Livestock judging and the fashion show were two of the 4-H contests held in the week before the fair this year.
Rachel Buehler, Gage County Extension office manager, organized the livestock judging event on July 11.
“It was a full day with the clinic in the morning and the contest in the afternoon,” she said. “We usually hold the contest on the Saturday of the fair, but it doesn’t allow for the clinic and this year we have the Clover Kid Showmanship on Saturday afternoon.”
University of Nebraska livestock judging coach Maddie Schrader worked with 17 4-H youths on the basics of judging breed and market for beef, sheep, goats and swine. Youths also learned how to give oral reasonings in judging.
In the afternoon, 4-H families brought animals for the youths to judge in the contest. Oral reasons for one class were given as a part of the contest.
Deighton Dorn was the champion in the livestock judging contest, with Jonah Lovell receiving reserve champion.
Buehler, who was a Gage County 4-H member when she was younger, said the youths told her they learned a lot during the clinic and liked that it was held before the fair this year.
Eleven youths participated in the fashion show on July 15.
Payton Smidt, summer intern at the Gage County Extension office, said it was a fun day.
“We were able to send six constructed garment models and three youth from the shopping in style category to the State Fair Fashion Show,” she said. “We had a good range of exhibits in all the classes. Everything went well and the kids had fun.”
Most of the youths participated in the Teen Fashion Board. They went to the Bargain Box thrift store with a $10 limit and choose clothes they modeled at the fashion show in the evening.
“The Bargain Box loves having the girls,” she said.
Smidt had been enrolled in Gage County 4-H and has technically not aged out of the program yet. She said she loves being involved in the fashion show.
“I love being able to give back to something that has given so much to me,” she said. “I love getting to see the girls again and work behind the scenes.”
A display for all pre-fair contests will be in the 4-H Building for viewing during the fair.
