Young people showcased nearly 700 items and animals during the 2025 Perry County 4-H Fair shows this summer.
Perry County 4-H members demonstrated their skills and accomplishments at the 4-H Fair Animal Show on July 26, the 4-H Fair Horse Shows on July 27 and May 18, and the 4-H Fair and Chicken Dinner on July 30.
Champion purple ribbon winners from project items displayed at the American Legion 4-H Fair and Chicken Dinner were selected to represent Perry County at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia.
Through these exhibits, members displayed the knowledge, skills, and work ethic they have gained in their specific project or interest area.
Attendance and Chicken Dinner
Youth exhibited in 46 different project interest areas. More than 1,000 supporters, family members, leaders, and members attended the Perry County 4-H Fair shows and chicken dinner. Members served 864 people at the Legion chicken dinner, which funds fair expenses and premium money for members. 4-H families provided desserts.
The American Legion Post 133 has sponsored this event for more than 40 years, with all proceeds from the dinner returned to members for ribbons earned at the fair.
Show-Me 4-H Wares
A record number of 4-H entrepreneurs marketed their products, practiced their skills, and earned money during the 16th annual Show-Me 4-H Wares event.
Participants included Dresden Donze, Farrar 4-H Club — local honey and beeswax chapstick; Elijah Kasten, Farrar 4-H — “Elijah’s Home Plants” (aloe and spider plants); Adeline Buchheit, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — “Donut Queen” donuts; Eme Meier, Farrar 4-H Club — wooden boxes and beaded bookmarks; Faith Buchheit, Country ’n Camo 4-H Club — “Faith by Design” handmade crochet earrings, scrunchies, scrubbies, and more; George Lohmann, Farrar 4-H Club — goat’s milk soap and lotion; Baylee Tallevast, Vanguard 4-H Club — snow globe tumblers; Paige Motley, Country ’n Camo 4-H — coasters, 3D-printed cups, scrunchies, and earrings; Mackenzie Southard, Farrar 4-H Club — “Sparkle Sudz” homemade laundry soap; Alex Motley, Country ’n Camo 4-H Club — 3D-printed sculptures; Diesel Tallevast, Vanguard 4-H Club — handmade birdhouses; Sarah Roberts, Vanguard 4-H Club — “Dandy-Lion Salve” and “X-tra Power Wash”; Magnolia Meier, Farrar 4-H Club — homemade cookies and cupcakes; Luke Asselmeier, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — tie-dyed T-shirts; Allie, Elaina, Emma, and Adalynn Taylor; and Friendly Valley 4-H Club — handmade bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and more.
Style Show
The 4-H Fair Style Show was held at 6 p.m. in the American Legion.
Participants included Josie Zahner, Vanguard 4-H Club — sundress she sewed; Sarah Roberts, Vanguard 4-H Club — outfit purchased in “Shopping in Style” clothing project; Elijah Kasten, Farrar 4-H — Cardinals print card apron and card case wallet; Luke Asselmeier, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — shirt he sewed; Sophia Asselmeier, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — cherry print T-shirt she sewed; Caitlin Winningham, Farrar 4-H Club — dress and matching bag for cousin Nora; and Teen Council Vice President Mylee Geringer served as mistress of ceremonies.
Friend of 4-H Award
The Friend of 4-H award was presented to Jamie Gladden by Natalie Fritsche-Kasten, Perry County 4-H Council president. The award recognizes outstanding support from an individual, business, or organization.
Other activities
Teen Council members hosted a water balloon toss for all ages during the chicken dinner outside the Legion Hall.
Best of Show Awards
Special green-and-white rosette ribbons were awarded to 13 “Overall Champion” exhibits: Faith Buchheit, Country ’n Camo 4-H Club — “Doily” in crochet; Hunter Hoehn, Farrar Hawthorne 4-H Club — “Owl House” in woodworking; Jason Miesner, Farrar 4-H Club — “Pumpkin” in gardening; Sophia Asselmeier, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — “Clay Fair” in visual arts; Henry Lohmann, Farrar 4-H Club — “Mother/Daughter” in photography; Halie Fritsche, Farrar 4-H Club — “Dolphin Drawing” in visual arts/drawing; Trevor Farmer, Vanguard 4-H Club — “Refinished Bench” in interior design; Sarah Roberts, Vanguard 4-H Club — “Forest Finds” in forestry; Adeline Buchheit, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — “Conchas Mexicanas” in international foods; Rosa Lowes, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — “Painted Rifle Stock” in shooting sports; Joshua Southard, Farrar 4-H Club — “Mount” in wildlife; Josephine Zahner, Vanguard 4-H Club — “Purple Dress” in clothing; and Adeline Buchheit, Friendly Valley 4-H Club — “Triple Vase” in arts and crafts.
