NRHEG Star Eagle

137 Years Serving the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva Area
Newspaper of Record for NRHEG School District
Newspaper of Record for Waseca County, MN
PO Box 248 • New Richland, MN 56072

507-463-8112
email: steagle@hickorytech.net
Published every Thursday
Yearly Subscription: Waseca, Steele, and Freeborn counties: $52
Minnesota $57 • Out of state $64

4-H at the Minnesota State Fair is not just a fun annual event. Every summer, thousands of 4-H youth participate in the state fair to showcase the knowledge and skills they've gained throughout the year, and to continue their learning experiences. 4-H youth spend months working on projects designed to equip them with essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, project management, communications and public speaking. 4-H members then share their accomplishments and educate the public about their subject at their local county fair. Those who demonstrate the highest achievements are then selected to participate in 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair.

At both county and state fairs, 4-H members meet one-on-one with experts to have their projects evaluated, discuss what they've learned, and identify future learning opportunities. 4-H members also lead visitors on tours of the 4-H Building and barns, and conduct workshops and hands-on demonstrations for the public. 4-H at the Minnesota State Fair not only makes great memories, it helps 4-H youth grow into successful adults. 

Waseca County 4-H youth brought home several Champion honors and Purple Ribbons through their participation in the 4-H Livestock Encampment at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair August 23 – August 26. Those youth were:

Austin Hansen - Registered Yorkshire January Gilt - Purple

Jill Kalis - 4th Place - Advanced Rabbit Showmanship

Tanyce Krause - Lightweight Black Face Market Lamb - Purple

Erin Larson - Champion Overall Breeding Meat Goat Doe, Champion Breeding Dry Yearling Doe, Champion Senior Meat Breeding Doe Showmanship

Benjamin Lewer - Video - Purple

Sarah Manthey - Food Review - Purple

Sadie Mortenson - Champion Polish Rabbit

Jessica Nafe - Foods & Nutrition - Purple; 4th Place Intermediate Lamb Lead

Samuel Prigge- Reserve Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showmanship; Champion LaMancha Junior Doe

Abby Sankovitz - Senior Meat Doe Showmanship - Purple; Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Doe, Reserve Champion Dry Yearling Doe

Lauren Summers - Indoor Gardening - Purple

Swine Exhibitors - 5th Place Division 1 Herdsmanship

Poultry Exhibitors - 2nd Place Consumer Education/Promotion Activities

Beef Exhibitors - 2nd Place Consumer Education/Promotion Activities


Other results from Waseca County 4-H youth who participated in the 4-H Livestock Encampment are as follows:

Emily Barbknecht (Meat Goat) - Senior Meat Breeding Doe -Blue; Intermediate Meat Doe Showmanship - Blue

Joseph Barbknecht (Dairy) -Grade Holstein Winter Calf - Red 

Amy Beckstrand (Beef) - Registered Shorthorn Junior Yearling - Blue

Jamie Beckstrand (Beef) -Registered Shorthorn Spring Calf -Red

Trevor Beckstrand (Beef) -Prospect Steer Calf - Red

Josh Bulfer (Beef) - Shorthorn Plus Steer - Red

Zachary Clayton (Dairy) - Crossbred Fall Calf - Blue

Michaela Hansen (Sheep) -Middleweight Black Face Market Lamb - Blue

Bruce Harguth (Beef) - Registered Shorthorn Steer - Red

Robert Jewett (Swine) - Lightweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

Samuel Jewett (Swine) - Lightweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

Nick Jewison (Beef) - Market Heifer - Red

Joshua Johnson (Swine) - Market Gilt - Red 

Jill Kalis (Rabbit) - Mini Rex Junior Buck - Blue

Kevin Kalis (Rabbit) - Mini Rex Senior Doe - Blue

Emma Kruger (Dairy) - Holstein Registered Fall Calf - Blue

Nicole Larson - Jersey Wooly Senior Buck - Blue

Benjamin Lewer (Dairy) - Jersey Winter Yearling - Red

Katharine Lewer (Dairy) - Holstein Registered Summer Yearling - Red

Owen Lewer (Dairy) - Registered Holstein Fall Calf - Red

Justin Manthey (Poultry) - Bantam Breeding Chickens - Blue

Katie Manthey (Beef) -Crossbred Steer - Blue

Sarah Manthey (Poultry) – Market Ducks - Blue

Alex Merritt (Beef) - Registered Black Angus Junior Yearling - Red

Marissa Mortenson (Rabbit) - Mini-Rex Senior Doe - Red

Jessica Nafe (Sheep) - Lamb Lead Participation; Registered Yearling Ewe - Blue

Emily Prigge (Dairy Goat) - Novice Dairy Goat Showmanship - Blue; LaMancha Milking 2 Year-Old Doe - Blue

