Wright County residents participated in the Minnesota State Fair this year, bringing home an impressive number of awards and ribbons.

 

St. Luke’s Father Backer entered eight of his homemade jams. It was his first year at the State Fair, and he ended up with second place in the wild berry category for his Worship Wild Raspberry jam.

 

Isaac Wagner from the Northern Peak 4-H club entered two categories at the fair, brown egg production and food preservation. At the Wright County Fair in August, he had received grand champion and reserve grand champion for each respectively.

 

Wagner won a red ribbon with the two Red Stars chickens he brought to compete in brown egg production, in which he was judged on knowledge and showmanship. 

 

During the competition the judge had each participant take their birds out one at a time while they were asked questions concerning them. Good eye contact was an important component.

 

For the food preservation category Wagner received a blue ribbon for his homemade red sauerkraut. The event was judged in groups of four, during which the judge and other participants could ask questions. Wagner was asked about the preservation process and what he used to make his sauerkraut. 

 

It was Wagner’s first time participating at the State Fair. He plans to enter again next year using the knowledge he gained this time around to do even better.

 

The Kicking Clovers 4-H club also had a successful run, with two of their members participating at the State Fair 4-H Horse Show. 

 

Kayli Hulbert and her horse, Marley, placed fifth in tenth grade showmanship, eighth in tenth/eleventh grade training, and fourth as part of the Wright County reasons judging team.

 

Kallie Sylvester and her appaloosa mare, Ella, placed first in western pleasure, which gave them grand champion, second in English pleasure, third in showmanship and seventh in English Equitation, all at the ninth grade level.

 

She and her quarter horse, Bentley, placed second in English showmanship and second in training level 2. 

 

Sylvester also received her Dan Patch Youth Leadership award, which required she write an eight-page essay on achievement, leadership and service to enter. She is one of only six winners of the award given this year.

 

“I had a great time at the Minnesota State Fair 4-H Horse Show this year,” said Sylvester. “Winning champion was a great accomplishment as we’ve been getting reserve in western pleasure here for the past three years. I can’t wait to see what Bentley and my future holds.”