Achievement Days, held June 21-24 at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot, started off with the 4-H Open Horse Show, judged by Jenna Mickelson, Grand Forks. The horse show included English, Western, and timed events, as well as the horse training project. The horse training project gives young horse trainers an opportunity to showcase their own young horse and track their progress. This is exclusively offered at the county level and is not offered at the state 4-H horse show. Throughout the horse show, participants received points based on how they placed. Belt buckles were awarded to the top two individuals who earned the most points in each Senior, Intermediate, and Junior age groups.

Awards were as follows:

– Champion Senior Horse Showman: Macey Moore, Berthold

– Reserve Champion Senior Horse Showman: Emily Fannik, Max

Submitted Photo Daylon Yanish and his “Chick-nick Table” are being judged in woodworking by Brian Burkett during Ward County 4-H Achievement Days. The table will be used as a fun way for Yanish to feed his chickens.

– Champion Intermediate Horse Showman: Hailey Schauer, Carpio

– Reserve Champion Intermediate Horse Showman: Bailey Bloms, Burlington

– Champion Junior Horse Showman: Barrett Myre, Sawyer

– Reserve Champion Junior Horse Showman: Kinley Schilla, Makoti

Day two of Achievement Days began with the dog, cat, and small animal (pet) shows. Youth exhibiting their dogs competed in obedience and showmanship classes. During obedience, exhibitors performed a series of different commands and tasks to demonstrate their dog’s level of obedience. In showmanship, the youth were quizzed on their knowledge of their dog and how well they could display their dog’s breed characteristics. The dog show was judged by Rachel Jestice, Ryder. Awards were as follows:

Submitted Photo The Junior Cat show held during Ward County 4-H Achievement Days had seven entries. From left to right are Tabitha Hauge, Elizabeth Hanson, Jayden Wiltse, Gage Schenfisch, Danielle Bulow, Elizabeth Detert and Brexton Ehli.

– Champion Intermediate Dog Obedience and Showmanship: Kyleigh Wiltse, Minot

– Champion Junior Dog Obedience and Showmanship: Elizabeth Hanson, Velva

The cat and small animal shows were judged by LeAnn Vollmer, Minot. Cat owners displayed how healthy their animals are and were quizzed on how they care for their animal, as well as basic anatomy. The small animal show included gerbils and a guinea pig. These exhibitors were also asked how they care for their pet and basic anatomy questions. Awards were as follows:

– Champion Senior Cat Showman: Marissa Beck, Minot

– Champion Intermediate Cat Showman: Brooke Livingston, Kenmare

Submitted Photo Emily Fannik with her horse, Phoenix, is shown during Ward County 4-H Achievement Days.

– Champion Junior Cat Showman: Danielle Bulow, Minot

– Champion Gerbil: Bulow

– Champion Guinea Pig: Brexton Ehli, Minot

Static (non-living project) interview judging also took place on day two. Thirty static judges assigned blue, red, white, or Cloverbud participation ribbons. The judges also chose who would receive grand, reserve, or honorable mention ribbons. Lastly, the judges worked together in their respective units to choose Best of Show for teen and pre-teen categories. Best of Show results were as follows:

– Animal & Veterinary Science Teen: Martin Heberlie, Des Lacs

– Animal & Veterinary Science Pre-Teen: Ehli

– Communication Skills & Creative Arts Teen: Joshua Shappell, Minot

– Communication Skills & Creative Arts Pre-Teen: Nadia Lemer, Berthold

– Civic Engagement, Personal Development, and Leadership Pre-Teen: Olivia Jansen, Minot

