HUTCHINSON — Four local 4-H entries took home championships during the 100th Annual Kansas State Fair, while a number of other 4-H’ers ranked highly against other competitors from across the state.
Caitlin Dreher and Brody Nemecek were declared champions for their swine showmanship. Jillian Keller showed the championship market heifer and Jessica Sharp, Khrystal Smith, Delaney Umholtz and Clara Wicoff teamed up to take home first place overall in a family and consumer sciences judging contest.
Dreher, 14, was named Grand Champion Senior Swine Showman. In addition, she exhibited the reserve champion Yorkshire market hog and took third with her Yorkshire breeding gilt. Dreher is a member of the City Slickers 4-H club in Allen County and is the daughter of Jerry and Cathy Dreher of Iola.
Nemecek, 10, was named Grand Champion Junior Swine Showman. He also exhibited the reserve champion and second place Hampshire breeding gilt and second place meat goat.
Keller, 10, also had a first-place crossbred steer and a second-place Simmental heifer. She is the daughter of Mark and Gretchen Keller.
Meanwhile, Sharp, Smith, Umholtz and Wicoff were tested in a broad swath of family and consumer science topics from food safety and budgeting to sewing and nutrition.
“The thing is, they don’t know what they’ll be tested on until they get there to the competition,” said Kathy McEwan, Southwind Extension agent for family and consumer sciences. “It requires a vast knowledge about a large number of topics.”
With their championship, the team received $400 from the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University to be used for an educational trip.
Others narrowly missed out on championships.
The intermediate photo judging team of Jenna Wilks, Isaiah Wicoff, Allyson Hobbs and Chyanne Vaughn took home third place.
“We’re proud of all the kids and how well they did,” McEwan continued. “They put a tremendous amount of work into this.”
McEwan also offered praise to Iolan Terri Kretzmeier, “who takes a lot of time out of her schedule to work with the students in family and consumer sciences.”
The State Fair began Sept. 7 and ended Sunday.
