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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."
(To top of second
column in this article)
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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]
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