[AUG. 21, 2000]  Top Logan County 4-H’ers converged on the state fair last Thursday as they participated in some very rigorous cross-examinations of what they’ve learned the past year.

There are 2.6 million Illinois youth who participate in 4-H-sponsored programs. Six thousand of those earned the right to exhibit at the state fair because of their ratings at the county fairs. In Illinois, 4-H’ers don’t just take their projects to display at the fair, they actually meet face to face with the judge to explain how and why they constructed the project.

"Conference judging is an excellent way to determine how much a 4-H’er learns from their projects," explains Joann Benz, Logan County 4-H youth specialist. "Often the judge’s final ruling weighs heavier on what the kid says rather than the qualities of the project they exhibit."

Logan County was actually only one of 10 counties that were scheduled to be judged that day. It would be too great a feat to bring all of the state’s top 4-H’ers together for judging on the same day.

Judging stations are set up in every corner of the Junior Activities building. Anxious 4-H’ers wait in the auditorium with parents and friends for their 10-minute session with an expert judge. When their name is finally called, the young people know that they could be asked to answer some very specific and odd questions.

Leanna Gleason of Elkhart was asked what kind of marshmallows she used in making her rice krispie treats. Thinking that the judge meant "large or small" she answered appropriately. But what the very picky judge was really probing for was the brand of marshmallows used.

[Leanna Gleason with judge]

This was just the first year that the 11-year-old daughter of Robert and Nina Gleason competed at the state fair. Leanna and her family are looking forward to a new foods project next year. "None of us liked eating the rice krispie treats," admitted Leanna. "I probably won’t ever make them again."

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Leanna’s older twin sisters, Maggy and Molly Gleason, competed in the visual arts division. This was also the first year of state fair exhibiting for the eighth graders at Elkhart School. Both girls have taken an interest in gardening and artistic projects.

[Molly Gleason and her twist paper doll]

Molly constructed a twist-tie paper doll that earned a superior ribbon. She had to explain to the judge that all the materials were purchased at a local craft store and that it took three hours to make. The visual arts judge also asked her specifically how it was made and what she would change in the design if she were to make the doll again.

[Maggy Gleason and her pressed flower project]

Maggy competed in the nature division with an attractive pressed flower design of a lady. She conceived of the unique framed project herself. "I just thought it would be cool to make it like that," explained Maggy.

After their judging sessions were finished, the girls and their parents took off to see the rest of the fair. They and the other participants returned around 2:30 for the day’s closing ceremonies and to see if their projects were judged the best in their division.

Check out Lincoln Daily News later this week for profiles on 4-H'ers Abrigail Sasse, Chris Ackerman and Zac Tibbs.

Click here to check out the photo page for more of the activities from last Thursday.

[Marty Ahrends]

Chris Ackerman – model rocketry

Andy Morgan – model rocketry

Heather Altig – child development

Barry Osborn – soybeans

Heather Osborn – computers

Jennifer Schahl – animal science

Daniel Parson – wildlife

Jill Patrick – photography

Tim Uphoff – photography

Jessie Maxheimer – photography

Allicent Pech – sewing

Bethany Furman – sewing

Hans Bishop – prairie plants

Angela Cunningham – vegetable plate

Abrigail Sasse – foods

Betsy Bakken – foods

Jackie Bakken – foods

John Brooks – foods

Mary Healy – foods

Holly Ingram – foods

Michelle Johnson – foods

Leanna Gleason – foods

Amanda Davison – foods

Annie Davison – foods

Kimber Davison – foods

Susan Cochran – foods

Samantha Davison – foods

Danielle Barr – electricity

William White – electricity

Marty Oltmanns – electricity

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Scott Ubbenga – campcraft

Aaron Uphoff – woodworking

Andrew Fulton – woodworking

Tabetha Cheseldine – woodworking

Dena Wibben – citizenship

Zach Tibbs – leadership

Mark Cochran – intercultural

Troy Wibben – entomology

Chase Lowery – entomology

Ruth Healy – entomology

Reid Conklin –

Ashley Lamb – home furnishings

Kelly Dowling – home furnishings

Robin Conklin –

Staci Heironmyous – paper

Maggy Gleason – visual arts

Molly Gleason – visual arts

Bobbi Green – visual arts

Kyle Janssen – visual arts

Roxanne Horath – visual arts

Kari Jones – visual arts

Audra Ballinger – visual arts

Abby Coers – visual arts

Leila Ballinger – visual arts

Elizabeth Brooks – visual arts