– Environment Teen: Sarah Potts, Minot

– Environment Pre-Teen: Ella Novak, Minot

– Family & Consumer Sciences Teen: Shappell

– Family & Consumer Sciences Pre-Teen: Bulow

-Healthy Living Teen: Isabel Engelhard, Carpio

– Healthy Living Pre-Teen: E. Hanson

– Plant Science Teen: Beck

– Plant Science Pre-Teen: Nehemiah Turnbow, Berthold

– Photography & Educational Exhibits Teen: Lydia Repnow, Minot

– Photography & Educational Exhibits Pre-Teen: Brynn Hanson, Burlington

– Science, Engineering & Technology Teen: Tate Novodvorsky, Douglas

-Science, Engineering & Technology Pre-Teen: Adela Heberlie, Des Lacs

Other static awards given were:

– Champion Leather Craft: A. Heberlie

– Champion Fiber Arts Quilting: Amber Braasch, Minot

– Champion Sheaf Exhibit: Will Bachmeier, Granville

– Champion Harvest Grain & Seed Exhibit: Beck

– Champion Agriculturist: W. Bachmeier

Each club also decorated their booth where exhibits and ribbons could be displayed. The booths were judged and the winner received a $40 prize. This year, the award went to Rocky Acres, located near Max, whose booth had a lemonade stand theme. Second place went to Dakota Stars, located near Des Lacs, for their space-themed booth. Third place went to Afton Country Kids, located near Minot, having a dinosaur-themed booth.

Day three of Achievement Days was the Livestock Show, judged by Juan Gavette, Everson, Washington. The day began with the swine show. Awards were as follows:

– Champion Senior Swine Showman: Taylor Reinhard, Granville

– Champion Intermediate Swine Showman: Sophie Bachmeier, Granville

– Champion Junior Swine Showman: Addison Neshem, Granville

– Champion Supreme Female Swine: Bostyn Bailey, Towner

– Champion Market Hog: Bostyn Bailey

The sheep show followed, with awards for:

– Champion Senior Sheep Showman: Taylor Cattin, Kenmare

– Champion Intermediate Sheep Showman: Layne Korgel, Minot

– Champion Junior Sheep Showman: Abby Finke, Berthold

– Champion Supreme Female Sheep: Mark Schauer, Carpio

– Champion Market Lamb: T. Cattin

Following the sheep show was a dairy cattle show. This show has returned after several years of no entries. Awards are as follows:

– Champion Junior Dairy Cattle Showman: Brooklyn Ost, Minot

– Champion Supreme Female Dairy Cattle: Afton Ost, Minot

Next was the goat show, where there two types of goats, meat and dairy, are each judged separately. Awards were as follows:

– Champion Senior Dairy Goat Showman: W. Bachmeier

– Champion Intermediate Dairy Goat Showman: Morgan Keen, Donnybrook

– Champion Junior Dairy Goat Showman: Cole Whitcher, Minot

– Champion Dairy Goat Supreme Female: W. Bachmeier

– Champion Senior Meat Goat Showman: Kaden Korgel, Minot

– Champion Intermediate Meat Goat Showman: L. Korgel

– Champion Junior Meat Goat Showman: Faith Carpenter, Granville

– Champion Supreme Female Meat Goat: L. Korgel

– Champion Market Goat: T. Cattin

The beef cattle show concluded the livestock show. Awards were as follows:

– Champion Beef Senior Showman: Mariah Braasch, Minot

– Champion Beef Intermediate Showman: S. Bachmeier

– Champion Beef Junior Showman: Neshem

– Champion Supreme Female Beef: Carter Sys, Douglas

– Champion Market Beef: Neshem

The final event of day three was the round robin competition. Youth who received grand and reserve champion competed against each other for all species best showman. The scores were tallied by various volunteer judges selected by each livestock superintendent. The winners of round robin were announced during the award ceremony and received belt buckles.

