Essex Junction--Talented 4-H'ers from 4-H clubs in Addison, Chittenden and Franklin Counties took part in Northwest Regional 4-H Day, April 9.

The venue for the event, held in person for the first time since 2019, was Essex High School in Essex Junction. Thirty-two 4-H members participated in one or more categories including action exhibits, stage presentations, photography, posters and table top exhibits.

All qualified for 4-H State Day, slated for May 7 at the Vermont Granite Museum in Barre, an annual showcase featuring outstanding 4-H'ers from throughout the state. Exhibits and presentations will be evaluated again at the state event with some chosen to represent Vermont at Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield, Massachusetts, in September.

Regional Day winners, by county, were:

ADDISON    

  • PHOTOGRAPHY: Brailey Livingston, New Haven; Abby Reen, Lincoln
  • POSTER: Hailee Allen (Cow Comfort); Peyton Ball (Vermont Maple Sugaring), Christopher Brown (Formula "Z"), Brailey Livingston (Warmbloods) and Karissa Livingston (Moo Muse), all from New Haven; Tyler Linehan, Monkton (Types of Fish); Blake Nadeau, Middlebury (How a Chick Hatches); Jayden Ploof (Chickens), Kylee Shepard (Showing and Judging Jerseys) and Sophee Shepard (Koala Bears), all from Panton; Hailey Chase (Angel Wing Begonia), Mackenzie Chase (Cota Family Sugarworks) and Bella Roell (My Cow Millie), all from Bristol; Isabella Wilbur, Orwell (Training a Horse)

CHITTENDEN

ACTION EXHIBIT: Whispering Pines 4-H Club, Westford (Corky Creations--how to make a cork hot mat). Participants were Josie and Lillian Kasha-Hare and Lily and Sam Provost, all from Milton; Nora Kidder, Cambridge; Addie Ploof, Westford; and Madison Trudell, Fairfax.

  • PHOTOGRAPHY: Sydney Gorton, Milton
  • POSTER: Bristol Card (Cattle Color Genes and Types of Cheese), Colt Card (Anatomy of a Pokeman Card) and Remington Card (Dog Breeds and Sheep Breeds), all from Williston; Sydney Gorton, Milton (Perfect Poitou); Adaline Ploof, Westford (Navicular Disease)
  • STAGE PRESENTATION: Sunset Hill 4-H Club, Williston (Irish Dancing). Dancers were Bristol and Remington Card, Williston.
  • TABLETOP DISPLAY: Bristol Card (How to Make French Macaroons); Remington Card (Sheep); JJ Garcia-Zeleny (Life in a WWII German U-boat); Natalie Jewett (Ouija Board); Rachel Niekrewicz (Pumpkin Bread); Liam Palmer (L'Anseaux Meadows: The First Viking Settler), all from Williston

FRANKLIN

  • POSTER: Kelsey Paradee (Horse Hitch Types) and Paityn Paradee (Horse Leg Markings), both from Swanton

To learn more about 4-H in the Northwest region, contact Margaret Coan (Chittenden County) at margaret.coan@uvm.edu; Martha Manning (Franklin and Grand Isle Counties) at martha.manning@uvm.edu or Martha Seifert (Addison County) at martha.seifert@uvm.edu.