For the Tomahawk Leader
TOWN OF SPIRIT – A total of 19 youths took part in the 81st annual Spirit-Hill-Ogema 4-H Fair last week.
The fair was held at the Spirit Town Hall on Friday, Aug. 11 and Saturday, Aug, 12, where members of the Hillbillies, Happy Hoboes and Hamburg Hawks clubs exhibited more than 300 entries.
Twenty-plus volunteers served as department superintendents and judges at the fair.
Spirit Historical Society members offered tours of Our Yesterday House throughout the day Saturday, and Historical displays about previous fairs were set up in the hall.
A release from the clubs said many community members viewed the indoor exhibits, watched the live animal judging and enjoyed the brat fry-style lunch, along with popcorn and ice cream served up by club members and parents.
“Adults and children participated in afternoon games, including tug-of-war, nail pounding and bicycle stop-on-a-dime,” the release stated. “An evening program included entertaining skits from the participating 4-H clubs, presentation of trophies and acknowledgement of merit winners, and announcements of game winners.”
Reigning queen Kajsa Lind crowned Hillbillies member Chloe Cummings, daughter of Todd and Joni Cummings, the 2023 Fair Queen.
2023 Spirit-Hill-Ogema 4-H Fair special merit ribbon and trophy winners, by club, are as follows:
Hamburg Hawks
Derek Schult: Merit – self-portrait colored with coffee.
Katelyn Schult: Trophy (Photography Best of Show) and Merit – color bird enlargement, Merit – color photo collection of shape, pattern, and texture, Merit – 4 color close-up photos, Merit – color fall scene photo, Merit – color reflection photo, Merit – color pet enlargement, Merit – water bottle label.
Happy Hoboes
Ben Kielsmeier: Merit – fudge.
Charlie Kielsmeier: Merit – plant started this year by exhibitor.
Fletcher Walcisak: Merit – article made from recycled materials, Merit – ceramic item.
Hillbillies
Ahnalie Berg: Merit – crossbred sheep whether spring lamb, Merit – junior sheep showmanship.
Lena Berg: Trophy (Rabbit Best of Show) – Netherland Dwarf doe, Merit – Holstein heifer spring calf, Merit – junior dairy showmanship, Merit – male duck.
Chloe Cummings: Trophy (Goat Best of Show) – meat goat mature doe, Trophy (Poultry Best of Show) – crossbred meat type chicken, Merit – Bantam chicken, Merit – crossbred egg type chicken.
Jace Jablonsky: Merit – LEGO creation.
Jackson Jablonsky: Trophy (STEM Best of Show) and Merit – model car.
Madeline Kreinus: Merit – Bearded Dragon.
Norah Kreinus: Merit – Hedgehog.
Aarik Lind: Trophy (Mechanical Projects Best of Show) and Merit – woodworking homemade toy, Merit – chainmail craft.
Aksel Lind: Trophy (Cloverbuds Best of Show) – items found on a nature hike; Merit – nutritious snack.
Joren Lind: Trophy (Swine Best of Show) – crossbred barrow junior spring pig, Merit – model car, Merit – color bird enlargement.
Kajsa Lind: Trophy (Beef Best of Show) and Merit – dairy beef cross steer junior yearling, Merit – senior beef showmanship, Merit – Plymouth Rock chicken, Trophy (Drawing and Painting Best of Show) – colored pencil portrait, Merit – color summer scene photo, Merit – black and white portrait photo, Merit – digitally enhanced photo, Trophy (Performing Arts Best of Show) – original song performance – guitar and vocal, Merit – guitar and vocal musical performance, Trophy (Foods Best of Show) and Merit – decorated cake, Merit – arrangement of fresh wild materials, Merit – parts of an ant poster, Merit – LEGO guitar.
Antonia Nelson: Trophy (Arts and Crafts Best of Show) – leather horse breastplate, Trophy (Sheep Best of Show) – crossbred ewe winter lamb, Merit – senior sheep showmanship.
Heidi Nelson: Trophy (Horse Best of Show) – Quarter Horse Buckskin, Trophy (Dairy Best of Show) – Holstein heifer winter yearling, Merit – mosaic tray.
Game winners
Frog Jumping Contest (name, frog name, distance): First place, Iver Bowen, Lightning, 76”; second, Matthew Heikkinen, Lil Buc, 60”; third, Derek Schult, Frogger 2, 56”; shortest, Lillian Rhody, Spare Frog, 22”.
Egg Toss Competition: kindergarten and under, Charlie and Forrest; 1st-5th grade, Joren and Luke; 6th-8th grade, Kendra and Molly; high school: Carissa and Lydia; adults: Henry and Jerod, Randy and Travis.
Two-Man Saw Competition: Henry and Adam.
