At both county and state fairs, 4-H members meet one-on-one with experts to have their projects evaluated, discuss what they've learned, and identify future learning opportunities. 4-H members also lead visitors on tours of the 4-H Building and barns, and conduct workshops and hands-on demonstrations for the public. 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair not only makes great memories, it helps 4-H youth grow into successful adults. 

Waseca County 4-H youth brought home several Champion honors and Purple Ribbons through their participation in the 4-H Livestock Encampment at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair August 23 – August 26. Those youth were:

• Austin Hansen - Registered Yorkshire January Gilt - Purple

• Jill Kalis - 4th Place - Advanced Rabbit Showmanship

• Tanyce Krause - Lightweight Black Face Market Lamb - Purple

• Erin Larson - Champion Overall Breeding Meat Goat Doe, Champion Breeding Dry Yearling Doe, Champion Senior Meat Breeding Doe Showmanship

• Benjamin Lewer - Video - Purple

• Sarah Manthey - Food Review - Purple

• Sadie Mortenson - Champion Polish Rabbit

• Jessica Nafe - Foods & Nutrition - Purple; 4th Place Intermediate Lamb Lead

• Samuel Prigge- Reserve Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showmanship; Champion LaMancha Junior Doe

• Abby Sankovitz - Senior Meat Doe Showmanship - Purple; Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Doe, Reserve Champion Dry Yearling Doe

• Lauren Summers - Indoor Gardening - Purple

• Swine Exhibitors - 5th Place Division 1 Herdsmanship

• Poultry Exhibitors - 2nd Place Consumer Education/Promotion Activities

• Beef Exhibitors - 2nd Place Consumer Education/Promotion Activities

Other results from Waseca County 4-H youth who participated in the 4-H Livestock Encampment are as follows:

• Emily Barbknecht (Meat Goat) - Senior Meat Breeding Doe -Blue; Intermediate Meat Doe Showmanship - Blue

• Joseph Barbknecht (Dairy) -Grade Holstein Winter Calf - Red 

• Amy Beckstrand (Beef) - Registered Shorthorn Junior Yearling - Blue

• Jamie Beckstrand (Beef) -Registered Shorthorn Spring Calf -Red

• Trevor Beckstrand (Beef) -Prospect Steer Calf - Red

• Josh Bulfer (Beef) - Shorthorn Plus Steer - Red

• Zachary Clayton (Dairy) - Crossbred Fall Calf - Blue

• Michaela Hansen (Sheep) -Middleweight Black Face Market Lamb - Blue

• Bruce Harguth (Beef) - Registered Shorthorn Steer - Red

• Robert Jewett (Swine) - Lightweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

• Samuel Jewett (Swine) - Lightweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

• Nick Jewison (Beef) - Market Heifer - Red

• Joshua Johnson (Swine) - Market Gilt - Red 

• Jill Kalis (Rabbit) - Mini Rex Junior Buck - Blue

• Kevin Kalis (Rabbit) - Mini Rex Senior Doe - Blue

• Emma Kruger (Dairy) - Holstein Registered Fall Calf - Blue

• Nicole Larson - Jersey Wooly Senior Buck - Blue

• Benjamin Lewer (Dairy) - Jersey Winter Yearling - Red

• Katharine Lewer (Dairy) - Holstein Registered Summer Yearling - Red

• Owen Lewer (Dairy) - Registered Holstein Fall Calf - Red

• Justin Manthey (Poultry) - Bantam Breeding Chickens - Blue

• Katie Manthey (Beef) -Crossbred Steer - Blue

• Sarah Manthey (Poultry) – Market Ducks - Blue

• Alex Merritt (Beef) - Registered Black Angus Junior Yearling - Red

• Marissa Mortenson (Rabbit) - Mini-Rex Senior Doe - Red

• Jessica Nafe (Sheep) - Lamb Lead Participation; Registered Yearling Ewe - Blue

• Emily Prigge (Dairy Goat) - Novice Dairy Goat Showmanship - Blue; LaMancha Milking 2 Year-Old Doe - Blue

• Tyler Raimann (Dairy) -Grade Holstein Winter Yearling - Red

• Tucker Roeker (Swine) -Middleweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

• Stephanie Root (Beef) - Commercial Junior Yearling - Blue

• Eric Sankovitz (Swine) - Registered Yorkshire Barrow - Blue

• Caroline Scheffert (Sheep) - Commercial Black Face January Ewe Lamb - Red; Lamb Lead - Participation

