Lyndonville--April 8 was an action-packed day for 4-H'ers from 16 clubs in Caledonia, Essex, Lamoille and Orleans Counties as they gathered in Lyndonville for the 2023 Northeast Regional 4-H Spring Showcase. 

This annual showcase of 4-H talent was held at the Lyndon Town School. A total of 68 4-H'ers, ages 5 to 18, participated in person with another 13 taking part virtually or by submitting entries in advance. 

Categories ranged from stage presentations, action exhibits and illustrated talks to fashion revue and technology. Many of the youths also entered tabletop exhibits, photos and posters. For the Smart Shopper category, 4-H'ers, working with a $50 budget, put together an outfit to model on stage to demonstrate their "shopping smarts" and fashion sense.

All entries were scored on the Danish system and awarded a blue, red or white ribbon. The top blue ribbon entry in every category except photos received a rosette ribbon. Entries by 4-H Cloverbuds, ages 5-7, were not evaluated but instead received a rainbow-colored participation ribbon.

Results, by county, were as follows. These entries will continue onto 4-H State Day, planned for May 6 in Barre.

CALEDONIA COUNTY

  • ACTION EXHIBIT: Blue ribbons: Blazing Bridles 4-H Club, Danville ("Halter Holder." Participants: Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury; LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott; Jenesy Zwart, Danville); South Kirby Hilltoppers, South Kirby ("Horse Dream Lights." Participants: Kaila and Lily Call and Paige Hemond, all from Waterford; Jillyan Normand, North Concord)
  • DEMONSTRATION (INDIVIDUAL): Rosette and blue ribbon winner: Trevor Smith, Hardwick ("My Head is Killing Me"). White ribbon: Cosimo Franklin, Wheelock ("Bassett Hounds")
  • FASHION REVUE: Rosette and blue ribbon: Grace Denio, Waterford (jumpsuit)
  • ILLUSTRATED TALK (Senior Division): Rosette and blue ribbon winner: Grace Denio, Waterford ("Ain't Enough Pockets"). Red ribbon: Andy McReynolds, Danville ("My Experience at the National Shooting Sports Championships")
  • ILLUSTRATED TALK (Junior Division): Rosette and blue ribbon: Luke Morrison, Danville ("Luke's Relics"). Blue ribbon: Caleb Morrison, Danville ("Raising Calves"). Red ribbon: Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick ("My Grandpa")
  • MAKER/TINKER: Rosette and blue ribbon: Cosimo Franklin, Wheelock ("LEGO Bop It")
  • PHOTOGRAPHY: Blue ribbons: Grace Denio, Waterford; Paige Hemond, Waterford; Jasmine Mooney, St. Johnsbury; Mackynzie Tattersall, West Burke. Red ribbons: Lily Call, Waterford; Kaylee Demars, St. Johnsbury; Grace Denio, Waterford (two photos); Cosimo Franklin, Wheelock; Jasmine Mooney, St. Johnsbury; Thea Ross, St. Johnsbury; Jenesy Zwart, Danville. White ribbons: Cosimo Franklin, Wheelock (two photos)
  • POSTER: Rosette, blue ribbon and voted Fan Favorite for Essex County: Elizabeth Gamble, Peacham ("Thrush"). Blue ribbons: Kaila Call, Waterford; Jaida Jenkin, Lyndonville; Abby McReynolds, Danville; Nick McReynolds, Danville; Dawson Michaud, East Hardwick; Mackynzie Tattersall, West Burke. Red ribbon: Gabrielle Emerson, Groton; Cosimo Franklin, Wheelock. White ribbon: Cameron Franko, Wheelock. Rainbow ribbon: Zayne Franko, Wheelock
  • PUBLIC SPEAKING: Red ribbon: Haley Michaud, East Hardwick ("Career Research")
  • SMART SHOPPER: Blue ribbons: Jaida Jenkin, Lyndonville; Margo Lawson, Newport; Mackynzie Tattersall, West Burke
  • TABLETOP DISPLAY: Rosette and blue ribbon: Tiegan Perry, Danville ("Equine Recurrent Uveitis"). Blue ribbons: Kaila Call, Waterford ("Whoo's Who?"); Jenesy Zwart, Danville ("DIY Hay Net"). Red ribbons: Lily Call, Waterford ("Eight Parasites of Horses"); Willa Davis, Waterford, and Molly Larabee, West Danville ("Archery on Horseback"); Morgan Michaud, East Hardwick ("Artificial Insemination"); Paige Hemond and Josie Thomas, both from Waterford ("Horse Braiding")  

ESSEX COUNTY

  • PHOTOGRAPHY: Blue ribbons: Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire (two photos) (Breena is a member of the Wildlife Warriors, an Essex County 4-H club.)
  • POSTER: Blue ribbons: Makenna Amadon, Lunenburg; Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire. Red ribbons: Madison Fuller, Luneburg; CJ McNeely, Lunenburg
  • SMART SHOPPER: Rosette and blue ribbon: Jillyan Normand, North Concord. Blue ribbon: Breeana Garcia, Woodsville, New Hampshire
  • TABLETOP DISPLAY: Red ribbon: Jillyan Normand, North Concord ("Preparing for Horse Ownership")
  • LAMOILLE COUNTY:
  • PHOTOGRAPHY: Blue ribbons: Téa Ferris, Jeffersonville (two photos); LeighAnn Judd, Wolcott. Red ribbon: Téa Ferris, Jeffersonville
  • POSTER: Rosette, blue ribbon and voted Fan Favorite for Lamoille County: Téa Ferris, Jeffersonville ("The Horse Skeleton"). Blue ribbons: Rhea Ferris, Jeffersonville; Amalie Pratt, Wolcott

