Jerron Madson of Humboldt 4-H won first place and a champion award with her Whether Dam Yearling Ewe. (Photos/Clay County Extension Service.)
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- Monique Stelzer Clay County Extension — 4-H
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- A delegation of nine Clay County 4-H members took part in the Minnesota State Horse Show at the State Fairgrounds in September.
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- Clay County 4-H clubs were represented by 29 members at the Minnesota State Fair’s 4-H Livestock Encampment.
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- Oakmound 4-H members Madelyn Burnham and Madelyn Christenson earned honors in Natural Resources with their presentation on Mad Cow Disease.
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- Reagan Willers of Blue Eagle Clovers won a blue ribbon in Natural Resources for her presentation on responsible shelling.
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- Jordan and Alana Hoffert of Creative Clovers Club won a Club Community Pride award at the Minnesota State Fair.
Nancy Edmonds Hanson
Six beef cattle from Clay County attended the Minnesota State Fair this year, along with a quartet of dairy cows, eight swine, six sheep, a chicken, a pigeon, a rabbit … and 28 members of 4-H clubs across the county.
Late summer always draws dozens, says extension educator Monique Stelzer. The Moorhead woman, who shares 4-H and youth development duties at University of Minnesota extension office here with Amanda Landsverk, works with leaders and members of Clay County’s ten 4-H clubs to prepare projects and compete for honors at the biggest events of the year.
“These events are their chance to showcase their 4-H projects and the learning experiences that are an important part of the process,” she explains. “It’s an opportunity not only to exhibit their livestock or whatever projects they’ve chosen, but to talk about the goals they’ve set for themselves, the steps they’ve taken and what they have learned along the way.
“As part of the judging process, each one talks with a caring adult judge who’s knowledgeable in the area they’ve chosen. That ribbon they’re awarded reflects not only the quality of their project, but the skills they’ve learned along the way, and their ability to talk about the whole process.”
She adds, “The judging experience is significant beyond 4-H itself. Really, it’s the very first job interview they’ll go through.” Fifty percent of each award, she says, is based on their entry; the balance rests on how well they explain and reflect on it.
4-H’ers competed in several so-called “encampments” during the fair, which took place in St. Paul from Aug. 21 through Sept. 1. Livestock competition took place during the first three days. Three Clay County members brought home notable awards: Jerron Madson of Humboldt 4-H, who won first place and a champion award with her whether dam yearling ewe; Evan Thune, also of Humboldt, second place and purple ribbon with his slick-short market steer; and Lane Berggren, Barn Buddies 4-H, third place and a purple ribbon with his black-face market lamb. Averie Clayton-Dahlgren, an independent 4-H member, also placed first and received a champion ribbon for her rabbit interview.
The general exhibit encampment followed Aug. 28-30. There, all of the 13 Clay County youth who exhibited and talked about their projects received blue ribbons or higher.
Hattie Jackson earned the title of grand champion in Fine Arts for grades 9-12 with her pencil drawing of a buck.
Three young women – Piper Hendrickson, Bridget Hendrickson and Madelyn Christenson – received Community Impact Recognition awards, given for projects not only honored for their excellence, but judged to have a positive impact, direct or indirect, on their communities.
Other club members competed in two separate tests of skills. Thirteen showed off their horsemanship during the Minnesota State Horse Show during the first half of September. Nine more qualified for the State Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational Sept. 5-8, with winners to be announced this month.
