Local residents received honors at the Morris County 4-H Fair

Morris County 4-H recently held their annual Morris County 4-H Fair at Chubb Park, Chester from July 19th – 22nd. 4-H members and youth from around the county showcased their skills in various divisions such as Fine Art, Photography, Science, and more. Kids in grades kindergarten to 3rd grade received beautiful rainbow flat ribbons while children from grade 4 to grade 13 (one year past highschool) were eligible for “Excellent” blue ribbons, “Very Good” red ribbons, “Good” yellow ribbons and “Fair” white ribbons. Approximately 150 4-H members, Morris County youth and Adult 4-H Volunteers participated with over 665 entries.

Puppy Tails 4-H Seeing Eye Puppy Raisers Club member Katelynn Peterson of Lake Hopatcong participated in the Poster Paws and Claws Division. All projects in this division must have been designed around the entrant’s pet. Posters were encouraged to include pictures, drawings, poems and stories about the pet. Katelynn’s poster of her ‘Pet Dog’ received an “Excellent” rating as well as a large Honorable Mention rosette Grades 4-8. This award is given to the second best entry in a Unit.

The Photography Division had over 100 photos on display under the Exhibit Tent. Entrants could enter photos of buildings, people, animals, landscape and nature, photojournalism, black and white, and altered, manipulated or abstract.

Amazing Artists 4-H Art Club leader, Jen Carberry-Landis of Stanhope competed with her photos in the Adult Unit. Her photo entry entitled ‘Cage’ was awarded a large Best in Show rosette for the Unit. This award is only given out to the very best project in the Unit and is considered the highest honor given.

In the Fine Art Division Jen showed her artwork in the Adult Unit. Entrants were encouraged to enter paintings, drawings, prints, sketches, sculptures and art designed on a computer. Jen’s piece ‘Copy of Amber’ won Best in Show for its Unit.

Jen also showed off her writing skills in the Creative Writing Division were all entries were judged on content, creativity, originality, neatness, grammar, and spelling. Her simple writing ‘Because’ won Best in Show in the Adult Unit.

The Fair is not limited to just divisions; it also caters to other events such as the Dog Show, the Poultry Show, Goat Showmanship, and Small Animal Show.

Furry Friends and Buckanears 4-H Small Animal Clubs members were very excited to compete in the Small Animal Show that took place on Saturday. In this set of ‘beauty shows’, entrants are judged against a Standard of Perfection. Rabbits are judged against ARBA (American Rabbit Breeders Association) Standards of Perfection while Cavies are judged against ACBA (American Cavy Breeders Association) Standards of Perfection.

In the Small Animal Show, 4-H member Chiara Cocoziello of Lake Hopatcong competed with her Hedgehog, an African Pygmy Pinto Cinnamon Boar. Her Hedgehog won Best in Show Small Animal. 4-H member Ava Schuffenhauer of Netcong and her Rex Black/White Female Rat took home Best Reserved in Show Rat. This honor is award to the animal that is runner-up to the Best in Show. Ava also participated in the Rabbit Show. She and her Mixed Breed Blue Doe earned a Best of Breed Mixed Breed. A Best of Breed is awarded to the animal that best meets the standard set for the Breed.

Lake Hopactong resident and 4-Her Sierra Durham won a Best of Breed in the Rabbit Show with her Harlequin Gray/Black. Sierra competed in the Cavy Show with both her American Black/Brown Sow and Mixed Breed Agouti Sow. Both animals won Best of Breeds while Sierra’s American went on to win Best Reserved in Show Cavy.

Showmanship took place during the Rabbit, Cavy, and Small Animal Shows. Contestants showed off their skills and knowledge of their animals breeds, showing and health care through a mini presentation while answering questions. Sierra came in 1st in the Senior Class.

The Goat Show also took place on Saturday. Exhibitors who showed milking goats wore all white while exhibitors who showed meat goats wore a white top with black pants. All animals were judged against the appropriate designated state standard. Sierra and her LaMancha Doe Goat named Ebony placed 2nd in the Senior Class.

The Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program uses a learn by doing approach to enable youth to develop the knowledge, attitudes, and skills they need to become competent, caring and contributing citizens of the world.

For more information about 4-H clubs or becoming a 4-H volunteer, visit the 4-H website at http://morris.njaes.rutgers.edu or contact the 4-H office (973) 285-8301 or email 4hmorris@njaes.rutgers.edu. The 4-H Youth Development Program is part of Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station Cooperative Extension. 4-H educational programs are offered to all youth, grades K-13, on an age appropriate basis, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, disability, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, marital status, civil union status, domestic partnership status, military service, veteran status, and any other category protected by law.