Tyler Raimann (Dairy) -Grade Holstein Winter Yearling - Red

Tucker Roeker (Swine) -Middleweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

Stephanie Root (Beef) - Commercial Junior Yearling - Blue

Eric Sankovitz (Swine) - Registered Yorkshire Barrow - Blue

Caroline Scheffert (Sheep) - Commercial Black Face January Ewe Lamb - Red; Lamb Lead - Participation

Grace Schlueter (Rabbit) -Mini Rex Senior Doe - Blue

Brady Schumacher (Dairy) -Crossbred Winter Calf - Blue

Alexander Snyder (Poultry) -Breeding Chickens - Blue

Benjamin Snyder (Pigeon) -Flying Young Pigeons- Blue

Samantha Snyder (Poultry) -Breeding Chickens - Blue

Simon Sommers (Sheep) - Speckle Face Market Lamb - Blue

TJ Sommers (Sheep) - Lightweight Black Face Market Lamb - Blue

Kenny Strobel (Swine) - Heavyweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

Matthew Strobel (Swine) - Heavyweight Crossbred Barrow - Blue

Andrew Yock (Poultry) -Breeding Ducks – Blue


Animal Science interviews at the State Fair are designed to further enhance educational opportunities for young people exhibiting livestock. The interview process offers a visual philosophy of recognizing 4-H members who have utilized their livestock project to grow and develop as a young person. Livestock interviews emphasize many life skills such as communication, responsibility, decision making and problem-solving. The interview process is seen as a step to help insure the stability of youth livestock shows as a positive form of youth development. Interview Finalists received a polo shirt, donated by AgStar. Interview Winners received a chair, sponsored by Minnesota Livestock Breeder’s Association. They included:

Emma Kruger - Dairy Interview Finalist

Abigayle Sankovitz - Meat Goat Interview Finalist

Erin Larson – Meat Goat Interview Finalist and Chair Winner

Tanyce Krause - Sheep Interview Finalist


The results from Waseca County 4-H youth who participated in the 4-H General Project Encampment at the 2012 Minnesota State Fair August 30 – September 1 are as follows:

Emily Barbknecht - Fashion Review - Participation

Etta DeLong - Vegetable Gardening - Blue

Emily Hildebrandt - Photography - Blue

Janesville Jacks & Jills - Club Banner - Blue

Samuel Jewett - Home Environment - Blue

Natalie Jewison - Health - Red

Tatiana Krause - Fine Arts - Blue

Nicole Larson - Cat - Blue

Justin Manthey - Exploring the Environment - Blue

Marissa Mortenson -Photography - Blue

Sadie Mortenson - Performing Arts - Blue

Carson Parker - Shop/Wood Science - Blue

Emily Prigge - Digital Photography - Blue

Samuel Prigge - Potatoes - Blue

McKinsy Rew - Pets - Blue

Emily Riihl - Self-Determined - Blue

Camielle Rykhus - Fashion Review Clothes You Buy - Participation

Abigayle Sankovitz - Digital Photography - Blue

Christopher Stenzel - Plant & Soil Science - Blue

Jessica Stenzel - Fine Arts - Blue

Luke Stenzel - Shop/Wood Science - Blue

Zachary Stenzel - Wildlife Biology - Blue

Lauren Summers - Indoor Gardening - Purple

Ellen Thompson - Foods & Nutrition - Blue

Vista Busy Bees 4-H Club -Community Pride - Blue

Aaron Walechka - Lawn & Landscape - Blue

Bailey Wolff - Fine Arts - Blue


A group of youth, under the direction of volunteer Steve Scheffert, also participated in the 4-H State Fair experience via “Arts-In.” The members in Arts-In put together a show of song and dance, which they practice and perform at various places during the summer, with the final performances taking place at the State Fair. Participants were William Barbknecht, Lindy Fiebiger, Noah Fiebiger, William Fiebiger, Jennifer McKay, Caroline Scheffert, Sadie Smith and MacClain Tanner.

The Homegrown Explorers 4-H Club participated in the Share the Fun Showcase, where they presented their skit, “4-H: This Is Your Life.” Youth who performed as part of that include Brice Anderson, Taylor Anderson, Bodie Bice, Caleb Bice, Grady Bice, Alex Frisk, Earl Hansen, Logan Heyer, Mikayla Heyer, Emily Hildebrandt, Paige Hildebrandt, Ella Krautkremer, Griffin Krautkremer, Kloe Wadd and Jadyn White.

For more information on joining 4-H or serving as an adult volunteer with the program, contact Amy Nelson, Waseca County 4-H Program Coordinator, at the University of Minnesota Extension – Waseca County office at 507-835-0604 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


You have no rights to post comments