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Local youth Receive state recognition

Subhead
With state fair canceled, U of M Extension organizes virtual event for eligible participants
Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

Exhibition at the Minnesota State Fair is one of the ultimate goals for area 4-H’ers.
But with this year’s in-person state fair canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, 4-H officials turned to technology for a virtual state fair showcase.
In Rock County, a qualifying showcase was conducted in person for livestock entries from July 29 to Aug. 1 with virtual judging for static projects.
Projects that earned blue ribbons or better at the county level were eligible to advance for state virtual showcase events.
“Many 4-H educators and volunteers worked tirelessly to create these high-quality alternatives,” said Minnesota 4-H Director Jennifer Skuza. “I’m grateful to them and to our youth who bravely stepped forward to try something new in the midst of so much change.”
Nearly 900 youth from across Minnesota submitted up to two entries apiece for static project virtual judging Aug. 31 through Sept. 3.
Each 4-H’er submitted photos with the option of adding documents and/or videos. 
Livestock virtual judging took place via webcasting Sept. 8 through Sunday.
About 1,500 4-H’ers submitted videos (up to 90 seconds in length) showing their animals for virtual livestock judging Sept. 8 through Sept. 13. Each 4-H’er could submit two entries.
Locally, 21 4-H’ers participated in the static and/or livestock virtual showcases.
“Having a state showcase was important because it still gave the kids an opportunity to show off their hard work and gave them something to look forward to,” said Rock County 4-H Coordinator Kelsey Maeschen.
Static projects received purple, blue, red and white ribbons, and livestock were ranked first through eighth at the state event.
 
And the winners are:
Rock County results are as follows, listed by 4-H’er, project(s) and placing(s):
•Joshua Raak, dairy aged cow crossbred, senior champion; dairy registered Holstein winter yearling, third; dairy crossbred steer, fourth.
•Peyton Blom, dairy crossbred winter or fall calf, junior champion.
•Caleb Raak, dairy, red and white 3- to 4-year old, third; Guernsey 3- or 4-year old, champion production and champion Guernsey.
•Jacob Raak, dairy Ayrshire summer or spring yearling, champion; dairy grade Holstein, reserve champion; dairy steer, fourth.
•Egypt Forrest, food review, blue; performing arts, blue; food preservation, red; meat goat senior yearling breeding doe, fifth.
•Brianna Kinsinger, performing arts, two blues.
•Krista Burkman, clothes you buy, blue; fine arts, blue.
•Candace Porter, clothes you make, blue; elements of photography, blue.
•Ashlyn Johnson, fine arts, purple.
•Aisha Porter, fine arts, blue; elementary of photography, blue.
•NeVeah Stensland, fine arts, blue; photo manipulation, blue.
•Gracie Fagerness, fine arts, blue.
•Mazzi Moore, exploring the environment, blue; robotics, purple.
•Andres Stensland, fishing sports, blue; self determined, blue.
•Aaliyah Stensland, finishing sports, blue; indoor gardening, blue.
•Larissa Steinhoff, foods and nutrition, blue.
•Fox Forrest, shop, blue; meat goat senior yearling breeding doe, fourth; chicken breeding pen, eighth.
•Christian Kruse, sheep, black face market lambs, first and third; showmanship award of excellence.
•Claire Knobloch, beef, slick shorn steer, fifth.
•Tory Knobloch, beef, slick shorn steer, second.
•Halle Hough, swine, market gilt, second, showmanship award of excellence.
“I am proud of our Rock County 4-H’ers,” Maeschen said.
“They persevered and made it through an unknown summer. I am looking forward to a new 4-H year and all that it will bring to our awesome 4-H’ers and their families.”
A virtual state 4-H dog show will be Sept. 25-30. No state 4-H horse show is scheduled this year.
Registration for the 2021 4-H program opens Oct. 1.

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