin, Tyler Gullickson of Batavia, and Rebecca Helmke of Geneva, Visual Arts; Jimmy Dieckhoff of Elgin, Small Engines; Mitchell Dieckhoff of Elgin, Sports Fishing; Sean Flamand of Kaneville, Forestry; Wayne Gehrke of Elgin, Sewing and Textiles; J.C. Gillett of Elburn, Joshua Olsen of Elgin, and Amber Wesner of St. Charles, Photography; Rebecca Herrmann of Batavia, Animal Science; Kevin Huber of Sugar Grove, Computer Science; St. Charles residents Kendra Knorst and Leah Knorst, Theatre Arts; Justin Koukol of Elgin, Geology; Julia Laski of Aurora, Clothing and Textiles; Hampshire residents Kelli Linder and Meghan Linder, Interior Design; Scott Mann of Elgin, Horticulture; Nathan Suire of Elgin, Foods and Nutrition; and Carolyn Thompson of St. Charles, Child Development.

• The following youth received Superior Awards: Meredith Ament of Maple Park, Melissa Brown of Huntley and Paige Knorst of St. Charles, Visual Arts; Kevin Becker, Hampshire, Electronics; Elizabeth Bretscher of Elgin, Citizenship; Carolyn Gehrke of Elgin, Sewing and Textiles; Ashley Gullickson of Batavia and Eric Lehrer of Big Rock, Leadership; Stephanie Horton of St. Charles, Animal Science; Cassandra Koukol of Elgin, Geology; Brittany Lake of Maple Park, Horticulture; Jillian Martin of Elgin, Service Learning; Anna Sestak of Big Rock, Financial Champions; Larisa Sica of Elgin, Foods and Nutrition; and Elizabeth Thompson of St. Charles, Child Development

The following Kane County 4-H'ers participated in action-oriented exhibits at the Illinois State Fair on Aug. 12-13:

• Awards of Excellence: Elizabeth Bretscher of Elgin, JC Gillett of Elburn, Luke Bretscher of Elgin and Larisa Sica of Elgin, Public Presentations; and Maxwell Zine of Aurora, Visual Arts.

• Superior Awards: Joshua DeDina of Hampshire, Bicycle Safety and Sports Fishing; Nicole Collins of Geneva, Rebecca Wede of Elgin, Joshua Zine of Oswego and Maxwell Zine of Aurora, Foods and Nutrition; Carolyn Gehrke of Elgin and Rachel McCoy of St. Charles, Fashion Revue; Madison Mortenson of Batavia, Public Presentations; and St. Charles residents Bailey Paskey, Veronica Riva, Jacob Urben and Sam Urben, Intercultural-Club Display

In addition to project exhibits, talented 4-H members from throughout Illinois shared their talent during the annual Performance Showcase at the 2007 Illinois State Fair.

Youth performed various dances and songs at the event, held in the Illinois Building on the state fairgrounds Aug. 12. 4-H members auditioned for the performance by submitting a videotape.

There were 15 entries this year. Locally, Dean Wheatley of Elgin performed a jazz saxophone solo and Paige Knorst of St. Charles performed a piano solo in the event.

Several Kane County 4-H'ers also competed in the various animal/livestock events at the Illinois State Fair.

Below is a summary of the results in the Junior Horse and Pony Show.

• In the English and Western Division 5, Cara Clarkson of Elgin won first place in Pattern Riding, Pony or Horse, exhibitor 15 to 18 years old. In the Hunter Horse Division 2, she won first place in Handy Hunter Over Fences horses over 58 inches, exhibitor-any age, and Hunt Seat Equitation over fences over 58 inches, exhibitor 15 to 18 years old. She won second place in Hunter Hack Horses over 58 inches, exhibitor any age. She won third place in Dressage Training Level, Test 4, Exhibitor 15-18 years.

• In the Hunter Horse Division 2, Alexandria Nelson of Batavia won second place in Handy Hunter Over Fences horses over 58 inches, exhibitor any age, and Traditional Hunter Under Saddle, horses over 58 inches, exhibitor 15 to 16 years old.

• In the Hunter Horse Division 2, Deidre Cwian of St. Charles won first place in Hunter Hack Horses over 58 inches, exhibitor any age, and Traditional Hunter Under Saddle, horses over 58 inches, exhibitor 15-16 years old. She also won third place in Hunt Seat Equitation over fences over 58 inches, exhibitor 15 to 18 years old.

• In the Hunter Horse Division 2, Morgan Parisek of Elgin won third place in the Handy Hunter Over Fences horses over 58 inches, exhibitor any age.

• In the Hunter Horse Division 2, Amanda Richardson of Plato Center won third place in Hunter Showmanship, exhibitor 10-12 years, pony or horse.

