Volunteer judges praise 4-H projects
- Laurie Sidle, OSU Extension Wayne Co.
- July 25, 2025
- 188
It was time to shine for nearly 150 4-H project members who took part in our first 4-H judging event this year at the Wayne County Event Center.
Volunteer judges were impressed with what they saw, writing on members’ score sheets comments such as “Beautifully done,” “Great understanding of the project,” “Awesome and amazing,” “Wow! I am blown away by all the work you put into this” and “Doggone good.”
A week later 4-Hers had a second chance to show off their efforts during the annual Wayne County 4-H Style Revue and Awards program. All project members who participated in the early judging event were invited to walk across the stage while a narrator described their projects and skills they had learned.
The event in the Shisler Center, hosted by the Wayne County 4-H Program, Junior Fair Food and Fashion Board, and Building 10 (4-H projects) Committee, also included recognition of those who earned Outstanding Exhibitor ribbons and the chance to represent the county at the Ohio State Fair. Special sewing awards also were presented.
These are the award winners:
Clothing projects
—Sew Fun Junior Outstanding Exhibitors Hannah Burns, Allison Graham, Amanda Peterson, Olive Sommers, Harlow Smith, Riikka Pajak-Stenger and Lily Yoder; Construction Award Lily Yoder; and state fair representative Harlow Smith.
—Sew Fun Senior Outstanding Exhibitors Adelyn Boss and Bradlee Wirt, Construction Award Bradlee Wirt, and state fair representative Adelyn Boss.
—Terrific Tops Outstanding Awards Eliza Davis, Piper Sprowl and Ruth Steiner; Construction Award Piper Sprowl; and state fair representative Piper Sprowl.
—Sundresses and Jumpers Construction and Outstanding Exhibitor awards and state fair representative Sammi Haley.
—Designed By Me Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Aubrey Liston.
—Shopping Savvy Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Erynn Imhoff.
—em*bel*lish Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Chloe Beery.
—Clothing for Middle School Outstanding Exhibitors Natalie Shold and Grace Garrett, state fair representative Natalie Shold, and Gracie Garrett will compete as the alternate.
—Clothing for High School and College Outstanding Exhibitors Addison Liston, Elena Plessinger, Molly Watson and Rylee Wirt; Construction Awards Molly Watson and Rylee Wirt; and state fair representative Rylee Wirt.
—Ready, Set, Sew Active! Outstanding Exhibitor, Construction Award winner and state fair representative Sarah Hagan.
—Sew for Others Junior Outstanding Exhibitor, Construction Award winner and state fair representative Ruth Steiner.
—Dress Up Formalwear Outstanding Exhibitor, Construction Award winner and state fair representative Lucy Acker.
—Creative Costumes state fair representative Rachel Meiser.
—Awarded top construction honors were Sammi Haley, junior, and Molly Watson, senior. Each received a pair of Gingher Shears.
—Special State Fair Clothing Award nominees were Natalie Shold, Rising Star Award; Master Clothing Educator of Ohio Adelyn Boss, junior, and Rylee Wirt, senior; Ohio 4-H Fashion Revue Award, Lucy Acker; and Ohio 4-H Consumer Clothing Award, Erynn Imhoff. The nominees submit an achievement award application and compete in the State Fair Clothing Days to be eligible for the awards. Lucy Acker and Rylee Wirt were nominated for the State Food and Fashion Board.
Awards for miscellaneous projects
—Makeover My Space Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Eleanor Davis.
—My Favorite Things Outstanding Exhibitors Deklan Lietzke and Rylan Johnson, state fair representative Deklan Lietzke, and Rylan Johnson will compete as the alternate.
—Cake Decorating (beginning junior) Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Corinne Dotterer and Cake Decorating (intermediate junior) Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Haiven Hatten.
—Scrapbooking Outstanding Exhibitors Kaidis Porter, Avery Ostarchvic, Haiven Hatten and Madeline Conrad and state fair representative Kaidis Porter.
—Get Started in Art Outstanding Exhibitors Charlee Siedel, Caroline Raber and Garron Phillips and state fair representative Caroline Raber.
—Self-Determined Creative Arts Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Grave Hovest.
—You Can Quilt Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Kayleigh Molnar.
—Self-Determined Quilting Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Megan Tenney.
—Club Leadership Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Eleanor Davis.
Companion Animals Projects
—Cats (Climbing Up) Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Hannah Steiner.
—Pocket Pets Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Grave Hovest.
—You and Your Dog Interview Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Sarah Hagan.
—Self-Determined (Hedgehog) Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Quinn Largent-Wittenmyer.
Healthy Living Projects
—Relationships 101 Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Julianna Varno.
—First Aid in Action Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Sarah Hagan.
Creative and Leisure Arts Projects
—The Writer in You Outstanding Exhibitors Gretta Smith, Caroline Raber, Madeline Conrad and Ethan Hawk and state fair representative Gretta Smith.
—Seeing Through Graphic Design Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Ethan Hawk.
—Photography Master Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Maryn Erdman.
—Focus On Photography Outstanding Exhibitors Olivia Erdman, Austin Rupp and Andi Weisgarber and state fair representative Olivia Erdman.
—Arcs and Sparks (Welding) Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Mia Snyder.
Woodworking
—Measuring Up Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Emily Smith and Jud Pitts and state fair representative Emily Smith.
—Finishing Up Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Caleb Mairs.
—Nailing It Together Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Brayden Mairs.
—Making the Cut Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Josiah Meiser.
STEM
—Bicycling for Fun Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Elijah Immel.
—Wheels in Motion Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Josie Smith.
—Science Fun with Physics Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Charles Haley.
—Science Fun with Flight Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative James Ackerman.
—Science Fun with Dairy Foods Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Blake Sigler.
—Rockets Away (Solid-Fueled) Outstanding Exhibitors Luke Armstrong and Joshua Steiner and state fair representative Luke Armstrong.
Natural Resources
—Outdoor Adventurer: Beginning Fishing Outstanding Exhibitors Tayden Boss, Kyle Kimmich and Javen Jentes and state fair representative Tayden Boss.
—Insect Adventures 1 Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Kirsten Molnar.
—Ohio Birds Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Grant Case.
—How Does You Garden Grow? Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Audriana McClain.
Shooting Sports
—Basic Archery Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Kaden Spade.
—Self-Determined (junior) Outstanding Exhibitors Callum Myers, Wendy Johnson, Ethan Hawk, Addison Horst, Madelyn Howell and Sam Wallace and state fair representative Callum Myers.
—Self-Determined (senior) Outstanding Exhibitor and state fair representative Kara Jones.
Congratulations to all our project members on a job well done.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension family and consumer sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu.