Several Lawrence County 4-H club members took home honors this summer from the 2000 Ohio State Fair.

Monday, August 28, 2000

Several Lawrence County 4-H club members took home honors this summer from the 2000 Ohio State Fair.

"I’m so very proud of all our 4-Hers," said Laura Jane Murphy, county 4-H Extension agent.

Those attending state fair events did especially well because all received a very good rating or better during events and exhibits, Ms. Murphy said.

Hannah Mootz of the Gingham and Denim 4-H Club placed as the grand champion potato winner, reserve champion tomato winner and earned first place in senior vegetable table, Ms. Murphy said.

Miss Mootz received several other firsts and seconds for produce and shared honors for the third place squash table with her sister, Rachel, and cousin, Kyle Taylor, who also belong to Gingham and Denim.

Rachel Mootz won fourth place with her junior vegetable table. Taylor won second place vegetable table and earned distinction for having the heaviest watermelon.

Other 4-Hers competed in several events at the state fair, from family history exhibits to nutrition to animals.

Many youth were selected because of their performance in county competition, and youth with crops and livestock began preparing early to raise an exhibit for the state fair, Ms. Murphy said.

The fair teaches communication, esteem and general leadership skills, which all gained, she said.

Ms. Murphy said one award given at the state level – Outstanding of the Day – recognizes youth who score in the top 20 percent of their class.

Three club members from Lawrence County won that honor – Brittney Wilson, Gingham and Denim, won outstanding in the clothes for middle school; Jimmy Simpson, 5-Mile Frontiersmen, won outstanding in genealogy; and Cassie Ingles, Country Cousins, won outstanding and second place in her age division of the goat skill-a-thon. Destany Straight, Country Cousins, received a silver platter from the Ohio Pork Producers for her creative use of leather in creative arts.

Several club members earned awards for their skill in raising animals, Ms. Murphy said.

The Huddle Family, Dog Fork Haymakers 4-H Club, had three siblings placing in the top 10 of the dog obedience show. Julie Huddle and her dog, Jane, placed fifth in Novice B. Evan Huddle and his dog, Sebastian, were sixth in Novice A. Kaitlin Huddle and her dog, Cassidy, placed fifth in Sub-Novice B. Mary Sparks, Getaway Go-Getters, was judged in dog care with her dog Sam.

Ms. Murphy said Rebecca Dingus, Whippoorwill Valley 4-H Club, competed at a very competitive horse show at the state fair.

Rebecca received fifth place in her age class of equitation hunter horse.

Cassie Myers, Starlite 4-H club, showed market lambs at the state fair, placing 17th in one class. Miss Myers also participated in showmanship and was 11th in her skill-a-thon age division.

Other state fair winners and exhibitors were:

– Cassie Ingles, Country Cousins, competed in quick breads

– Ashley Mannon, Country Cousins, competed in star spangled foods

– Amelia Zimmerman, Pedro Lads and Lassies, competed in mini meal magic.

– Erica Ash, Pleasant Ridge Plowboys and Plowgirls, veterinary science – the normal animal

– Tonya Dalton, Pedro Lads and Lassies, living and learning with children

– Amber Murnahan, Dog Fork Haymakers, adventures with your camera-B

– Tiffany Rowe, Scottown Farmers and Farmerettes, First Aid

– Rachel Simpson, 5-Mile Frontiersmen, fun with clothes

– Sarah Zimmerman, Pedro Lads and Lassies, Ohio birds