At the 2008 Minnesota State Fair, more than 6,000 4-H members had the opportunity to interact with the public and educate fairgoers through 4-H exhibits, demonstrations, performing arts, ambassador roles, technology activities, Share the Fun performances, livestock shows and promotion. To participate at the state fair, 4-H’ers must qualify at the county fair. Freeborn County had 121 youths experience 4-H at the state fair.

There were many champions, reserve champions and purple ribbon winners at the state fair livestock show. Results are as follows:

Llama

Purple ribbon awards were presented to: Anna Payne, Hartland 4-H, llama costume class and blue ribbons in llama obstacle course, llama public relations and llama showmanship.

Blue ribbon awards went to: Ashley Bartness, Hartland 4-H, llama obstacle course, llama public relations; Heather Malakowsky, Hartland 4-H, llama costume class, llama obstacle course, llama public relations and llama showmanship; Stormy Mulder, Hartland 4-H, llama obstacle course, llama public relations, llama showmanship; Emma Payne, Hartland 4-H, llama obstacle course.

Red ribbon awards went to: Ashley Bartness, Hartland 4-H, llama showmanship; Stormy Mulder, Hartland 4-H, llama costume class; Emma Payne, Hartland 4-H, Llama Showmanship.

Poultry

Blue ribbon awards to: Jasmine Hanson, Bancroft 4-H, egg layer chickens; Riley Ruble, Alden 4-H, chickens market pen.

Red ribbon awards went to: Nathaniel Wallin, Hartland 4-H, chickens breeding pen.

Rabbits

Blue ribbon awards to: Ben Christensen, Hartland 4-H, senior doe mini lop; Ashley Petersen, Bancroft 4-H, senior buck mini rex; Samantha Petersen, Bancroft 4-H, junior doe mini rex; Kristin Sandager, Twin Lakes 4-H, senior doe mini rex.

Sheep

Purple ribbon awards went to: Jerad Magnuson, Riceland 4-H, speckle face market lamb.

Blue ribbon awards went to: Zackary Drescher, Conger 4-H, middleweight market lamb; Alissa Goette, Hartland 4-H, heavyweight market lamb; Derek Heideman, Hartland 4-H, heavyweight market lamb; Jared Knutson, Hartland 4-H, middleweight market lamb and participant in market lamb showmanship; Krystle Lonning, Bath-Geneva 4-H, market type yearling ewe; Ben Manigold, Hartland 4-H, white face market lamb; Josh Minear, Shellrock 4-H, lightweight market lamb and participant in senior market lamb showmanship; Karissa Olson, Shellrock 4-H, lightweight market lamb and participant in market lamb showmanship; karrin olson, shellrock 4-h, lightweight market lamb and participant in market lamb showmanship; Lee Wallin, Hartland 4-H, middleweight market lamb and participant in market lamb showmanship.

Swine

Michael Thofson, Myrtle 4-H, champion overall breeding gilt and participant in swine showmanship.

Purple ribbon awards went to: Blake Heideman, Myrtle 4-H, middleweight crossbred barrow; Spencer Kral, Myrtle 4-H, lightweight crossbred barrow; Levi Meyer, Nunda 4-H, market gilt; Logan Meyer, Nunda 4-H, middleweight crossbred barrow.

Blue ribbon awards went to: Danielle Cooper, Myrtle 4-H, super heavyweight market barrow; Nick Golbuff, Freeman 4-H, crossbred breeding gilt; Jacob Knutson, Hartland 4-H, heavyweight crossbred market barrow; Jed Knutson, Hartland 4-H, heavyweight crossbred market barrow; Jack Miller, Moscow 4-H, lightweight crossbred market barrow; Blair Schreiber, Twin Lakes 4-H, purebred breeding gilt; Josh Wallin, Freeman 4-H, lightweight crossbred barrow; Evan Wangen, Moscow 4-H, middleweight crossbred market barrow; Jessica Wayne, Hartland 4-H, heavyweight crossbred market barrow; Courtney Williamson, Myrtle 4-H, heavyweight crossbred market barrow; Zachary Williamson, Myrtle 4-H, middleweight crossbred market barrow.

Non-livestock projects

Freeborn County 4-H’ers received numerous purple and blue ribbons at the Minnesota State Fair 4-H building. Ribbon results were as follows:

Purple ribbon awards went to: Carter Routh, Hartland 4-H, small engines; Adeline Wagner, Hayward 4-H, vegetable gardening; Molly Wagner, Hayward 4-H, performing arts; Travis Wayne, Bath-Geneva 4-H, lawn and landscape design.

Blue ribbon awards went to: Genna Anderson, Freeborn 4-H, computer; Amber Bergland, Bath-Geneva 4-H, dog related; Logan Bidne, Nunda 4-H, self-determined; Colin Bishop, Shellrock 4-H, shop; Elisa Brown, Riceland 4-H, self-determined; Spencer Carstens, Twin Lakes 4-H, child and family development; Kendra Davis, Myrtle 4-H, vet science; Ben Christensen, Hartland 4-H, shooting sports; Joel Faugstad, Mansfield 4-H, clowning;

Justin Frondal, Moscow 4-H, electric; Tamara Frondal, Moscow 4-H, vet science; Alissa Goette, Hartland 4-H, clothes you make; Elissa Goskeson, Willing Workers 4-H, photography; Emily Goskeson, Willing Workers 4-H, clothes you buy; Hartland Club banner; Lana Howe, Twin Lakes 4-H, clothes you buy; Matthew Hunnicutt, Freeborn 4-H, citizenship; Jesse Jacobson, Moscow 4-H, fine arts; Lisa Jacobson, Moscow 4-H, fine arts; Nichelle Klatt, Twin Lakes 4-H, photography; Patrick Larson, Freeman 4-H, quilting; Emily Light, Hartland 4-H, food and nutrition; Hannah Light, Hartland 4-H, food and nutrition; Becky Maxa, Oakland 4-H, home environment; Matt Maxa, Oakland 4-H, self-determined; Alexis Munkberg, Freeborn 4-H, club community pride; Elise Nyenhuis, Albert Lea 4-H, safety; Shelby Oldenkamp, Moscow 4-H, plant and soil science; Brett Paulsen, Riceland 4-H, aerospace; Autumn Peterson, Freeborn 4-H, photography; Laura Piper, Twin Lakes 4-H, food review; Aleah Roberts, Albert Lea 4-H, foods and nutrition; Josh Sime, Alden 4-H; Alison Songstad, Mansfield 4-H, shop; Caylee Tennis, Hayward 4-H, fine arts; Luke Wagner, Hayward 4-H, aerospace; Derek Wagner, Hayward 4-H, robotics; Kendall Ward, Riceland 4-H, foods and nutrition.

Red ribbon awards went to: Chris Anderson, Freeborn 4-H, youth leadership; John Buringa, Twin Lakes 4-H, aerospace; Megan Chicos, Freeborn 4-H, photography; Sam Johnson, Myrtle 4-H, health; Jared Larson, Freeman 4-H, water/wetlands; Tara Thorson, Shellrock 4-H, exploring animals.

Molly Wagner represented Freeborn County at the Minnesota State Fair as a State Arts In participant. Wagner is from the Hayward 4-H Club and her parents are Al and Shari. She was able to stay at the state fair for the whole entire two weeks. She shared her talent with others by singing and dancing in a performance several times daily in the 4-H Building.