Champion Purple Ribbon projects
Agronomy — Field Crops: two to Dalton Lohmann; Lucas Fritsche and Zachary Buchheit
Animals — Educational Displays: Bucket Calf — Reagyn Vernon; Dairy Goats — two to George Lohmann; Pets — Domanik Vernon; Poultry — Dresden Donze, Annie Buchheit; and Beekeeping – Dresden Donze
Arts & Crafts: Ages 8–10 — two to Austin Miesner, Josephine Zahner, two to Peyton Versemann, two to Reid Bachmann, Sophia Asselmeier, Rylynn Chaney, Joshua Southard, two to Domanik Vernon, Alayna Aufdenberg and Bridget Asselmeier; Ages 11–13 — Jason Miesner, Eme Meier, Luke Asselmeier, Heidi Miesner, and two to Hadley Versemann; Ages 14–18 — Paige Motley, two to Faith Buchheit, Rosa Lowes, two to Halie Fritsche, Adeline Buchheit, three to Paula Sticht, and Merrick Zahner
Arts — Drawing, Fiber Arts & Sculpture: Hunter Hoehn, three to Annie Buchheit, Paige Motley, three to Halie Fritsche, three to Chloe Zahner, and Adeline Buchheit
Arts — Painting, Printing & Graphic Design: Adeline Buchheit, Sarah Roberts, Merrick Zahner, two to Mackenzie Southard, Elijah Kasten and Josephine Zahner
Scrapbooking: Two to George Lohmann, Engel Lohmann, and two to Henry Lohmann
Cake Decorating: Chloe Zahner
Clowning:Torin Zahner
Crochet: Emma Taylor and three to Faith Buchheit
Entrepreneurship: Sarah Roberts, Baylee Tallevast, Emma Taylor, two to Diesel Tallevast, and Mackenzie Southard
Exploring 4-H: Reagyn Vernon and two to Domanik Vernon
Foods — Cooking: Two to Heidi Miesner, two to Reid Bachmann, Chloe Zahner, Peyton Versemann, and Hadley Versemann
International Foods: Adeline Buchheit
Breads: Chloe Zahner and Heidi Miesner
Food Preservation — Boiling Water Canning: Reid Bachmann and Hadley Versemann
Forestry: Three to Sarah Roberts
Global Education: Adeline Buchheit
Horticulture — Floriculture: Elijah Kasten and Adeline Buchheit
Horticulture — Novice Gardening: Three to Elijah Kasten, Jason Miesner, two to Austin Miesner, and two to Reid Bachmann
Intermediate Gardening: Two to Dresden Donze, and Jason Miesner
Advanced Gardening: Hunter Hoehn
Interior Design: Three to Aubrie Dobbelare and two to Trevor Farmer
Photography: Novice — Josephine Zahner, Sarah Roberts, and Caitlin Winningham; Intermediate — Henry Lohmann; Dominic Winningham, Zachary Buchheit, Hunter Hoehn, three to George Lohmann, and two to Luke Asselmeier; Advanced — Autumn Petzoldt and Faith Buchheit
Sewing: Elijah Kasten, two to Caitlin Winningham, two to Josephine Zahner, Sophia Asselmeier, and two to Luke Asselmeier
Shopping in Style: Sarah Roberts
Shooting Sports: Archery — two to Joshua Southard, Leah Grantham, Elijah Kasten, Sydney Moran, Mark Grantham, and Baylee Tallevast; Air & Pellet Rifle — Jillian McDowell and Sydney Moran; Small Bore Rifle — two to Rosa Lowes; Air Pistol — Two to Elijah Kasten, Rosa Lowes, Faith Buchheit and Torin Zahner; Shotgun — Hunter Hoehn; Merrick Zahner, and two to Wyatt Holt; Smallbore Pistol — Faith Buchheit; Muzzleloading — Two to Rosa Lowes
Sport Fishing: Diesel Tallevast and Baylee Tallevast
Theatre Arts: Three to Annie Buchheit
Wildlife: Rylynn Chaney, Joshua Southard, three to Domanik Vernon, and Hunter Hoehn
Woodworking: Rylynn Chaney, Hunter Hoehn, and Dominic Winningham
4-H Clover Kids
4-H Clover Kids is a non-competitive 4-H program for ages 5-7. Items exhibited are not judged, but all earn a ribbon based on years of participation. Clover Kids members exhibiting items were:
Friendly Valley 4-H Clover Kids Club: 3rd year — Eleanor Buchheit and Evelynn Taylor
Farrar 4-H Clover Kids Club: 1st year — Chase Kassel, Cole Kassel, Braxton Miller, Kinsley Miller; 2nd year — Milo Bachmann, Olivia Bachmann, Paisley Brewer, Canton Donze, Landon Fritsche and Clara Kasten; 3rd year — Mila Bachmann and Waylon Miesner
Vanguard 4-H Club Clover Kids: 3rd year — Jayla Ochs and Daxton Zahner
Educational Booths: Champion Booth — Friendly Valley 4-H Club, “What 4-H Clover Means to Friendly Valley 4-H” and Blue Ribbon Booth — Farrar Hawthorne 4-H Club, “Life Through 4-H”
