Wahkiakum 4-H'ers earn top honors at state fair

Submitted by Extension Agent Carrie Backman

Photos by Amber Davis and Amy Hunt

Several Wahkiakum County 4-H youth participated in the Washington State Fair in Puyallup this year, bringing home top honors across multiple projects.

Grace Hunt and Emily Nelson, lead by their leaders Ed and Amy Hunt of Rosburg, showed beef at state fair. Emily placed third in the state in Junior showmanship, receiving a blue ribbon. She also earned a blue ribbon in type class with her Polled Hereford heifer. Grace placed 5th in the state in Senior showmanship, receiving a blue ribbon. Her Polled Hereford heifer received a blue ribbon and her two Shorthorn heifers received blue ribbons with one Shorthorn receiving Reserve Grand Champion in all other breeds type class.

Brooke Davis of Naselle, won a blue ribbon for her bath bomb demonstration at the state fair. "The judge was so kind with her!" said Amber Davis, Brooke's mom. "The presentation both at our fair and state was such an amazing experience and it made Brooke grow." Brooke is a member of the Sugar and Spice 4-H Club, lead by Carol Ervest of Rosburg. Brooke also won one blue ribbon in Clothing, and one blue and one red ribbon in Food Preservation.

Wahkiakum 4-H youth excelled in food preservation and creative arts at the state fair. "The state fair volunteers complimented Wahkiakum County 4-H on the quantity and quality of our kids' food preservation projects," said Ervest, after delivering Wahkiakum County's entries to the State Fair in Puyallup.

Klara Davis won a blue ribbon in Clothing; two blue ribbons in Creative Arts, an Award of Merit in Creative Arts, a Special Creative Arts prize, and four blue ribbons in Food Preservation and a Special Food Preservation prize. Taya Deal won two blue ribbons in Creative Arts, one blue ribbon and one red ribbon in Food Preservation, and three blue ribbons in Photography and an Award of Merit in Photography. Haley Depoe won six blue ribbons in Food Preservation, as well as the Special Food Preservation prize. Coral Ruch won two blue ribbons in Food Preservation. Isaiah Johnson won one blue ribbon in Creative Arts. Kiada Williams won four blue ribbons in Food Preservation, as well as an Award of Merit and Special Food Preservation prize. Novella Hokkanen won four blue ribbons in Food Preservation, as well as an Award of Merit in Food Preservation and a Special Food Preservation prize.

These state fair achievements, along with county 4-H honors and awards, will be celebrated Saturday at the Wahkiakum 4-H End of Year Celebration, 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the Youth Building of the Wahkiakum County Fairgrounds.