• Grace Schlueter (Rabbit) -Mini Rex Senior Doe - Blue

• Brady Schumacher (Dairy) -Crossbred Winter Calf - Blue

• Alexander Snyder (Poultry) -Breeding Chickens - Blue

• Benjamin Snyder (Pigeon) -Flying Young Pigeons- Blue

• Samantha Snyder (Poultry) -Breeding Chickens - Blue

• Simon Sommers (Sheep) - Speckle Face Market Lamb - Blue

• TJ Sommers (Sheep) - Lightweight Black Face Market Lamb - Blue

• Kenny Strobel (Swine) - Heavyweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

• Matthew Strobel (Swine) - Heavyweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

• Andrew Yock (Poultry) -Breeding Ducks – Blue

Animal Science interviews at the State Fair are designed to further enhance educational opportunities for young people exhibiting livestock. The interview process offers a visual philosophy of recognizing 4-H members who have utilized their livestock project to grow and develop as a young person. Livestock interviews emphasize many life skills such as communication, responsibility, decision making and problem-solving. The interview process is seen as a step to help insure the stability of youth livestock shows as a positive form of youth development. Interview Finalists received a polo shirt, donated by AgStar. Interview Winners received a chair, sponsored by Minnesota Livestock Breeder’s Association. They included:

• Emma Kruger - Dairy Interview Finalist

• Abigayle Sankovitz - Meat Goat Interview Finalist

• Erin Larson – Meat Goat Interview Finalist and Chair Winner

• Tanyce Krause - Sheep Interview Finalist

The results from Waseca County 4-H youth who participated in the 4-H General Project Encampment at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair August 30 – September 1 are as follows:

• Emily Barbknecht - Fashion Review - Participation

• Etta DeLong - Vegetable Gardening - Blue

• Emily Hildebrandt - Photography - Blue

• Janesville Jacks & Jills - Club Banner - Blue

• Samuel Jewett - Home Environment - Blue

• Natalie Jewison - Health - Red

• Tatiana Krause - Fine Arts - Blue

• Nicole Larson - Cat - Blue

• Justin Manthey - Exploring the Environment - Blue

• Marissa Mortenson -Photography - Blue

• Sadie Mortenson - Performing Arts - Blue

• Carson Parker - Shop/Wood Science - Blue

• Emily Prigge - Digital Photography - Blue

• Samuel Prigge - Potatoes - Blue

• McKinsy Rew - Pets - Blue

• Emily Riihl - Self-Determined - Blue

• Camielle Rykhus - Fashion Review Clothes You Buy - Participation

• Abigayle Sankovitz - Digital Photography - Blue

• Christopher Stenzel - Plant & Soil Science - Blue

• Jessica Stenzel - Fine Arts - Blue

• Luke Stenzel - Shop/Wood Science - Blue

• Zachary Stenzel - Wildlife Biology - Blue

• Lauren Summers - Indoor Gardening - Purple

• Ellen Thompson - Foods & Nutrition - Blue

• Vista Busy Bees 4-H Club -Community Pride - Blue

• Aaron Walechka - Lawn & Landscape - Blue

• Bailey Wolff - Fine Arts - Blue

A group of youth, under the direction of volunteer Steve Scheffert, also participated in the 4-H State Fair experience via “Arts-In.” The members in Arts-In put together a show of song and dance, which they practice and perform at various places during the summer, with the final performances taking place at the State Fair. Participants were William Barbknecht, Lindy Fiebiger, Noah Fiebiger, William Fiebiger, Jennifer McKay, Caroline Scheffert, Sadie Smith and MacClain Tanner.

The Homegrown Explorers 4-H Club participated in the Share the Fun Showcase, where they presented their skit, “4-H: This Is Your Life.” Youth who performed as part of that include Brice Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Bodie Bice, Caleb Bice, Grady Bice, Alex Frisk, Earl Hansen, Logan Heyer, Mikayla Heyer, Emily Hildebrandt, Paige Hildebrandt, Ella Krautkremer, Griffin Krautkremer, Kloe Wadd and Jadyn White.

For more information on joining 4-H or serving as an adult volunteer with the program, contact Amy Nelson, Waseca County 4-H Program Coordinator, at the University of Minnesota Extension – Waseca County office at 507-835-0604 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..