August 27, 2026 – 4-H members from DeWitt, Macon and Piatt counties earned dozens of top awards during general project judging at the Illinois State Fair.
A total of 101 local 4-H members participated in judging August 9 at the Orr Building, showcasing projects ranging from cooking and agriculture to photography, robotics, sewing, woodworking and creative arts.
The highest-scoring exhibit in each class received Grand Champion honors, while the second-highest was named Reserve Champion. Judges also presented Inspire Awards to projects recognized for creativity and innovation.
Among Macon County participants, Grand Champion honors went to the Long Creek Critters 4-H Club for Civic Engagement, Lucy Niebrugge for Advanced Costume Design, Elizabeth Oost for Family Heritage, Addison Rogers for Cooking, Emmett Reed for Forestry and Delaney Crouch for Floriculture.
Additional Macon County participants received Reserve Champion and Inspire Awards in categories including sewing, beekeeping, cooking, vegetables, sportfishing, fiber arts and woodworking.
DeWitt and Piatt County participants also earned numerous Grand Champion, Reserve Champion and Inspire Awards across a wide range of project categories.
More than 250 4-H members from the three counties participated in General Projects and Livestock, Horse Show, Public Speaking and Shooting Sports competitions during 2026.
4-H Youth Development Program Coordinator Marisa Capps said the State Fair gives members an opportunity to celebrate the time, effort and dedication they have put into their projects.
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DeWitt
Weather and Climate Science 2- Emily Drozs: Reserve Champion
Agronomy/Hay-Anna Clarkson: Reserve Champion
Build Your Own Future- Alicia Trimble: Reserve Champion
Costume Design- Beginner- Phoebe Craft: Reserve Champion
Creating with Building Bricks-Building- Liam Lux: Inspire Award
Creating with Building Bricks- Vehicle- Joshua Wilson: Reserve Champion
4-H Cooking 101 Cereal Bars- Kameron Sparks: Reserve Champion
4-H Cooking 301 Yeast Bread- Lillian Elsea: Grand Champion
4-H Cooking 301 Cake- Cari Aughenbaugh: Grand Champion
Food Preservation Canning- Case Wilson: Reserve Champion
Your Thoughts Matter- Lillian Hammer: Grand Champion
Leadership Group- Community Clovers 4-H Club: Grand Champion
Photography 3- Owen Rexshell: Grand Champion
Junk Drawer Robotics- Dexter Watterson: Grand Champion
Veterinary Science 1- Bailey Walters: Reserve Champion
Veterinary Science 2- Lexi Merriman: Reserve Champion
Commercial or Promotional Video- Lucy Smith: Grand Champion
Animated Video- Kolten Sparks: Inspire Award
Metal Arts- Katie Cunningham: Inspire Award
Nature Arts- Bailey Rogers: Inspire Award
Welding: Carter Herring: Grand Champion
Macon
Civic Engagement Group- Long Creek Critters 4-H Club: Grand Champion
Sewing 1 Clothing- Rebekah Marley: Inspire Award
Costume Design- Advanced- Lucy Niebrugge: Grand Champion
Beekeeping 1- Wu McKinney: Inspire Award
Family Heritage-Elizabeth Oost: Grand Champion
4-H Cooking 101 Coffee Cake- Le’Moni Bragg: Inspire Award
4-H Cooking 101 Cookies- Kate Matlock: Inspire Award
4-H Cooking 301 Dinner Rolls- Addison Rogers: Grand Champion
Forests of Fun 3- Emmett Reed: Grand Champion
Floriculture-Wearable Flowers- Delaney Crouch: Grand Champion
Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits/Vegetable Plates-Jack Rogers: Reserve Champion
Passport to the World-Individual- Willa Weikle: Inspire Award
Sportfishing 1- Nicholas Tibbs: Reserve Champion
Fiber Arts- Annie Niebrugge: Reserve Champion
Woodworking 1- Lincoln Goldman: Reserve Champion
Piatt
Sewing 1 Non-Clothing- Sophia Cornwell: Grand Champion
Sewing 1 Clothing- Alexandra Pruski: Grand Champion
Clothing Embellishment Stitched- Kenley Owen: Grand Champion
Creative Writing- Audriana Defend: Reserve Champion
Creative Writing Poetry- Ginny Blacker: Grand Champion
Food Science 1-4- Abby Pilcher: Inspire Award
Food Preservation Jams, Jellies, Preserves- Cassandra Block: Reserve Champion
Leadership 1- Hanna Grafton: Grand Champion
Sportfishing 3- Ava Harper: Inspire Award
Plants and Soils 1- Emily Harrington: Reserve Champion
Veterinary Science 2- Lauren Harrington: Inspire Award
Food Decorating-Beginning- Halcyon Schweska: Grand Champion
Food Decorating- Master- Claire Reedy: Grand Champion
Plastic Arts- Ellie Stern: Reserve Champion
