Here's Who Won Solano County 4-H Showmanship Awards

SOLANO COUNTY, CA — Seven 4-H’ers, covering such diverse topics from "how to make a chocoflan cake" to "how to reel in channel catfish," won showmanship pins for their presentations at the Solano County 4-H Project Skills Day, held recently in Sierra Vista Elementary School, Vacaville.

The annual event is an opportunity for 4-H’ers to show what they’ve learned in their projects and demonstrate their showmanship skills, according to Solano County 4-H Program representative Valerie Williams. Evaluators, all 4-H volunteers, scored the youths on their display, presentation, knowledge and interaction.

The showmanship winners included three from the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club, Vallejo, three from the Suisun Valley 4-H Club, Fairfield-Suisun; and one from the Tremont 4-H Club, Dixon.

Showmanship winners from the Sherwood Forest 4-H Club were Madison Barfield for her display “Brooder Essentials,” entered in the non-foods category, ages 11-13; Celeste Harrison for her “Chocoflan Cake,” entered in the foods category, ages 11-13; and Darren Stephens, for his “Can Chickens Get Maggots?” project, entered in the non-foods category, ages 11-13.

Suisun Valley recipients were Christopher Lang, for his “Artificial Insemination and Farrowing of Swine” display, entered in the non-foods category, ages 14-19; James LG George for his “How to Successfully Plan an Event,” project, entered in the non-foods category, ages 11-13; and Beau Westad for “Reeling in Channel Catfish,” entered in the non-foods category, ages 9-10.

Braddison Beathem of Tremont, entered in the non-foods category, ages 11-13, won a showmanship for her horse project, “Let’s Talk Tack (English Riding Tack).”

Others participating were:

Non-Foods, Primary, Ages 5-8 (not evaluated): Christopher Parks, Heritage 4-H Club, Vacaville, “Fishing, Equipment and Tools”; William Parks, Heritage, “Who’s the Mama? Matching Chicks to Hens”; and Sophie Weiser, Vaca Valley 4-H Club, Vacaville, for “Breeds of Chickens and Handling Pet Chickens.”

Non-Foods, Junior, Ages 9-10: Daniel Taliaferro, Suisun Valley, “Perfect Pizza Pans”

Non-Foods, Intermediate, Ages 11-13: Payton DeHerrera, Tremont, “Cavy Varieties”; Alisa Mauldin, Elmira, “This Little Piggy Has…” Madisyn McCrary, Tremont, “How to Shoe a Horse’; and Julietta Wynholds, Sherwood Forest, “Storyboarding, Not StoryBOREDing, “How to Make a Storyboard.”

Non-foods, seniors, ages 14-19: Alexis Taliaferro, Suisun Valley, “College Tours: A Glimpse into the Future.”

The Cowtown Chili Boys of Vaca Valley 4-H Club won the chili cookoff contest. Francis Agbayani, Matthew Agbayani, Xander Lovell and Ian Weber teamed to make chili con carne, a recipe originating with Xander’s grandmother. A panel of evaluators—John Vaszquez, District 4, Solano County Board of Supervisors; Vacaville mayor Ron Rowlett and Vacaville Councilman Raymond Beaty—scored the dishes. The winners each received a 4-H backpack filled with a 4-H shirt, a Baskin Robbins gift card and a 4-H sticker, according to coordinator Deanne Weber of the Vaca Valley 4-H Club..

Participant awards went to:

• Lil Peppers of Pleasants Valley, Naomi Lipary, Shannel Madrigal and JessieMeans
• Super Sherwood Forest: Samantha Smith, Darren Stephens, Hanna Stephens and Julietta Wynholds
• The Chili Awakens, Suisun Valley: James LG George, Markus Taliaferro, Beau Westad and Brody Westad
• The Chili Masters, Vaca Valley: Corinne Weber and Brooke Williams
• The Dixon Ridge Chili Team, Dixon Ridge: Maritz Partida, Miguel Partida, Ruby Radillo and Monse Torrer

Solano County has 11 4-H clubs, with a total membership of 400:

• Vacaville: Vaca Valley, Pleasants Valley, Elmira and the newest one, Heritage (nearly chartered)
• Fairfield-Suisun: Suisun Valley and Westwind
• Dixon: Maine Prairie, Tremont and Dixon Ridge
• Rio Vista: Rio Vista 4-H
• Vallejo: Sherwood Forest

The Solano County 4-H Youth Development Program, part of the UC Cooperative Extension Program, follows the motto, “Making the Best Better.” 4-H, which stands for head, heart, health and hands, is open to youths ages 5 to 19. In age-appropriate projects, they learn skills through hands-on learning in projects ranging from arts and crafts, computers and leadership to dog care, poultry, rabbits and woodworking. They develop skills they would otherwise not attain at home or in public or private schools. For more information, contact Valerie Williams at vawilliams@ucanr.edu.

— Story and photo courtesy Kathy Keatley Garvey