– Champion Senior Round Robin: T. Cattin

– Champion Intermediate Round Robin: Braden Bailey, Towner

– Champion Junior Round Robin: Finke

The final day of Achievement Days was packed with shows, fun, and awards. The day began with the Rabbit and Poultry Show, judged by Juanita Achtenberg, New Leipzig. Awards were as follows:

– Champion Senior Rabbit Showman: Colt Kersten, Max

– Champion Intermediate Rabbit Showman: Keen

– Champion Junior Showman: Danny Kersten, Max

– Champion Overall Rabbit: C. Kersten

– Champion Senior Poultry Showman: W. Bachmeier

– Champion Intermediate Poultry Showman: Wiltse

– Champion Junior Poultry Showman: Ehli

– Overall Champion Poultry: Wyatt Kersten, Max

The next event of the day was Ag Olympics, a very popular and fun part of Achievement Days. Youth put together four-person teams, which must include members from at least two 4-H clubs and at least one “younger” member. Adults could participate too. Teams competed in minute-to-win-it type games with times or points being scored at each station and recorded by volunteers. The event was organized by a group of parents and emceed by Steve Merck. Prizes were given to the top five teams:

– 1st Place Team – “Cougars”: Cooper Cattin, Kenmare, T. Cattin, K. Korgel, and L. Korgel

– 2nd Place Team – “Frisky Fillies”: M. Braasch, Miyah Harvey, Minot, H. Schauer, and Madison Sys, Douglas

– 3rd Place Team – “East of Equator”: Gus Engelhard, Carpio, Mark Schauer, Matthew Schauer, Carpio, and David Scheresky, Des Lacs

– 4th Place Team – “Bussin’ Babes”: Finke, B. Hanson, Sophia Lebrun, Berthold, and Anna Petersen, Bowbells

– 5th Place Team- “Red Hot Filly Peppers”: Fannik, B. Ost, Anne Schauer, Carpio, and Finley Schieve, Berthold

Following Ag Olympics was the 4-H Friends and Family Barbeque, which concluded with the 4-H Awards Ceremony. Belt buckles, “Choose Your Award” forms, plaques, and other awards were handed out. Lewis and Clark Public School – Berthold was awarded as the Friend of 4-H Business. Dustin Myers, Ward County 4-H parent and shooting sports coach, was awarded as the Friend of 4-H Individual.

Twelve graduating senior 4-H members were also recognized during the awards ceremony:

– Brekken Bachmeier, TGU-Granville

– M. Braasch, South Prairie

– Trystan Brey, Minot

– Aspen Hennessy, Des Lacs-Burlington

– C. Kersten, Max

– K. Korgel, South Prairie

– Aidan McMahon, TGU-Granville

– Ethan Myers, Minot

– Novodvorsky, South Prairie

– Matthew Schauer, Lewis & Clark – Berthold

– Scheresky, Our Redeemers

– InDee Sue Thunshelle, Morro Bay, online

Ward County 4-H Scholarships were awarded to M. Braasch, C. Kersten, K. Korgel, Matthew Schauer, and Scheresky. The Cody Hansen Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Matthew Schauer. A. Schauer received the Reiny Inman Memorial “Character Award”. This award is given to a youth displaying the six pillars of character that 4-H stands by: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship. The Chelsey Lies Memorial “All Around Animal Showman” award is based on a point system and the individual must show livestock. This was awarded to Ehli.

Additionally, cash prizes were awarded to Champion Herdsmen. These are individuals or families who best kept their animal stalls and pens clean throughout the whole week of achievement days. Recipients are as follows:

– Beef: Petersen

– Goat: Griffin Hanson, Burlington

– Sheep: Cattin Family

– Swine: Whitcher

Ward County Commissioner, Shelly Weppler handed out all of the awards. The emcee was Ward County 4-H Council President, Bryan Korgel.

Following the awards ceremony, the Peewee Pig Show and Premium Sale took place. Youth, five years old and younger, have the opportunity to show a pig with the help of an older 4-H member. Prizes were given to the participating Peewees. The Livestock Premium Sale followed with Mike Sundsbak as auctioneer.

Families, friends, volunteers and sponsors dedicated their time and resources to help make Achievement Days happen.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

• Daily Newsletter
• Breaking News
• Obituaries

Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

• Yes
• No