|
 For scrambles, children chase and capture an
animal down on the track in front of a packed grandstand. The antics
of the kids and the animals produce a lot of laughs. For the younger
kids, there might be a few tears of frustration and maybe a few
minor injuries that can happen when kids throw themselves,
literally, in competition.
On Wednesday it took three twists and the shake of some tails for
the traditional Scrambles and 4-H Night to happen. Two of four
scrambles would not happen. But not to worry, alternatives were
created.
The first twist of the day was due to the threat of severe weather.
The Scrambles were moved to the Show Barn rather than being held on
the open track in front of the grandstand.
Another twist was that chickens were not allowed on the grounds this
year due to the threat of avian flu.
Which came first the chicken or the egg
On this night it was plastic eggs. Typically, the first event of the
night is the Chicken Scramble. A pen of lively chickens is brought
out and set free for children ages six and seven to try to catch.
An egg and balloon game was employed where the children walked
across the arena with a balloon between their knees, it was a long
walk for some, and then they picked up a plastic egg to carry under
their chin to drop in a bucket. The children were good sports and
all received a prize bag for participation.
Two scrambles went as normal, goats and pigs
Children lined up on one side with their backs turned and the goats
were released. On 'Go!' the eight through nine-year-old boys and
girls rushed about to capture and halter a goat.
Winners may qualify to keep their goat. Carissa Davis, Extension
Educator, 4-H Youth Development Director said, "Goats that are
brought back the next year to the 4-H Goat Show are judged on their
goat scramble records, showmanship and confirmation. The 4-Her is
allowed to keep their goat and continue to show it or keep it at
their home in subsequent years."
Thanks were offered to all the 2021 Scramble Goat participants:
Brantley Conrady, Olivia Wrage, Cash Tomlinson, Angelo Colantino and
Tessa Olson.
Champion Scramble Goat Records were sponsored by the Brett Conrady
Family: Winner Antonio Conlantino.
Overall, Champion Scramble Goat sponsored by Plaque donated by MKS
Livestock and Bucket donated by Bruce Davis: Winner Olivia Wrage.
Silly pigs
If you haven't watched pigs at play, you should. Pigs know how to
play. Set loose to run off some steam before the youth came for
them, pigs frolicked this way and that, ran in circles and dodged
each other like a flock of starlings, having as much fun as you can
imagine. And, they are cute.
The pigs supplied the usual fun moments, with plenty of squeals like
they were about to become bacon, once the 10 to 14-year-olds got in
the mix. Participants exercised innumerable and savvy strategies to
get their greased slippery pig to the center pen, with most
contestants finding the wheel barrow technique best, holding the
back legs up and steering the pig to the pen.
Where o' where were the calves
Twist #3 - Due to the move, the Show Barn offered insufficient
protection from running calves. For the crowd's safety the Calf
Scramble was scrapped, or scrambled you might say.
Calf Scramble is for ages 12 up to 18 years of age with a maximum 18
participants. Those who catch a calf are eligible to take it home,
raise it, and return the next year for judging.
The 2021 Calf Scramble winners returned with their project to be
judged in a variety of categories - conformation, weight gain,
grooming, record keeping, showmanship and over-all.
This year's returning calves and their handlers were all impressive,
but when it came down to the nuts and bolts, few took home many
awards and the girls swept the firsts.
2021 Scramble Calves
The 2021 calves returning to be judged were raised by Rylee Davison,
Emma Eeten, Brenden Wurth, Aden Wurth, Phillip Osborn, Wyatt
Leinenbach, Callie Carlton, Haylee Werts and Anna Parr.
Calf Scramble Champion: Anna Parr
Calf Scramble Conformation: Anna Parr
Calf Scramble Grooming: Emma Eeten
Calf Scramble Records: Anna Parr
Calf Scramble Top Herdsman: Anna Parr
Calf Scramble Rate of Gain Winner - Haylie Werts
Calf Scramble 1st 9th Plaques: 1st - Anna Parr, 2nd Wyatt
Leinenbach, 3rd Callie Carlton , 4th Emma Eeten, 5th Brenden Wurth,
6th Rylee Davison, 7th Haylie Werts, 8th Aden Wurth and 9th Phillip
Osborn
Following the 2022 Scrambles another nine calves were awarded to the
top qualifying participants who had previously signed up to
scramble. Winners were determined by interview based on knowledge of
caring for the animal. Costs to raise a calf are estimated at $1,500
- $2,000.
