While 2020 and COVID-19 have challenged youth in the DeKalb County 4-H program, the 4-H staff and volunteers have continued to encourage members to complete their 4-H projects and prepare them for exhibit.
In a typical year, 4-H members would demonstrate their knowledge at in-person summer shows and fairs. This year, members transitioned to an online virtual show. 4-H members submitted a slide show or photos of their completed projects as well as a written project report. The judges reviewed the photos and reports virtually and assigned each project a ribbon and provided comments.
Seventy-one 4-H members participated in the virtual general projects show and they exhibited a total of 135 projects. Judges also selected projects to receive special recognition such as plaques, gifts and rosette ribbons. The projects selected to represent DeKalb County at the State Fair will be judged in August using the same online format. To view the award winning projects go to: https://extension.illinois.edu/bdo/4-h-dekalb-county.
Following are the 2020 General Project Show results:
Consumer Ed State Fair Delegate: Hailey Ruhl
Interior Design State Fair Delegates: Danica Ward and Jelina Martinez
Interior Design State Fair Alternate: Alexandra Lopez
Family Heritage State Fair Delegate: Lillian Kushnik
Family Heritage State Fair Alternate: Hailey Ruhl
Small Engines State Fair Delegate: Fredrick Nickels
Tractors State Fair Delegate: Fredrick Nickels
Floriculture State Fair Delegates: Lewis Anderson and Charles Anderson
Floriculture State Fair Alternate: Jelina Martinez
Vegetable Gardening State Fair Delegates: Lewis Anderson and Charles Anderson
Natural Resources State Fair Delegates: Lane Schumacher and Max Lo
Best Environment plaque: Max Lo
Foods & Nutrition State Fair Delegates: Shelby Johnsen, John Riley, Brett Helgeson and Mackenzie Condon
Foods & Nutrition State Fair Alternates: Ava Frances and Caleb Fugman
Top 15% Cooking 101 Awards: Devin Condon, Brady Condon, Morgan Davis and Brianna Perry
Health State Fair Delegates: Emily Minerva Gonzalez-Fernandez, Felipe Hernandez and Jesus Eduardo Bonilla
Health State Fair Alternate: Emma Heinisch
Visual Arts State Fair Delegates: Lane Schumacher, Ava Frances, Holly Helgeson, Hailey Ruhl, Lindsey Nichols, Mackenzie Condon, Fiona Holtz, Lindsey Nichols, Jelina Martinez, Rachel Linskey and Ella Seebach
Visual Arts State Fair Alternates: Hudson Schumacher, Sienna Seebach, Natalia Serpico, Devin Condon, Vivian Novak and Madelynn Swanson
Best Food Decorating plaque: Mackenzie Condon
Best Non Original C/C/P Project: Rachel Linskey
Best Non Original Glass/Plastic Project: Mackenzie Condon
Best Non Original Paper Project: Madelynn Swanson
Best 9 & Under Original C/C/P Project: Lucy Riley
Best 9 & Under Food Decorating: Lucy Riley
Best 9 & Under Clay Project: Magnolia Kushnick
Best 9 & Under Fiber Project: Fiona Holtz
Shopping in Style State Fair Delegate: Ella Kushnick
Clothing & Textiles State Fair Delegates: Fiona Holtz, Megan Bott and Catherine Bott
Best Beginning STEAM Clothing 1 Project (Eleanor Fewell Memorial Award): Fiona Holtz
Best Overall Clothing and Textile Award: Megan Bott
Animal Science State Fair Delegates: Julia Peska and Alana Fix
Animal Science State Fair Alternates: Lillian Kushnick and Kyle Gutknecht-Sabin
Vet Science State Fair Delegate: Lillian Kushnick
Best Animal or Vet Science plaque: Julia Peska
Best Exploratory Project: Hudson Schumacher
Leadership State Fair Delegate: Lillian Hetland
Leadership State Fair Alternate: Anna Ofelia Cuevas
Best Career & Leadership Project Plaque: Lillian Hetland
Woodworking State Fair Delegates: Lane Schumacher and Sawyer Davis
Woodworking State Fair Alternates: Jackson Torman and Devin Condon
Best Overall Woodworking Project plaque: Sawyer Davis
Photography State Fair Delegates: Bailey Quincer, Ella Seebach and Hannah Treme
Photography State Fair Alternates: Reagan Vander Bleek, Rachel Linskey and Rachel Linskey
Best Creative Arts Photography Project plaque: Hannah Treme
To learn more about the DeKalb County 4-H Program, contact the Extension Office at 815-758-8194 or visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/bdo/.