Rocketry project teaches
principles of physics

[AUG. 22, 2000]  Could you find the center of gravity of a model rocket? Chris Ackerman was challenged with that question during his judging session at the state fair.

He answered by gingerly running his thumb and forefinger along the horizontal length of the rocket. When the rocket balanced, he knew he had found the center.

Chris listened intently as his very knowledgeable judge explained the importance of gravitational balance in building a model rocket.

The son of Debbie and Ron Ackerman of Lincoln, 12-year-old Chris is a seventh grader at Chester-East Lincoln and a four-year member of the Clovers 4-H Club.

This is only his second year in rocketry, and Chris says he has already learned a bunch from it. "4-H has introduced me to a lot of new stuff," boasts Chris of his experiences in the rocketry, entomology, electricity and forestry projects. He feels that his 4-H project participation has really given him an edge in school, especially when it comes to aerospace studies.

Future rocket scientists like Chris begin each project year by building a new rocket, installing an engine pack and launching it over and over.

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Although rockets generally shoot straight up, the wind determines how far the parachute will carry the rocket to its final landing spot. Chris and his brother Craig have learned the hard way how the fierce winds of the Logan County countryside can quickly blow a rocket off course. Craig lost his rocket in a cornfield the day before the Logan County Fair, while Chris’ state fair rocket hung around in a willow tree for a few days.

Each year of experience in rocketry means building a more complex and more powerful rocket than the year before. Instead of using a pre-cut rocket kit next year, Chris plans to design and cut out some of the wing pieces himself.

"These rockets are really fun, and they can be used over and over," exclaims Chris.

Chris plans to check out some of the rocketry websites recommended by his judge. "Someday, I hope to know as much as he does about rockets."

Chris will be able to advance that goal this October as he and other 4-H’ers from Illinois attend Space Camp in Huntsville, Ala.

[Marty Ahrends]

[AUG. 22, 2000]  ^"She said it was the best zucchini bread she’d ever tasted!" exclaimed Abrigail Sasse as she met up with her parents, David and Gail Apel-Sasse, following her judging session.

Although Abrigail is an experienced 4-H cook, she credits the judge’s compliments to her grandmother’s recipe that includes cinnamon as its secret ingredient.

This year, Abrigail has focused her 4-H foods studies on preparing fruits and vegetables as part of a meal. Yet the fair books list only a quick bread made with a fruit or vegetable as an acceptable project for competition.

The judge in this category asked Abrigail about the four food groups and what she does to keep her bread from burning on one corner. Then the loaf is cut open. The judge checks for an even texture with no air tunnels. The final test is for taste.

The seven-year member of the Beason Ag 4-H club is no stranger to picky questions from judges. Abrigail quickly points out that "judges are a lot pickier at the state fair because there is a lot more competition." This is her seventh year studying foods and her fourth year to exhibit at the state fair.

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The LCHS sophomore also works hard with her sewing, horse and rabbit projects. Her enjoyment of the livestock projects has encouraged her to pursue a future career involving animals.

Perhaps her commitment to animals is why Abby’s group of three Californian rabbits earned Junior Champion Meat Pen honors at the Logan County Fair. Californian rabbits are all white, except for their black feet, ears and noses. To determine the top place winner, judges examine how close the three are in size and weight at the time of showing.

Abrigail and her Californians were awarded 12^th place out of 32 entries in the state fair Junior Rabbit competition.

[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

[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]