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Washington Evening Journal
111 North Marion Avenue
Washington, IA 52353
319-653-2191
A look back at the Washington County Fair
With the Washington County Fair in the rearview mirror, there are still lots of stories to tell! Below is a collection of news releases, photos, and other reports from the 2024 fair, courtesy of Washington County 4-H.
4-H Clubs Make Memories at the Washington County Fair
“Let the Games Begin” was the theme of the 4-H hay bale decorating contest at the Washington County Fair this year. 11 clubs decorated bales with a variety of Olympic rings, torches, and more in honor of the Summer Olympics.
First place went to the Green Acres 4-H Club for their decorated bale at the east entrance to the fairgrounds. Second place was awarded to the Go-Getters 4-H Club for their Olympic torch. Third place went to Bows and Bullets with their bale by the little red barn. A new Judge’s Choice Award was added this year to recognize a bale decorated on all sides by the Limecreek Limelights.
This was a great way for 4-H club members to work on a project together that shares their enthusiasm for the fair and showcases their artistic creativity. Fairgoers enjoy finding the decorated bales throughout the fairgrounds and naming their favorites. Congratulations to all clubs that participated!
Jim and Sandi Hotchkiss selected to represent Washington County in 2024 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame
Jim and Sandi Hotchkiss of Washington were recognized at the Washington County Fair on July 19 as the 2024 Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame recipient for Washington County. Annually every county is to select one recipient for the Iowa 4-H Hall of Fame. Washington recipients are all pictured in the Extension Office dating back to the beginning of the program in 2002. All past recipients can be viewed at https://www.iowa4hfoundation.org/what-we-do/recognizing-service/iowa-4-h-hall-of-fame
Jim and Sandi Hotchkiss met the summer of 1970 in the sheep barn at the Washington County Fair. One year and a 4-H trip later, these two were dating. Jim actually proposed to Sandi under the trees north of the sheep barn during the county fair on her birthday. It was a beautifully written 4-H love story!
4-H has always been a part of their life. Once members, then parents to 4-Hers, then club and project leaders, and now grandparents to 4-Hers. Jim and Sandi Hotchkiss don’t recognize a time in their life without 4-H.
Growing up Jim was a member of the Washington Hustlers 4-H Club and county council showing sheep, horses, and swine and participating in livestock judging. Jim’s dad was a great 4-H leader and served in the sheep department for many years leaving quite the legacy in which Jim has followed in closely. Sandi was a busy member of the 4-H Maidens, Hustlers and county council where she participated in a variety of project areas.
Both became 4-H leaders when their oldest daughter Jennifer joined 4-H and followed all their children through — Jennifer, Jessica, Jake, and Jillian. Sandi led the Prairie Pride 4-H Club for 20 years and Jim continues to be a leader for the Horse and Pony Club now reaching over 35 years of service. During this time he coached teams and traveled the nation with his livestock judging teams. He has taught and mentored multiple generations of families through the horse department. In addition to the regular club meetings, he spends many weeks before the county fair at horse workouts, preparing for the fun show, working the arena, assisting with club trail rides and fundraising activities. He is proud to share the leading duties with his daughter Jessica.
Three generations of the Hotchkiss Family have been involved in 4-H leadership. Jim’s dad was a 4-H leader and superintendent of sheep department. The first brick purchased for the patio in front of the Washington County Extension Office is in honor of James Hotchkiss. Ruth, his wife, was one of the greatest 4-H cheerleaders to her children and grandchildren.
As a team, Jim and Sandi had great 4-H role models and have become ones themselves. The Washington County 4-H horse department, arena, barn and kids would not be what it is without the Hotchkiss family. They have been active filling many volunteer roles and are proud supporters of the 4-H program. They are great examples of hard work, family focused and generous giving. Thank you for letting Washington County 4-H be a part of all of that!
Jim and Sandi Hotchkiss don’t recognize a time in their life without 4-H. They were actually engaged during the county fair in the exact sheep barn they met two years earlier. It was the start to a beautiful 4-H love story that continues today with chapters of raising four children in the program, serving as club leaders, coaching youth in livestock judging, horse department and non-livestock project areas and now cheering on eight enrolled 4-H grandchildren. The Washington County 4-H horse department, arena, barn and kids would not be what it is without the Hotchkiss family.
The couple will be further recognized at the Iowa State Fair on Aug. 18 for their dedication to Iowa 4-H.
Clover Kids Conference About Their 4-H Exhibits
Sixty-seven Washington County 4-H Clover Kids conferenced with judges about their fair projects Saturday, July 13 during the non-livestock judging day for the Washington County Fair. While 4-H’ers were getting their non-livestock exhibits judged for Family & Consumer Sciences and Science, Mechanics & Engineering, Clover Kids also had their opportunity to visit with judges.
Clover Kids are youth in grades Kindergarten through third grade who are involved in the 4-H program. They had the option to visit with an adult about their fair exhibit(s). They were asked about their project, what they did, and what they learned. All Clover Kids received special tie-dye ribbons for their exhibits and the opportunity to display them during the week of fair. 154 Clover Kids’ projects were on display in the upstairs of Dallmeyer Hall each day of the fair last week.
