4-H members encouraged to compete for special awards

4-H members across the county are invited to take part in an exciting opportunity to showcase their creativity through their static exhibit projects.

4-H and FFA members will exhibit static projects at the 2025 Greater Jefferson County Fair in the project areas of Animals, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Creative Arts, Family and Consumer Sciences, Horticulture, Personal Development, and Science, Engineering, and Technology. While working on their projects, members should keep in mind the 4-H Special Awards given out each year. These awards recognize outstanding projects that go beyond traditional project areas and encourage personal expression, historical preservation, and innovation.

This year, the two Special Awards that will be presented to exceptional entries in any class — and they are not limited to State Fair selected items- are the Historical Restoration Recognition and Fair Theme Special Award. Members do not need to apply for these awards; instead, the sponsors of these awards will look through the all of the county fair static projects and select a winner based on the criteria of the award. Each winner will receive a $25 cash prize, making this a great incentive for youth to share projects that reflect their interests and heritage.

The first award is the Historical Restoration Recognition Award, generously sponsored by the Bonnefield Chapter #1012 of The Questers. This award encourages members to have a connection to the past, preserving their family stories by including an artifact into their project that is at least 50 years old or older, either preserved or restored, and integrated into the theme of the chosen project class. Exhibitors must also include a written history of the family artifact, sharing its background and significance, in their project write-up.

Last year’s recipient of the Historical Restoration Recognition Award was Gabriella Messer. She restored her great, great grandma’s vanity into a bedside table. This was entered into the Home Improvement class, and she included information about the project’s connection to her family in her write-up. Bonnefield Questers #1012 also presented an additional $25 to Gabriella for a donation of her choice to an historical organization or project within Jefferson County. She chose Bonnefield Cabin Preservation.

The second award is the Fair Theme Special Award, sponsored by the 4-H Static Superintendents. This award recognizes an exhibit that embraces and reflects the current year’s fair theme- Barn in the USA.

We greatly appreciate the Bonnefield Chapter #1012 of The Questers and the 4-H Static Superintendents for sponsoring these awards! For more information and questions about the Special Awards, contact the Jefferson County 4-H office at 641-472-4166 or jefferson4h@iastate.edu.