Clearwater 4-H youth exhibit their best at 2017 Minnesota State Fair

Katie Becker 

4-H Program Coordinator 

University of Minnesota Extension, Clearwater County

St. Paul, MN (9/8/2017) – Minnesota 4-H’ers from 86 counties and 2 tribal nations brought over  2843 animals and 2,600 exhibits, delivered 175 public presentations, and participated in dozens of group learning experiences and performances at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair.

Throughout the year, 4-H youth select project areas that reflect personal areas of interest and pursue hands-on learning that is both self-directed and guided by adult volunteers. The results of their learning are exhibited at county fairs across the state. A collection of the best exhibits from each county fair is brought to present in the 4-H Building and the 4-H barns at the Minnesota State Fair.

Education is integral in the “learn by doing” philosophy of 4-H.  As part of the educational component, Minnesota 4-H requires every youth participating in the livestock encampment to part in a livestock interview. Exhibiting non-livestock project work and delivering public presentations at the state fair also provide youth opportunities to showcase their achievements and continue learning through the interactive conference judging and team experiences. 

Highlights this year include 155 youth exhibiting their teamwork and problem solving skills in a Rube Goldberg engineering design challenge and a 100% increase in the number of 4-H youth who experienced 4-H at the State Fair for the first time. The presentations, exhibits, and presence of 4-H youth from diverse communities across Minnesota brought fresh perspectives and energy to the 4-H Building and Barns.

Clearwater County had 19 youth participating in the following areas:

Livestock Encampment 

Jesse Anderson – Swine – Market Barrow – Blue; Wyatt Anderson – Dairy Steer – Red; Kara Bowman – Sheep – Breeding Ewe – Reserve Champion; Kyle Bowman – Sheep – Breeding Ewe – Blue; Heaven Clay – Dairy Goat – Alpine Milking Doe – Blue /Showmanship – Purple; Madison Evje – Beef – Breeding Heifer – Blue; Obadiah Hammer – Dairy – Ayrshire Yearling – Blue; Rose Java – Dairy Goat – Alpine Dry Yearling – Blue/Showmanship – Purple; Hannah Johnshoy – Rabbit – Breeding – Red; Caleb Petterson – Sheep – Breeding Ewe – Blue.

General Encampment 

Phoenix Bontijes – Fine Arts – Blue; Cameron Broden – Demonstration – White; Cameron Broden – Shop – Blue; Mackenzie Dahl – Fashion Revue – Participate Ribbon; Maccabee Hammer – Fishing Sports – Red; Lilyann Haugse – Fashion Revue – Participate Ribbon; Annabell Phillips – Shop – Blue; Isaiah Tramm – Engineering Design – Purple; Tessa Tramm – Clothing & Textiles/Clothes You Make – Blue; Kaleb Tronnes – Performing Arts – Blue. 

Club Projects 

Jack Pine Pals Club – Community Pride – Blue; Woodside Workers Club – Banner – Red 

4-H not only produces purple ribbon animals and projects, but more importantly is focused on producing purple ribbon kids! Congratulations to all the Clearwater County youth who participated in 4-H at the 2017 Minnesota State Fair!

To learn more about 4-H in Minnesota, visit www.4-H.umn.edu; to learn more about 4-H in Clearwater County, contact Clearwater County 4-H Program Coordinator, Katie Becker, at 218-694-6151.

The 4-H program is funded through a partnership of federal, state, county and private resources and is part of the University of Minnesota Extension.  More Minnesota State Fair results and photos can be found at www.4-H.umn.edu/fair-results 

4-H is a youth development program of the University of Minnesota Extension.  Available for youth grades k-1 year after high school, 4-H’ers participate in hands-on learning experiences in STEM, citizenship & leadership, animal science, creative arts and much more. Through this learn-by-doing process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating that help them succeed in their school, college, community and career. Research shows that youth who participate in 4-H have better grades and are more emotionally engaged with school, are more than twice as likely to be civically active and contribute to their communities, and are 47% less likely to have risky or problem behaviors.