Conferencing with an adult allows Clover Kids the opportunity to experience conference judging which is a requirement of all 4-H exhibitors. They will move up to a traditional 4-H club when they enter fourth grade. At that time, they will conference with a judge and receive ribbons and premium money.
Washington County currently has over 150 Clover Kids in 10 clubs. For more information about Clover Kids, contact the Washington County Extension Office, 319-653-4811, or check the web at www.extension.iastate.edu/washington.
4-H Working Exhibits a Success at the Washington County Fair
Many people enjoyed “making and taking” during the Working Exhibits on Tuesday, July 16 at the Washington County Fair. A large crowd flocked to the hands-on presentations during the late afternoon and left with some homemade items and valuable facts.
Seven groups of 4-H’ers participated in the Working Exhibits, ranging in activities from learning about sensory slime to origami to heat safety. This project area falls under the communication division which is known for teaching youth how to demonstrate, give directions to an audience, and interact with an audience to produce a take-home product.
Amelia Meller, Eleanor Van Ommen, Annie Peiffer, and Tori Marsengill earned the Judge’s Choice trophy for their dog toys exhibit. The following groups will represent Washington County at the Iowa State Fair:
- Grace, Elijah, Sophia, and Jenna Puttmann with “Koozie Up-cycling for Pop-sicling”
- Annabelle Septer with “How to Make Stickers”
- Calvin Meller and Kiera Stanerson with “Jumping Jellyfish”
- Ruby Lowenberg with “Tissue Paper Painting”
Washington County Fair Quilts of Valor Presentation Recognizes 10 Veterans
A new event was hosted at the Washington County Fair July 19 as a special recognition of Veterans. During this presentation 10 Veterans were awarded with their own handmade patriotic quilt registered as a Quilt of Valor though the national Quilts of Valor foundation. In June a special Quilt Camp was hosted by Washington County 4-H and led by Brenna Goode with several quilting volunteers as mentors. Participants learned how to piece a quilt top and also complete the binding. Nine youth participated in the weeklong camp to make their own quilt. These quilts were completed for county fair and on display in Dallmeyer Hall during the fair.
Each youth participant selected a Veteran or were paired with one to receive the quilts. For many of the youth participating, this was their very first time designing and sewing a quilt.
Amy Green, Washington County 4-H and Youth Coordinator, was excited to present this vision to the Wellman Quilting Guild this winter as a dream and then the right combination of volunteers, donations, and youth made it reality.
“We are proud of these youth wanting to recognize and honor veterans in this way,” she said. “It was a special ceremony, I think, we all will remember,” said Green.
4-H alum Bailey Rees started the ceremony with the national anthem, a few words were shared by 4-H’er Caedyn Huston who has a passion for military history and had a Citizenship project selected for the Iowa State Fair telling the story of World War II Veterans, Brenna Goode thanked volunteers and sponsors, and each Veteran was then recognized with a simple summary of their service and then were wrapped in love by their quilt.
Youth were able to meet with their Veterans before the ceremony to show the complete quilts, get to know each other a bit, and take pictures. For more pictures of the quilts or ceremony visit: https://photos.app.goo.gl/EY8pTVhxcRaerZeh9
4-H’ers ‘Cook Up’ Iowa Pride at the Washington County Fair
4-H’ers cooked up some Iowa pride during the 18th annual Pride of Iowa contest on Wednesday, July 17 at the Washington County Fair. Contestants each prepared a recipe with an ingredient or ingredients representative of Iowa. During the contest, participants handed out samples of their food, showed how to make their recipe, and answered questions from fairgoers. Participants could enter as an individual 4-H’er, team of 4-H’ers, or as a 4-H’er and adult team.
Seven groups of 4-Hers participated in Pride of Iowa with food items ranging from mint chip brownie squares to strawberry salsa to monster cookie energy bites. The Judge’s Choice award, sponsored by JP’s 207, was given to Emma and Grace Taylor of the Washington Go-Getters for their street corn dip. Each visitor at the Pride of Iowa event was given a piece of corn to vote for their favorite entry. The People’s Choice award, sponsored by Washington Keokuk County Corn & Soybean Growers, was given to Mia Conrad and Adelinn Beinhart of the Dutch Creek Flyers for their chicken pinwheels.
The Pride of Iowa contest helps to make 4-H’ers, adults, and the public more aware of products made in Iowa. Contestants were judged based on taste and flavor of their food, organization, uniqueness of recipe, health aspect, enthusiasm, public’s enthusiasm, display, and following contest rules. Thanks to everyone who participated!
4-H Members Share the Fun at the Washington County Fair
4-H members participated in Share the Fun on Wednesday, July 17 at the Washington County Fair. Acts can range from skits to vocal to dance to instrumental performances. Youth participated from a variety of clubs for an audience gathered in the Community Center.
Three acts will advance to the Iowa State Fair, including a vocal solo by Adrian Green of the Green Acres, a dance solo by Ruby Lowenberg of the Washington Go-Getters, and Gwen Piette of the Highlanders with her storytelling of “Sheila Rae, the Brave.” Green also received the Judge’s Choice Award for her a cappella vocal to “Can You Feel the Love Tonight.”
Share the Fun is a great way for 4-H’ers to share their talents on stage and entertain an audience. For more information on this communication event, contact the Washington County Extension Office.
