Kendall County 4-H members showcase skills, knowledge with animal exhibits

Editor’s Note: This is part 1 of the 4-H Results from the 2021 Kendall County 4-H Shows. Part 2 will feature the general projects show results.

Throughout the year, Kendall County 4-H members learn new things and develop skills in a variety of project areas, and they demonstrated that knowledge through 4-H exhibits and animal shows this summer.

“The 4-H animal shows and conference judging process provides youth with valuable experience and feedback to continue growing and discovering into the next year,” said Kim Eisnaugle, 4-H Youth Development Program coordinator. “In 4-H, youth can explore scores of projects in seven areas of study: animal science, career and leadership development, creative arts, environmental sciences, global civic engagement, healthy living and nutrition, and STEM.”

4-H programs strive to help youth gain a sense of belonging, develop independence, give back to their communities and master skills.

2021 Kendall County 4-H Master Showmanship Champion Jaiden Mahler said her 4-H and animal care experiences have given her important life skills and personal connections, and have helped her set and achieve goals.

“I’ve always wanted to compete in the Master Showmanship Contest at state fair, and I couldn’t be more excited to get that opportunity,” said the 16-year-old, who has been showing livestock for eight years in 4-H. “I’ve also made countless friendships and have received a second family through showing. 4-H and showing have taught me how important time management, responsibility and patience are. Not only does it help in the barn, but it also helps me in school, on the basketball court and into the future.”

In addition to this project work, 4-H members volunteer for their communities throughout the year. Each summer, scores of adult community members give back to 4-H through sharing their time and expertise to judge or facilitate 4-H shows or by sponsoring awards, such a trophies or banners. In 2021, several community members and organizations also sponsored the overall Kendall County 4-H shows to offset the shows’ additional expenses.

“We want to wholeheartedly thank all the Kendall County 4-H show and award sponsors, superintendents, judges and other volunteers for giving our youth such an important growth experience, especially after a tough year,” Eisnaugle said. “Thank you also to our 4-H members and families for another special year.”

The 2021 4-H Show sponsors included Nannette Armstrong, Anderson Snowplowing/Russ and Christine Anderson, Kendall County Swine Committee, Templeton Property Management/Tim Kellogg, Margaret R. Janick, Carrie Vickery and the Renegades, Rebels & Rogues 4-H Club.

The 2021 4-H Award Sponsors are Blain’s Farm & Fleet, V. Robert Brummel Memorial, Countryside Veterinary Clinic, Noel Cryder Builders, Jerry Dalton Memorial, Fitzgerald Family, FNIC Trusted Insurance Advisor, Forget-Me-Not Flowers & Gifts, FS Grain LLC, Robert Fruland Memorial, Delbert Gabel Memorial, Grainco FS Inc., Heartland Bank & Trust, Carolyn Herren Memorial, Ron & Patsy Hirsch, Hueber Feed/DeKalb Feed, Katydidit Flowers, Frank & Cheryl Keller, Kellogg Farms, Kendall County Home & Community Education, Kendall County Horse Show Association, Kendall County Pork Producers, Kendall-Grundy Beef Association, Koch Quarter Horses, Colleen Konop, Meadowvale Inc., Minooka Grain, Lumber & Supply, MTH Tool Company, Debbie Murray, The Olah Family, Kim Olson, James Paul Memorial, Mary Ann Petersen, Pete Petersen Memorial, Bev Popp, State Sen. Sue Rezin, Robin Richards McCoy, Charles Rutenberg Realty, Sandwich Veterinary Hospital, Gordon and Ruth Schobert Memorial, Robert (Bob) Schwartz Memorial, Shala Farms, Southwest Real Estate, the Subat family, the Sucich family, Templeton Property Consultants, the Thanepohn family, Winding Creek Nursery, Wyffels Hybrids and the Yorkville Junior Women’s Club.

The 2021 Kendall County Fair 4-H animal show results are listed by award, 4-H member name and 4-H club. Part two of the results, featuring general projects shows, will appear next week.

1 of 4

Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club member Sage Mahler of Earlville poses with her Champion Poultry Meat Pen on Thursday afternoon. (Photo provided)

BEEF

• Champion Breeding Animal: Jolie Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Breeding Animal: Jaiden Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Market Animal: Jeron Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Market Animal: Sage Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Jr. Showmanship: Kipton Bleuer, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Reserve Jr. Showmanship: Bailey Brummel, The Dream Catchers 4-H Club.

• Champion Sr. Showmanship: Sage Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Sr. Showmanship: Jeron Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Beef Rate of Gain: Cecilia Stewart, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

• Champion Beef Rate of Gain- Live Evaluation: Hayden Wheeler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

CAT

• Best Cat in Show: Joey Ralston, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

Awards of Excellence:

• Marcella Schultz, The Dream Catchers 4-H Club.

• Kiley Tchebotarev, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Ella Buddy, La Menu Modelle 4-H Club.