ORLEANS COUNTY

  • ACTION EXHIBIT: Rosette and blue ribbon: Kingdom Hoofbeats, Derby Line ("Tag, You're It." Participants: Vera Acheson, North Troy; Maggie Guyer, Morgan; Jayde Hopkins, Penelope Longe and Carlie Rondeau, all from Newport; Desiree Jensen, West Charleston; Taylor Peck, Sheffield). Blue ribbons: Caspian Critters 4-H Club, Greensboro ("Three Thrilling Things to Do with Too Much Milk." Participants: Natalie and Warren Hill, Greensboro; Emma Rowell, Greensboro Bend; Maia Young, Glover); Kingdom Hoofbeats, Derby Line ("Quit Your Belly Achin.' " Participants: Avila Grassley, West Burke; Kassie Koehler, Newport; Annabelle Jensen, West Charleston; Grace Patenaude, Derby; Lillie Royer, Newport Center; Lexie Vinal, North Troy)
  • Rainbow ribbons: Kingdom Hoofbeats Cloverbuds, Derby Line ("Hoofbeat Treats." Participants: Nora Acheson, North Troy; Quinn Charest, Derby Line; Pliny Crafts, Albany; Brooklyn Peck, Sheffield; Audrey Walker, West Charleston)
  • ILLUSTRATED TALK (Junior Division): Red ribbon: Talon Michaud, Greensboro ("Sugaring")
  • PHOTOGRAPHY: Blue ribbons: Landen Gilman, Irasburg; Kassie Koehler, Newport; Lillie Royer, Newport Center. Red ribbons: Kassie Koehler, Newport; Danyka Moulton, North Troy; Carlie Rondeau, Newport. White ribbon: Danyka Moulton, North Troy. Rainbow ribbon: Ella Whittemore, Orleans
  • POSTER: Rosette, blue ribbon and voted Fan Favorite for Orleans County: Elizabeth Choquette, Westmore ("Koalas"). Blue ribbons: Anthony Davis, Cooper Lamonda and Isabella Lamonda, all from Orleans; Eva Bury and Reegan Kelley, both from Derby; Alexa Graham, Potton, Quebec; Emma Pothier, Newport Center; and Carter Weikel, Newport Center. Red ribbons: Anna Whittemore, Orleans; Leah Whittemore, Orleans. Rainbow ribbon: Hannah Birch, Derby 
  • STAGE PRESENTATION (INDIVIDUAL): Rosette and blue ribbon: Natalie Lawson, Newport ("Somewhere Over the Rainbow"--vocals). Red ribbons: Isabella Lamonda, Orleans ("Human"--dance); Ruth Lawson, Newport ("Remember"--dance)
  • STAGE PRESENTATION (GROUP): Red ribbon: Kingdom Hoofbeats, Derby Line ("Kingdom Drillsters." Drill Team members: Avila Grassley, West Burke; Jayde Hopkins, Kassie Koehler, Penelope Longe and Carlie Rondeau, all from Newport; Annabelle and Desiree Jensen, West Charleston; Grace Patenaude, Derby; Taylor Peck, Sheffield; Lillie Royer, Newport Center; Lexie Vinal, North Troy)
  • TABLETOP DISPLAY: Red ribbons: Olivia Houghton, Derby ("History of Vermont Merino Wool"); Deegan Michaud, Greensboro ("Wilt Chamberlin")

WINDSOR COUNTY

  • DEMONSTRATION (TEAM): Red ribbon: Connor Hoyt and rainbow ribbon: Emmett Hoyt, both from South Royalton ("Save the Bees") (Connor and Emmett are members of Waterford 4-H, a Caledonia County club)
  • POSTER: Rosette, blue ribbon and voted Fan Favorite for Caledonia County: Connor Hoyt, South Royalton ("Bees and Agriculture"). Rainbow ribbon: Emmett Hoyt, South Royalton

University of Vermont Extension 4-H educators Lindy Birch and Holly Ferris organized the event with the help of Charlie Somers, Lyndonville, who served as coordinator for the judges' room. 4-H teen Téa Ferris, Jeffersonville, handled registration.

Judges for the event were Julie Brochu, Craftsbury, and Vermont 4-H Assistant Director Allison Smith (demonstrations and illustrated talks); Jared Birch, Coventry, and Kameron Gallant, Wheelock (action exhibits); Kelsea Aldrich and Emily, Rebecca and Stacey Tanner, all from Lyndonville (tabletop displays); and Shelia Martin and youth volunteers Addison and Lily Sicard, all from Orleans (stage presentations). The judges each received a pencil holder designed by Mud and Maker from Moss Boutique, a shop in Morrisville.

To learn more about 4-H in Essex and Orleans Counties, contact Lindy Birch at melinda.birch@uvm.edu. For Caledonia and Lamoille Counties, contact Holly Ferris at holly.ferris@uvm.edu.