• In the Hunter Horse Division 2, Haley Patzer of St. Charles won third place in Traditional Hunter Under Saddle, horses over 58 inches, exhibitor 15-16 years old.

• In the Pony Hunter Division 1, Lexy Parisek of Elgin was named Reserve Champion. She won first place in Hunt Seat Equitation on the flat not over 58 inches, Hunter Conformation ponies not over 58 inches, and Pony Hunter Hack not over 58 inches. She won third place in Pony Hunter under saddle not over 58 inches. In the Versatility Class, she won second place in Barrel Race and third place in Pattern Riding. In the Western Horse Division 6, she won first place in Western Showmanship, pony or horse, exhibitor 10-12 years old.

• In the Pony Hunter Division 1, Kylie Clarkson of Elgin won first place in Hunt Seat Equitation over fences not over 58 inches, Pony Handy Hunter over fences not over 58 inches and Pony Hunter over fences not over 58 inches. In the Western Pony Division 4, she won third place in Western Pony Pleasure not over 56 inches.

• In the Pony Hunter Division 1, Amanda Richardson of Plato Center won second place in the Hunter Conformation ponies not over 58 inches and third place in Pony Handy Hunter over fences not over 58 inches.

• In the Pony Hunter Division 1, Katherine Kull of St. Charles won third place in Intermediate Hunter Equitation over fences, Pony or Horse.

• In the Pony Hunter Division 1, JaneAnn Monson of Batavia won third place in Intermediate Hunter over fences, Pony or Horse.

• In the Pony Hunter Division 1, Maddie Marucco of St. Charles won second place in Pony Hunter Hack not over 58 inches.

• In the Western Horse Division 6, Ashley Nicole Ritter of Elburn won first place in Conformation Stock Horse, 2 to 3 year old, geldings over 56 inches. She won second place in Conformation Stock Horse, 2 to 3 year old, mares over 56 inches.

• In the Western Horse Division 6, Morgan Parisek of Elgin won third place in Western Showmanship, pony or horse, exhibitor 15-16 years old.

Below is a summary of the results in the Junior Beef Show.

• Dan Hartmann of Maple Park received the Junior Reserve Grand Champion Steer and Reserve Champion Steer. He also won second place in Crossbred Steer, 1,342-1,362 pounds.

• Emily Carson of Maple Park won first place in Crossbred Steer, 1,234-1,258 pounds; second place in Crossbred Steer, 1,364-1,381 pounds; and third place in Angus Steer, 1,304-1,318 pounds.

• Ben Craig of Sandwich won third place in Shorthorn Steer, 1,096-1,179 pounds.

• Danielle Engel of Marengo won second place in Shorthorn Steer, 1,213-1,273 pounds.

• Pete Peterson of Shabbona won third place in Crossbred Steer, 1,260-1,267 pounds.

• Sarah Carson of Maple Park won second place in Crossbred Steer, 1,386-1,578 pounds.

• Adam Almburg of Malta won second place in All Other Breeds Heifer, born between May 3-30, 2006.

• Leah Horton of St. Charles received Champion Shorthorn Heifer; she also won first place in Shorthorn Heifer, born May 5-21, 2006.

• Katie Horton of St. Charles won second place in Shorthorn Heifer, born Jan. 1-30, 2006; and third place in Shorthorn Heifer, born Jan. 1-30, 2006.

Below is a summary of the results in the Junior Swine Show.

• Victoria Krueger of Sycamore was named Grades and Crossbreds Champion, Grades and Crossbreds Reserve Champion and second runner-up in Supreme Gilt. She won first place in Crossbred Gilts, 237-254 pounds. She won first and second place in Crossbred Gilts, 293-338 pounds. She won second place in Crossbred Barrow, 243-248 pounds.

• Brittney Hankes of Maple Park won third place in Yorkshire Barrow, 258-265 pounds.

Below is a summary of the results in the Junior Dairy Show in the Holstein division.

• Michael Drendel of Hampshire won second place in Spring Yearling Heifer, calved March 1 to May 31, 2006; and 4-year-old cow, calved Sept. 1, 2002 to Aug. 31, 2003. He won third place in 2-year-old cow, calved Sept. 1, 2004 to Aug. 31, 2005; and Spring Heifer Calf, calved after Feb. 28, 2007 and over 4 months of age.

• Alec Zierer of St. Charles received Grand Champion Female, Reserve Junior Champion Female and Senior Champion Female. He won first place in 5-year-old and over cow, calved before Sept. 1, 2002; and Spring Yearling Heifer, calved between March 1 and May 31, 2006.

In the Junior Poultry Show, Josh DeDina of Hampshire won first place in Bantams, Pullet, and second place in Bantams, Cockerel.

4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H, stop by the University of Illinois Extension in Kane County at 535 S. Randall Road in St. Charles. Or call (630) 584-6166. The office hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.