Top Chicken Dinner Ticket Sellers: Josie Zahner Family, Vanguard 4-H Club; Mackenzie and Joshua Southard Family, Farrar Hawthorne 4-H Club; Sarah Roberts, Vanguard 4-H Club
Animal Show Results
Clover Kids — Small Animal Show & Tell: Canton Donze — turtle, Daxton Zahner — dog and Clara Kasten — fish
Dogs: Champion Canine — tie between Josie Zahner and Mylee Geringer; Obedience Champion — Mylee Geringer
Cats: Champion — Sydney Moran
Rabbits: Senior Buck Champion — Josie Zahner; Senior Doe Champion — Megan Lichtenegger; Junior Buck Champion — Annie Buchheit; Junior Doe Champion — Annie Buchheit; Market Pen of three — Annie Buchheit
Pets: Champion — Merrick Zahner (tortoise); Pet Trained to Communicate — Torin Zahner (Quaker parrot)
Bucket Calf: Champion — Jason Miesner; Reserve Champion — Heidi Miesner
Goats: Champion Meat Goat Doe (over 1 year) — Dresden Donze; Champion Meat Goat Billy (under 1 year) — Dresden Donze; Champion Market Meat Goat — Mylee Geringer; Reserve — Dresden Donze; Champion Dairy Goat Doe (over 1 year) — Domanik Vernon; Reserve — Eme Meier; Champion Dairy Goat Billy (under 1 year) — Zachary Buchheit; Champion Dairy Goat Doe (under 1 year) — Zachary Buchheit; Reserve — Adeline Buchheit; Champion Market Dairy Goat — Adeline Buchheit; Reserve — Adeline Buchheit; Champion Meat Goat Billy (over 1 year) — Domanik Vernon
Poultry: Hen Champion — Jason Miesner; Cock Champion — Mylee Geringer; Pullet Champion — Lettie Palisch; Hen Duck Champion — Wyatt Holt
Sheep: Hair Ewe (over 1 year) — Champion: Autumn Petzoldt; Hair Ram (under 1 year) — Champion: Autumn Petzoldt; Hair Ewe (under 1 year) — Champion: Autumn Petzoldt; Reserve: Paula Sticht; Wool Ram (under 1 year) — Champion: Paula Sticht; Wool Ewe (over 1 year) — Champion: Gavin Ruehling; Wool Ewe (under 1 year) — Champion: Gavin Ruehling; Champion Market Lamb — Grady Ruehling; Reserve — Gavin Ruehling
Dairy: Champion Junior Heifer — Hattie Morrison; Reserve — Hattie Morrison; 4-H Fair Showmanship Rosette Winners
Beef: Junior — Afton Palisch
Rabbits: Junior — Josie Zahner; Senior — Paula Sticht
Dogs: Junior — Mandy Schirmer; Senior — Mylee Geringer
Cats: Sydney Moran
Pets: Junior — Domanik Vernon; Intermediate — Torin Zahner; Senior — Merrick Zahner
Poultry: Junior — Austin Miesner; Intermediate — Jason Miesner; Senior — Merrick Zahner
Bucket Calf: Junior — Austin Miesner; Intermediate — Jason Miesner
Sheep: Intermediate — Jayden Putz, Senior — Gavin Ruehling
Goats: Junior — Zachary Buchheit; Intermediate — Dresden Donze; Senior — Adeline Buchheit
Dairy: Hattie Morrison
Horse Show Results
Pole Bending: Juniors — Champion: Autumn Petzoldt; Reserve: Jayden Putz; Seniors — Champion: Mylee Geringer; Reserve: Siera Brotherton
Barrels: Juniors — Champion: Gavin Ruehling; Reserve: Autumn Petzoldt; Seniors — Champion: Mylee Geringer; Reserve: Siera Brotherton
Flag: Juniors — Champion: Jayden Putz; Reserve: Reagyn Vernon; Seniors — Champion: Siera Brotherton; Reserve: Mylee Geringer
Keyhole: Juniors — Champion: Jayden Putz; Reserve: Reagyn Vernon; Seniors — Champion: Siera Brotherton
Trail (Obstacle Course): Juniors — Champion: Gavin Ruehling; Reserve: Reagyn Vernon; Seniors — Champion: Siera Brotherton; Reserve: Anna Rehagen
Closing remarks
“4-H thrives because caring adults get involved to help kids learn, grow and work together in a safe environment,” said Dianna Koenig, Perry County University of Missouri Extension 4-H Youth Development Program associate. “Enough thanks cannot be given to all the leaders, volunteers and parents who share their time and talents with our 4-H members throughout the year.”
4-H is open to all youth in both town and rural areas to explore new interests and ideas, meet friends, and build leadership, citizenship, and life skills.
For information about year-long 4-H clubs or short-term Special Interest (SPIN) Clubs, contact Koenig at 573-547-4504 or 573-513-2899.
The 4-H program is coordinated through the Perry County University of Missouri Extension Center.
