4-H exhibits on Monday bring in dozens of exhibitors with various entries

[July 31, 2024]   While the Logan County Fair did not officially open until Tuesday, July 30th, on Monday Logan County 4-H members were already at the fairground presenting their general projects for the year.

As a club member, throughout the year kids attend club meetings where they interact with each other, learning and forming lasting friendships. In addition, each 4-H member takes on special learning projects throughout the year. Some take several, some just a few, but regardless, they all have the opportunity to take that project learning experience and create an exhibit to show at the Logan County Fair.

Some projects are related to growing plants, from the field variety such as corn and soybeans to the garden variety such as vegetables and flowers.

This is when young people like Maddox Dare reap the reward of what they have sewn literally, as it was Maddax stalks of field corn that one him the Best Crops Exhibit and a plaque presented by Atterberry Farms. Maddox was one of several young people who had entries in the Crop Sciences. The judge, Larry Schahl spent time with each one, asking questions about the plants they were exhibiting, including the daunting task of naming each part of the plant starting with the roots and working their way up.

Other young people, such as Tanner Jones learned the art of woodworking, and again he saw his hard work pay off as he was awarded the Top Woodworking Project award for his remarkable ice chest.

Other top winners in the Miscellaneous projects judging included Carter Johnson with the Top Photography Project, Mason Short with the Top Junior Woodworking Project, and Tanner Jones winning a second time with the Best Tractor Exhibit.

In the vegetable category, Tucker Garey won the Top Market Basket and Maddox Dare won the Top Vegetable Award. All the entries in the vegetable judging were scrutinized by University of Illinois Extension Horticulture Educator Jennifer Fishburn. She spoke with each of the kids about their garden projects, asking questions about how they grew their plants, and what they learned while growing their 4-H exhibit entry.

In addition to several top awards there were dozens of blue ribbons handed out in a wide variety of categories.

[Nila Smith]