Krystal Eikenberg, CSU Kiowa County Administrative Assistant

The 2026 Kiowa County 4-H Exhibit Day took place on Monday, August 3, 2026, at the Eads Senior Center. The event showcased 28 General Projects, with 25 of those projects qualifying for the Colorado State Fair later this month.

The evening began with the announcement of Divisional Champions and Reserve Champions. While ending with the annual Food Auction. The auction raised $1,515.00 during the sale. Additional donations brought the final event total to $1,915.00, alongside $45.45 raised for the 4-H Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Congratulations to the 2026 Divisional Champions and Reserve Champions:

• Consumer Arts
• Grand Champion: Mia Crow (Quilting)
• Reserve Champion: Zoey Trosper (Cake Decorating)
• Creative Arts
• Grand Champion: Clayton Nelson (Leathercraft)
• Reserve Champion: Garrett Hainer (Leathercraft)
• Natural Resources
• Grand Champion: Jett Deines (Woodworking)
• Reserve Champion: Miles Frey (Woodworking)

A huge thank you goes out to the additional individuals who made this day possible. Travis and Lacey Taylor: Thank you for stepping in to support the Kiowa County group while Tearle recovers from back surgery. Travis serves as the Eastern Area Agricultural Specialist, and Lacey is the Cheyenne County 4-H and Agricultural Specialist. Jaden (Eikenberg) Self: Thank you for lending your auctioneering skills to the food auction at a moment's notice. Kiowa County 4-H Council Members and Advisors: Thank you for organizing and conducting a flawless show.

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The phrase "there is strength in numbers" has no official origin story, but in the Kiowa County 4-H Program, the true strength lies within the youth members themselves. Every year on the first Monday in August, the quality and craftsmanship displayed at Exhibit Day is nothing short of amazing.

The pride, effort, hard work, and tears (thank you record books) that each member brings to the table help shape them into strong adults. Exhibit Day is about more than finishing a project. It is about creating something with your own two hands and learning a lifelong skill.

The judging process plays a strong role in this growth. Sitting through an interview starts their journey into professional interviewing. Answering questions, describing what they learned, and receiving advice from experienced adults builds confidence and knowledge.

There is real magic in seeing the faces of these youth when they complete their project, finish their interview, and read their feedback. While praise is easy to accept, the true learning happens in the harder moments when members discover how to improve. This feedback shapes the minds of our future leaders and is the perfect example of the 4-H motto: "To Make the Best Better."