The 2025 Northwest Regional 4-H Day, April 5, provided an opportunity for 4-H’ers to showcase their talents in a number of project areas from sewing to public speaking and photography.

The event was held on the University of Vermont (UVM) campus in Burlington and featured the work of 45 4-H’ers from clubs in northwestern Vermont. The entries and presentations were evaluated with several chosen to continue on to 4-H State Day, May 17 in Barre, a capstone event featuring outstanding 4-H'ers from throughout the state.

The results from Northwest Regional 4-H Day are as follows. Although the 4-H’ers could submit more than one entry in the photo and poster categories, not more than one per category could be selected for display at 4-H State Day.

Non-clothing items also were not eligible for display at 4-H State Day although Fallyn Newton, Bridport, was recognized at regional day for her outstanding entry in this category.

ADDISON COUNTY

  • FASHION REVUE: Billie Bowdish, Haylee Clark and Charleigh Wilson, all from Middlebury; Sophia Welch, Bridport
  • ILLUSTRATED TALK: Sophia Welch, Bridport (“Horse Conformation”)
  • PHOTOS: Torrey Hanna, Addison (“Beaver Pond Reflection”); Torrey also submitted other photos (“Grazing in Golden,” “Peek-a-Moo,” “Suddenly Silly” and “Acadia Sunrise”)
  • POSTERS: McKenzie Ball, New Haven (“First vs. Second Cutting Hay”); Gracelynn Barber, Shoreham (“Luna”); Molly LaFramboise, Weybridge (“Jerseys”); Blake Moulton, Middlebury (“Maple Syrup”). Other award-winning posters not selected for 4-H State Day were created by Lucas Gorton, New Haven (“Red Holsteins and Guernseys”); Kylee Shepard (“Natural Disasters”) and Sophee Shepard (“All About Deer”), both from Panton.
  • TABLETOP EXHIBITS: Delaney Blaisdell, Vergennes (“Grooming 101”); Normandie Cesario, Cornwall (“The Breyer Horse”); Alexis Freegard, Bristol (“All About Strangles”); Ansley Montgomery, Addison (“Saddle Fitting”); Chace Petrin, Addison (“Lake Champlain”); Summer Petrin, Addison (“Homeward Bound”)

CHITTENDEN COUNTY

  • PHOTOS: Allessandra Hoffman, Milton (“Hangin’ in There”); Eli Palmer, Williston (“Good Puppy”); Liam Palmer, Williston (“World of Possibilities”). Allessandra also entered “It Matters.” Liam submitted “Mr. Gray Sky.”
  • POSTERS: Catherine Baker, Milton (“Splendid Snakes”); Josephine Kasha-Hare, Milton (“Poisonous Plants for Horses”); Charlotte Clark-Lietar, Williston, also entered a poster (“Chickens”), which was not among those selected to continue on to 4-H State Day.
  • TABLETOP EXHIBITS: Ethan Devoid, Charlotte (“History of Video Games”); Sadie Devoid, Charlotte (“Healthy Bites”); Andrew Guyette, South Burlington (“Raising Baby Chicks”); Rose Guyette, South Burlington (“Granny Squares”); Audrey Shearer, Williston (“How to Play D & D”); Evelyn Shearer, Williston (“Helping Priority Birds”)
  • TINKER/MAKER: Dorian Wright, Williston (“I Currently Know About Electricity”)

FRANKLIN COUNTY

  • DEMONSTRATION (TEAM): Aubri Richards, Georgia, and Claire Romano, Fairfax (“Deworming Horses”); Ian Kascha-Hare, Milton, and Lane Fortune, Georgia (“Life Cycle of a Chicken--Egg to Hen”). Ian is a member of a Franklin County 4-H club.
  • PHOTOS: Lane Fortune, Georgia (“Curious Chick”). Lane also submitted two other entries (“Climbing Kitten” and “Pollo en un Tronco”). Kinzi Grindle, St. Albans, also entered photos (“Can You Find Me?,” “Cat and Mouse,” “Midnight Beauty,” “The Cat” and “Stare Down”).
  • POSTERS: Lane Fortune, Georgia (“Chatty Chickens”); Julie Merlo, Swanton (“Training a Sled Dog”)
  • TABLETOP EXHIBITS: Henry Lawrence, Georgia (“Dachshunds”)

Several 4-H Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, also took part in the regional day but due to age, are not eligible to participate in 4-H State Day. Lucille Bowdish, Middlebury, modeled an outfit she made in the fashion show. Entering posters were Averill Bailey, South Burlington (“Chinese Folklore”); Jade Gorton (“Jersey, Guernsey, Red Holstein”) and Wade Gorton (“Cars”), both from New Haven; Mary Klawiter, Milton (“Racoons”); and Charley Moulton, Middlebury (“Addison County Field Days”).

The event was sponsored by the 4-H Foundations of Addison, Chittenden, Franklin and Grand Isle and organized by UVM Extension 4-H Educators Martha Manning and Martha Seifert. Evaluators were Jean Fay, Essex Center; Mary Fay, Westford; and Wendy Sorrell, UVM Extension 4-H livestock educator. McKenzie Ball, a 4-H teen from New Haven, assisted at the event.

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