Hello folks! As the month of July turned into August, the Extension Service, 4-H members, and youth have been sweating to get ready for fairs across the state. The last week in July, I traveled to Springfield to judge leathercraft at the Baca County Fair. That Friday I attended the Cheyenne County Fair to judge the Round Robin show. As a new agent, this was a great experience for me, as I got to see how other counties work and the vast number and variety of projects out there.

As many of you know, Cheyenne Wells got hit hard with a rain and hailstorm July 29. Not only did this cause a lot of damage, but it flooded the arena and show barns. This, in turn, postponed the horse show that was the following morning. It was rescheduled for August 4. You may ask why I am telling you this. Well, Kiowa County had one competitor signed up to show - Braya Ferris. This is one hard working little girl who is also our fair princess. She attended the show to compete with Cheyenne county members. In the classes she placed first in Showmanship, second in Gelding class, second in Mare class, third in Horsemanship, second in Western Riding, third in Reining, second in Trail, first in in Barrels, first in Poles, and second in Flags. She did a great job in all her classes. As a Kiowa County horse member, she placed first in all classes. I am proud of this young lady for all her hard work, but not as proud as her family, who all came out to support her.

The following Monday was Kiowa County Exhibit Day. This was a great day for all 4-H members to show their hard work on projects that are educational as well as great fun. The day started with judging and interviews. Not only are the members projects judged on their hard work, the judges review their record books and ask questions about the members knowledge of them. The Interviews are very important to the education of members and helps them to be more at ease and outgoing. While all this was going on, the Cloverbud group met and made bread with Gloria Trosper. After the judging was completed, the Kiowa County 4-H Council had a business meeting to prepare for fair and other upcoming events.

That evening, the exhibits were open for the public to view. There was a great turn out. There were six contestants in the fashion review that evening. We then moved on to the awards program, followed by a very successful food auction. I would like to thank Rob Morlan for taking the time to auction the items for us.

I am very proud of all the hard-working youth and the projects they completed. I would like to thank our superintendents, Gloria Peck, Missy Jones, Jodi Stolzenberger, and Doris Lessenden. To parents and projects leaders, I can’t express enough thanks to you, if not for you, the 4-H program wouldn’t be possible.

The Exhibit Day results below show “CSF” to denote Colorado State Fair qualifiers, along with the color of ribbon won.  

Fashion Revue: Senior Reagen Johnson, Grand Champion, Blue, CSF. Intermediate Alexa Nelson Grand Champion, Blue. Junior Itzi Ramirez Grand Champion, Blue. Mia Crow Reserve Champion, Blue. Aspen Nelson Blue. Clayton Nelson Blue.

Artistic Clothing Upcycle Your Style: Junior Unit 1 Itzi Ramirez, Champion, Blue, CSF. Intermediate Unit 3 Zoe Arnold-Kraft Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 5 Junior Mia Crow Champion, Blue, CSF. Intermediate Alexa Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Senior Molly Stolzenberger Champion, Blue, CSF. Emily Nelson Blue. Clothing Construction: Steam 1 Peyton Eder Champion, Blue, CSF. Haliee Trosper Blue. Steam 2 Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Aspen Nelson Blue. Int Alexa Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 8 Sr Reagen Johnson Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Clothing Champion, Clayton Nelson. Reserve Champion, Peyton Eder.

Heritage Arts: Quilting: Junior Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Mia Crow Blue. Intermediate Alexa Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Senior Molly Stolzenberger Champion, Blue, CSF.  Crochet: Intermediate Kara Wilson Champion, Blue, CSF. Senior Emily Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Needle Art: Senior Emily Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Macramé: Emily Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Heritage Arts Champion: Molly Stolzenberger. Reserve Champion:  Alexa Nelson. 

Cake Decorating: Unit 1 Junior Itzi Ramirez Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 2 Jr Addison Courkamp Champion, Blue, CSF. Haliee Trosper Blue. Mia Crow Blue. Unit 8 Katherine Trosper Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Cake Decorating Champion: Katherine Trosper. Reserve Champion: Addison Courkamp.

Foods & Nutrition: Unit 201:  Junior Aspen Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Peyton Eder, Blue. Outside Cooking Unit 25: Jr Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Champion Foods & Nurtion: Aspen Nelson. Reserve Champion: Peyton Eder. 

Food Science: Food Preservation: Unit 42 Intermediate Alexa Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Senior Emily Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Food Science Champion: Emily Nelson. Reserve Champion: Alexa Nelson.

Communication and Leisure Arts: Gardening: Unit 2 Mia Crow Champion, Blue, CSF. Horseless Horse Unit 2 Junior Mia Crow Champion, Blue, CSF. Haliee Trosper Blue. Intermediate Katherine Trosper Champion, Blue, CSF. Ceramics: Unit 1 Junior Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Leathercraft: Unit 1: Junior Landon Zimmerman Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 3: Junior Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 4: Senior Morgyn Johnson Champion, Blue, CSF. Samantha Courkamp Blue. Unit 6: Intermediate Alexa Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 8: Senior Chase Stolzenberger Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Communication and Leisure Arts Champion: Morgyn Johnson. Reserve Champion: Samantha Courkamp.

Other Sciences: Electric: Unit 1 Jr Kindel Hoffman Champion, Blue, CSF. Small Engines: Unit 2 Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Woodworking: Unit 3 Junior Clayton Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 4 Intermediate Case Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Senior Hatch Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Model Rocketry: Unit 1 Junior Aspen Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Unit 3 Intermediate Case Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Overall Other Sciences Champion: Aspen Nelson. Reserve Champion: Case Nelson Rocket.

Shooting Sports: Archery: Junior Landon Zimmerman Champion, Blue, CSF. 22 Rifle Clayton Nelson Blue, CSF. Archery:  Intermediate Alexa Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Jaden Self Blue. Shotgun: Senior Hatch Nelson Champion, Blue, CSF. Will Crow White. Western Heritage: Emily Nelson Red. 

Food Auction BuyersThank you so much. Crows Stop N Shop, Precision Lawn and Landscaping, Terry and Areta Laird, Bill Barlow, Mike and Delisa Weeks, Scotty Englehardt, Darrel and Jodi Stolzenberger, Ellis Ranches, Trent and Melissa Jones, Doris Lessenden, Randy Paradise, and Eads Auto Supply.