Judges have say on 4-H projects
Published 11:20 am Thursday, July 16, 2009
ROME TOWNSHIP — Derek Smith was prepared. He knew most of the questions that were going to be asked and how he was going to answer them.
Through the chatter of other presentations and the humming from the industrial fan some 25 feet away, the 11-year-old Scottown 4-H’er sat face-to-face, three feet from the man who would judge his summer’s work on the safe use of guns.
With his hand-drawn diagram poster in one hand and his project book in the other, Smith, cool and collected, railed off correct answer after correct answer when asked about his project by fair judge Buddy Fry of the National Wild Turkey Foundation.
The critique got to such a point that it turned into a pleasant and informative conversation between judge and exhibitor, teacher and student.
“Treat your gun as it always is loaded,” Smith said when asked by Fry what one of the most important rules of gun safety is.
On the other side of the room, Savannah Webb was not wavering either during her time in front of a judge.
Webb’s project — Adventures in Home Living — had the 9-year-old Symmes Valley Elementary School fourth grader presenting three types of indoor plants she grew to Lawrence County Treasurer Stephen Dale Burcham.
The presentation and interaction that followed went so smoothly, the five minutes Webb spent being judged feels like 15 seconds.
For Smith and Webb and the nearly 40 other Lawrence County 4-H’ers that participated, Wednesday’s presentations allowed fair attendees to see that 4-H is much more than kids showing animals.
Projects varied from animal basics like “Fishing for Beginners” and “Ohio Birds” to sociological items like “Growing in Communities” and “First Home Away From Home,” and allow 4-H members who may not live in a rural environment the opportunity to partake in the county fair experience.
Each exhibitor had approximately five to 10 minutes in front of the judges to present their work and completed workbook. Judging ranged from grades of “A” to “C”.
As for Smith and Webb, they both got an “A” and took first place in their project category.
Lawrence County 4-H Project Results
Measuring Up
First Place, Brooklyn Massie
Horseless Horse
First Place, Brittany Webb
Fishing Beginners
First Place, Charly Earl
Second Place, Chandler Dodson
Third Place, Jordon Michael
Rope
First Place, Kristopher Compton
Knitting
First Place, Skyler Farrand
Second Place, Hannah Gates
Third Place, Erika Napier
Scrapbooking
First Place, Alyssa Hoeft
Second Place, Abbi Wray
Third Place, Trent Thacker
Ferrett
First Place, Savannah Keathley
Second Place, Chyenne Aldridge
You’re The Athlete
First Place, Jordan Michael
Second Place, Seth Clag
Pet Rabbit
First Place, Skylar Farrand
First Home Away From Home
First Place, Kristen Estep
First Aid
First Place, Steven Ridenour
Second Place, Adam Turvey
Family History Treasure Hunt
First Place, Garrett Wireman
Second Place, Kelsa Jo Smith
Advertising in Home Living
First Place, Savannah Webb
Word Working Finishing Up
First Place, Clelsea Hardy
Explore Insects
First Place, Collin Webb
Explore Insects II
First Place, Brooklyn Blakeman
Rockets Away
First Place, Kendall Clay and Timothy Simpson
Tractor
First Place, Levi Miller
Ohio Birds
First Place, Samantha Miller
Vet Science
First Place, Megan McComos
Vet Science II
First Place, Skye Barnett
Focus on Photography First Place, Taylor West
Second Place, Alyssa Hoeft
Third Place, Erica Napier
Arcs and Sparks First Place, Cody Bland
Second Place, Travis Gates
Safe Use of Guns
First Place, Derek Smith
Second Place, Colton Walters
Growing In Communities
First Place, Caitlyn McClelland
Vegetable Gardening I
First Place, Jessica Baise
Second Place, Dillon Mannon
From Seed to Flower
First Place, Jennifer Neal