DAIRY

• Champion Female: Sadie Grace Nelson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Champion Showmanship: Sadie Grace Nelson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

DOG (June 23)

• Best Dog in Show: Trevor Westphal, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Dog Care 1: Leah Thanepohn, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Dog Care 1: Luke Murray, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Champion Dog Care 2: Lily Westphal, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Pre-Novice Obedience: Ronnie Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club

• Reserve Champion Pre-Novice: Leah Thanepohn, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Novice Obedience: Trevor Westphal, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Rally Obedience: Trevor Westphal, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Rally Obedience: Lily Westphal, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Showmanship: Trevor Westphal, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

GOAT

• Champion Dairy Goat: Jessica Carlson, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Dairy Goat: Jessica Carlson, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Champion Doe Goat: Nathaniel Steininger, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Doe Goat: Nathaniel Steininger, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club

• Champion Meat Goat: Jessica Carlson, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club

• Champion Jr. Showmanship: Nathaniel Steininger, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Jr. Showmanship: Alexis Steininger, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Champion Sr. Showmanship: Abigail Munar, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club

HORSE & PONY (July 17)

• Sr. English High Point: Emily Wacker, Rockin’ KCs 4-H Club.

• Reserve Sr. English High Point: Lilianna Casbarian, Spanglish 4-H Club.

• Sr. Western High Point: Emily Wacker, Rockin’ KCs 4-H Club.

• Reserve Sr. Western High Point: Lilianna Casbarian, Spanglish 4-H Club.

• Jr. Western High Point: Cecilia Stewart, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

• Reserve, Jr. Western High Point: Joel Stewart, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

• Sr. Gaming Western High Point: Lilianna Casbarian, Spanglish 4-H Club.

• Reserve Sr. Gaming Western High Point: Emily Wacker, Rockin’ KCs 4-H Club.

• Jr. Gaming Western High Point: Vincent Stewart, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

• Reserve Jr. Gaming Western High Point: Joel Stewart, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

• Novice High Point: Cecilia Stewart, Barn and Beyond 4-H Club.

• Reserve Novice High Point: Grace Homerding, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

POULTRY

• Champion Cockerel: Hayden Wheeler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Cockerel: Levi Wheeler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Pullet: Molly Wheeler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Pullet: Abigail Munar, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Champion Poultry Meat Pen: Sage Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Meat Production Pen: Bailey Brummel, The Dream Catchers 4-H Club.

• Champion Turkey: Zadie Bleuer, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Jr. Showmanship: Madisyn Glenn, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Jr. Showmanship: Kerri Dickson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Sr. Showmanship: Rachel Dickson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Sr. Showmanship: Abigail Munar, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Egg Production Champion: Rachel Dickson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Egg Production Reserve Champion: Emerson Casbarian, Spanglish 4-H Club.

RABBITS

• Best in Show: Elissa Gates, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Best in Show: Kiley Tchebotarev, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Best 6-Class Rabbit: Kiley Tchebotarev, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Best 6-Class Rabbit: Kiley Tchebotarev, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Best 4-Class Rabbit: Elissa Gates, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Best 4-Class Rabbit: Faustina Krysciak, Little Rockets 4-H Club.

• Champion Meat Pen: Elissa Gates, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Meat Pen: Elissa Gates, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Champion Jr. Showmanship: Jenna Green, Renegades, Rebels & Rogues 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Jr. Showmanship: Gracie Homerding, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Sr. Showmanship: Anna Green, Renegades, Rebels & Rogues 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Sr. Showmanship: Elissa Gates, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

SHEEP

• Champion Ewe: Macy Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Ewe: Sadie Grace Nelson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Champion Ram: Sadie Grace Nelson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Ram: Macy Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Single Market Lamb: Jacey Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Single Market Lamb: Jolie Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Pair of Market Lambs: Weston Friestad, Lisbon Town & Country 4-H Club.

• Champion Jr. Showmanship: Jacey Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Jr. Showmanship: Weston Friestad, Lisbon Town & Country 4-H Club.

• Champion Sr. Showmanship: Sadie Grace Nelson, Stagecoach Trailblazers 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Sr. Showmanship: Jaiden Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

SWINE

• Champion Crossbred Barrow: Nate Swenson, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Crossbred Barrow: Natalie Walsh, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Champion Barrow Overall: Nate Swenson, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Barrow Overall: Tucker Whiteaker, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Market Gilt: Nate Swenson, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Market Gilt: Clayton Anderson, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Champion Breeding Gilt: Eli Swenson, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Breeding Gilt: Hailee Dannenberg, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Champion Purebred Barrow: Tucker Whiteaker, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Champion Jr. Showmanship: Weston Friestad, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Jr. Showmanship: Clair Anderson, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

vChampion Intermediate Showmanship: Clayton Anderson, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Intermediate Showmanship: Tanner Kempiak, Lisbon Town and Country 4-H Club.

• Champion Sr. Showmanship: Hailee Dannenberg, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion Sr. Showmanship: Alicia Hendron, Millbrook Mighty Ones 4-H Club.

MASTER SHOWMANSHIP

Champion: Jaiden Mahler, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

• Reserve Champion: Jolie Johnson, Kendall County Country Kids 4-H Club.

For information about 4-H in Kendall County, visit go.illinois.edu/info4Hdkk.