The young people participating in Perry County 4-H showcased their work and what they have learned and accomplished for all to see at the County 4-H Fair shows held in July. County 4-H members exhibited a total of more than 801 items and animals at this year's fair shows, which is the 3rd highest in the past 35 years. This number includes the exhibits on display inside the Legion Hall on Wednesday July 26, as well as the animals exhibited at 4-H Fair shows held on three days in July. Champion purple ribbon winners were selected from inside building items for the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Mo. Through the exhibits, 4-H members demonstrate the knowledge, skills and work ethic they have gained for the specific project, or interest area they explored.
Youth exhibited items representing a wide variety of 46 different project “interest” areas. They were judged and then placed on display. Over 1000 4-H supporters, family members, leaders and 4-H’ers participated in the Perry County 4-H Fair Shows & Chicken Dinner. 4-H members served 883 people at the delicious “legion” chicken dinner held during the event as a fundraiser to pay the 4-H Fair expenses and premium money to members. In the past 30 years, this is the 13th highest number of people served at the chicken dinner. 4-H families provided desserts. For over 40 years, the American Legion Post #133 has sponsored this sizable event as a youth project. ALL proceeds from the Chicken Dinner are paid back to the 4-H members for the ribbons earned at the fair on their project work.
A record number of 4-H entrepreneurs marketed their products, practiced their entrepreneur skills and made money doing it at the Show-Me 4-H Wares event held once again during the 4-H Fair Chicken Dinner for the 14th year. Dresden Donze from Farrar 4-H Club sold his local Honey and Bee’s Wax Chapstick; Cara Winningham, Farrar 4-H Club, had her “Rolling in the Dough Baked Goods” of bread and cinnamon rolls; Adeline Buchheit, Friendly Valley 4-H Club sold “Donut Queen-Donuts by Adeline”, “Country Jammin’ Jellies”- homemade jams and jellies by Wyatt Holt and Dominic Winningham of Farrar 4-H Club, Sarah Roberts, Vanguard 4-H Club sold her “Sarah’s Shine Lemon Cleaner”, Mackenzie Southard, Farrar 4-H Club, sold wooden signs with her Spills ‘n Splatters” business; Torin Zahner, Vanguard 4-H Club sold houseplants, Gavin Ruehling, Country ‘n Camo 4-H Club sold his handmade Leather items.
A Teen Council/Chamber college scholarship check was awarded to Claire Melchior, a senior and Teen Council member. It was given in honor of Jackie Wengert, former Executive Director of the Perryville Chamber of Commerce, who was instrumental in providing the scholarship. Jackie’s family joined in the presentation.
Adiel Melchior, Teen Council, served as Mistress of Ceremonies for the 4-H Fair Style Show, as 4-H members took “center stage”. The sewing 4-H project members who modeled what they made were: Luke Asselmeier from Friendly Valley 4-H Club with a black vest and Anna Rehagen, Cowboys & Angels 4-H Club in her vegetable apron.
The coveted “Friend of 4-H” award was presented by Natalie Fritsche-Kasten, Perry County 4-H Council President, to Perry County Saddle Club President Eric Wahlers. The “Friend of 4-H” is presented annually in recognition of support provided to Perry County 4-H by an individual, business or organization.
Teen Council members shared their leadership skills conducting water balloon toss games for all ages of kids during the hot evening of the Chicken Dinner on the St. Vincent de Paul Quonset Hut lawn.
Special “Best of Show” Handmade Green & White Rosette 4-H ribbons were awarded to exhibits judged as “Overall Champions”. These projects demonstrate outstanding quality work and effort relative to standards. Only the following 1 projects were selected for this top honor from various areas of 4-H project work: Faith Buchheit, Country ‘n Camo 4-H Club,-:”Pinwheel Doily” in Crochet; Engel Lohmann, Farrar Hawthorne 4-H Club-“Summer Wreath” in Crafts; Jason Miesner, Farrar 4-H Club-“Toolbox” in Woodwork; Adiel Melchior, Friendly Valley 4-H Club-“Splashing Dolphin” in Visual Arts: Painting, Printing & Graphic Design; Anna Rehagen, Cowboys & Angels 4-H Club, “Peppers” in Gardening; Peyton Coffey, Friendly Valley 4-H Club-“Few Hours Old Chick” in Photography; Heidi Miesner, Farrar 4-H Club – “PJ Set” in Sewing; Teagan Verseman, Farrar 4-H Club-“Log Cabin” in Welding; Anna Grantham, Friendly Valley 4-H Club-“Air Pistol Sling” in Shooting Sports; Ella Morrison, Farrar 4-H Club -“Bead Bag” in Arts & Crafts; Torin Zahner, Vanguard 4-H Club, “Rock Box” in Geology; Wyatt Holt, Farrar 4-H Club, “Strawberry Jam” in Food Preservation; Drew Schmidt, Farrar 4-H Club, “3 Stalks Corn” in Agronomy.
The Purple Champion ribbon is awarded only to those exhibits that are of blue ribbon quality and demonstrate high quality, relative to standards of the project area. Most Purple ribbon exhibits are eligible to represent Perry County at the Missouri State Fair. All the Perry County 4-H members earning Champion Purple ribbons are listed in this article.
CHAMPION PURPLE RIBBON PROJECTS
Agricultural Tractor: Champion to Zachary Buchheit
Agronomy-Field Crops: Champions: Drew Schmidt & Zachary Buchheit.
Amphibians and Reptiles: Evelyn Welker
Animals (Educational Displays): Champion Purple Ribbons: Cat Care-Cara Winningham; Dairy Goats-Peyton Coffey & Gavin Ruehling; Poultry-Josie Angle & Cara Winningham, Rabbits-Annie Buchheit
Beekeeping Champions – 3 to Dresden Donze.
Arts & Crafts: Champion Purple Ribbon Winners:
Ages 8-10- Jason Miesner, Torin Zahner, Hadley Versemann
Ages 11-13 – 2 to Kinsley Lohmann, 2 to Adeline Buchheit, Paula Sticht, Ella Morrison, Gavin Ruehling, Engel Lohmann.
Ages 14-18 – Faith Buchheit.
Arts–Drawing, Fiber Arts & Sculpture: Champions to Cara Winningham & Evelyn Welker
Arts-Painting, Printing & Graphics Design: Champions to Brooke Sutterer, Elaina Taylor, Claire Melchior, Cara Winningham, 2 to Adiel Melchior.
Scrapbooking: Champions to Engel Lohmann & Henry Lohmann
Cake Decorating: Champions were: Adeline Buchheit, 2 to Hadley Verseman, Dresden Donze.
Communications: Hetta Honse & Cara Winningham
Crochet: Champion Purple Ribbon Winners: Chloe Zahner, Anna Rehagen, Hetta Honse, 2 to Ella Morrison, 2 to Leah Grantham, Cara Winningham, 3 to Faith Buchheit
Entrepreneurship: Champion Purple Ribbons to: Mackenzie Southard, 2 to Sarah Roberts, Torin Zahner, Gavin Ruehling
Exploring 4-H: Sarah Roberts
Foods-Cooking: Champion Purple Henry Lohmann, Gracie Weinkein, Teagan Verseman, Leah Grantham, Adeline Buchheit.
Foods-Breads: Annie Buchheit
Food Preservation-Boiling Water Canning: Champion Purple Ribbons: 2 to Wyatt Holt, Paula Sticht, Dominic Winningham.
Geology- Champion Purple Torin Zahner
Health/Fitness-First Aid – Champions-Jason Miesner, George Lohmann, Heidi Miesner
Horticulture-Flowers- Champions Adeline Buchheit, Dresden Donze, Gracie Weinkein
Horticulture-Novice Gardening- Champions 2 to Anna Rehagen, Heidi Miesner, Torin Zahner;
Intermediate Gardening-Bryce Schmidt, Dalton Lohmann, Drew Schmidt, Gavin Ruehling
Interior Design – Champion to Kinsley Lohmann
Knitting – Champion to Ella Morrison
Landscape Design -Champion to Evelyn Welker
Leadership –Champions to Samuel Brockman & Cara Winningham