[to top of second column] |
Calves were awarded to;
Madisen Wurth
Beason Ag
Rohan Allspach
Topper 4-H
Beau Tschantz
Topper 4-H
Kennadie Finchum
Atlanta Town & Country
Porter Schwantz
Wide-A- Wake 4-H
Rylee Davison
Hollanders
Emma Eeten
Hartem Clovers
Brenden Wurth
Beason Ag
Haylee Werts
Topper 4-H
4-H Night
During the course of the night a number of 4-H highlights of the
year and acknowledgements were shared.
Scholarships
Logan County 4-H Foundation presented two scholarship awards.
Haven Henry is the daughter of Todd and Bethany Henry of Lincoln.
She is a member of Wide-A-Wake 4-H club.
Haven Henry is a member of the Wide-A-Wake 4-H Club. Some of the
projects she entered are visual arts, geology, health, fabric and
shopping, photography, bunnies, horses, and many others. Some of
these items she knew how to do before, and others she learned as she
felt 4-H was one of the best places to try new things. In 2020 she
was the treasurer.
While she was in high school, she was a member of the cheerleading,
track & field, dance, and art club teams.
Haven will be attending Heartland Community College. Her future
includes being a medical assistant, then possibly going on to be a
diagnostic medical sonographer specializing in OB GYN.
She is receiving the Ross P. Conrady Memorial 4-H Foundation
Scholarship.
Sarah Starasta is the daughter of Michael and Leslie Starasta of
Lincoln. She was a member of Cloverdale 4-H club. Sarah is currently
attending Wheaton College where she is a communication major with a
gender studies certificate. She plans to study law in the future.
Sarah is receiving the Alice Jodlowski Memorial 4-H Foundation
Scholarship.
Illinois Award winners
Two Logan County 4-H members have been selected this year as
Illinois Award winners based on their outstanding award applications
on the state level. Congrats to these outstanding 4-H members:
Caroline Ahrends: Emerald Leadership Experience Award.
Klarissa Helton: State Award for Personal Growth.
Congratulations offered up to Logan County 2021 Illinois Hall of
Fame inductee Patty Huffer.
Huffer retired after almost 29 years with Illinois Extension as a
4-H Program Coordinator. During her time, she helped to form the
Logan County 4-H Alumni committee, spearheaded implementation of
activities for National 4-H Youth Service day, created a fair
orientation program for new 4-H families and so many more
instrumental efforts.
"Logan County cant thank Patty enough for her dedication to the
program," County Director Terri Casey said.
And, a 'Happy Retirement!' was wished to Amy Hyde.
Goat Scramble donors
o Rohlfs Implement Company
o Timber & Copper Creek
o Jeff & Julie Cowan
o Hartsburg Grain
o Bruce Davis
Pig Scrambles donors
o Rohlfs Implement Company
o Ag-Land FS, Inc.
o Bobell Berkshire
o Fairview Acres
o Central Illinois Ag
o Top-Flight Grain Western Division
o Peasley Funeral Home
o Hartsburg Grain Company
o Croft Fertilizer
While the Show Barn does not have as much space as the grandstand,
it was a large crowd present with standing room filling doorways and
seemed to accommodate as many viewers as had interest on this
evening.
Scrambles and 4-H Night announcers were Regan Tibbs and Terri Casey.
The National Anthem was sung by Lesleigh Bennett. The American Flag
Pledge and 4-H Pledge were recited.
The night is a time to cut loose for a little fun, especially for
the farm families who have been working weeks, months or all year on
projects related to the fair. It is a time of weaving the threads
that bind us as families, friends, the farm community and as
Americans.
And like three shakes of a goats tail, no injuries to child or
animal, the Logan County Scrambles were over for one more year.
[Jan Youngquist] |
