By Bob Strohm
bstrohm@wbcowqel.com
Not to be outdone by livestock judging, the 4-H club’s non-animal projects will take a head start on the Crawford County Fair this year. Judging for those projects begin prior to the fair’s official opening on July 14.
Judging for projects like sewing, cooking and other home projects began on July 11. On Saturday Department One will be judging conservation, natural resources, wood working, along with welding.
On Sunday 4-H will feature style and awards. At 5:00 that afternoon the 4-H Style Review will feature 4-H members modeling outfits that they created. The awards follow the style review at 6:00 with awards given out to the winners of the Family and Consumer Science Events, as well as Department One projects.
Monday will be about the gift of gab for the 4-H’ers. At 10:00 that morning. the 4-H speech contest will occur. In this contest younger members of the 4-H Club ages 8-10 will recite the 4-H pledge, while the older 4-H’ers will have to give their speeches on health, litter, citizenship, energy, and safety.
Also on Monday at noon the 4-H Demonstration and Illustrated Talk Contest will be judged. During the Demonstration and Illustrated Talk Contest, 4-H members will be split into groups by age level (8-10, 11-13, and 14+) and will give a demonstrative speech, or a team demonstration.
On Tuesday Clover Buds, who are 4-H members ages 5-8, will hold Sharing Time at 4:00 p.m. During this event the 4-H members will not be judged, however they will be interviewed to help the members prepare for giving speeches and demonstrations in the future.
4-H non-animal projects will close out judging events on Wednesday by having the Favorite Food Contest.
Crawford County 4-H Office Associate Barb Lewis explained the difference between the Favorite Foods Contest, and the Cooking contest judged on July 11.
“The difference between this and the normal 4-H project is for the normal project the members have to follow the recipe,” Lewis said. “This contest they make whatever they want.”
During the Favorite Foods Contest, members will have a chance to make cookies and pies like grandma used to with the Make it with Lard Recipe Contest. In this contest junior members (8-13) have to make cookies, while senior members will have to make a pie with lard as an ingredient.