4-H youth from across Minnesota showcased their learning in the 4-H Building and barns at the Minnesota State Fair. 

Over 155 demonstrations were delivered, over 2600 animals were shown and over 1,900 general exhibits were on display. 

Throughout the year, 4-H youth select project areas that reflect areas of interest and pursue hands-on learning in both self-directed and guided environments. The results of their learning are exhibited at county fairs and other showcase events across the state. A collection of the best exhibits from each fair and showcase are brought together to be shown in the barns and in the 4-H Building at the Minnesota State Fair.

Exhibiting project work and delivering public presentations at the state fair provides youth an opportunity to showcase their achievements and continue learning through interactive conference judging with project experts and team experiences. 

Education is integral in the “learn by doing” philosophy of 4-H. As part of the educational component, Minnesota 4-H requires every youth showing livestock at the State Fair to participate in a livestock interview. Examples of the interview process include an online knowledge test, skill-a-thons, and personal interviews about their project area. 

Along with interviews, all 4-H youth participating in livestock programming are required to complete the Livestock Quality Assurance and Ethics (LQA&E) Training. Through this certification, youth are educated on biosecurity, educating the public on the role of livestock, and caring for their animal’s welfare. 

Many 4-H participants also have the opportunity to finance their education as recipients of scholarships. This year the Dairy Project will continue with the 16th annual Dairy Showcase and award special recognition and scholarships to 25 outstanding participants based on their dairy industry knowledge, 4-H dairy project involvement, along with state fair dairy show results. The annual 4-H Purple Ribbon Auction sponsored by the Minnesota Livestock Breeders Association (MLBA) presented 56 scholarships to youth with well-rounded leadership, community service and livestock involvement throughout their 4-H career.

4-H not only produces purple ribbon exhibits, but is also focused on producing purple ribbon kids. Congratulations to all the East Otter Tail County youth who participated in 4-H at the 2024 Minnesota State Fair.

East Otter Tail County had 63 youth participating in the following areas: 

Isaiah Ballard – Purple Ribbon Craft 

Eva Blashack – Purple Ribbon Purchased Clothing, Fashion Revue Participant, Community Impact Recognition

Nathan Blashack – Blue Ribbon Youth Leadership

Natalie Boyne – Constructed Clothing Fashion Revue Participant

Aiden Brandsma – Red Ribbon Sewn Non-Garment

Connor Brandsma – Blue Ribbon Foods

Breanna Bunkowski – 6th Place Foundation Simmental Junior Yearling

Kaislyn Bunkowski – 4th Place Registered Shorthorn Steer, Market Beef Showmanship Participant

Shadley Bunkowski – 5th Place Commercial Junior Yearling, Breeding Beef Showmanship Participant

Kaitlynn Dittmann – Blue Ribbon Self Determined Exhibit, Community Impact Recognition

Arewen Dobratz – Champion Market Ducks

Autumn Dobratz – Blue Ribbon Market Ducks, 9th Place Intermediate Poultry Showperson, Blue Ribbon Quilt

Cristian Dorn – 6th Place All Other Slick Shorn Steer, Market Beef Showmanship Participant

Vanessa Dorn – 7th Place Registered Berkshire February Gilt

Elijah Geiser – 10th Place Unrecorded Grade Dry Yearling Doe, Blue Ribbon Dairy Goat Showmanship

Isaac Geiser – 7th Place Dairy Market Goat, Dairy Wether Showmanship Participant

Shauna Geiser – 5th Place Unrecorded Grade Senior Doe Kid, Blue Ribbon Dairy Goat Showmanship

Jaden Gorentz – Red Ribbon Grade Holstein Spring Yearling

Paige Green – Reserve Champion Mini Lop

Lillian Grieger – Blue Ribbon Fine Arts

Myrissa Guenther – Blue Ribbon Purchased Clothing, Fashion Revue Participant, Community Impact Recognition

Henry Harren – Blue Ribbon Self Determined Exhibit

Ella Hendrickson – Champion Registered Columbia Yearling Ewe, Lamb Lead Participant

Jana Hendrickx – Blue Ribbon Child & Family Development, Green Ribbon Senior Meat Breeding Doe Kid, Meat Breeding Doe Showmanship Participant

Ella Horn – Red Ribbon Jersey Senior Yearling

Everett Horn – Red Ribbon Market Ducks

Klara Huebsch – Blue Ribbon Foods

London Kirby – Blue Ribbon Boys & Girls Club Springboard Photography

Claire Koll – 4th Place Pure Breed Dairy Steer, Reserve Champion Intermediate Showmanship, Interview Finalist

Conrad Koll – Red Ribbon Registered Holstein Winter Calf

Creed Koll – 2nd Place Pure Breed Dairy Steer, Dairy Steer Showmanship Participant

Joie Koll – Red Ribbon Registered Holstein Three-Year-Old Cow

Reed Koll – 3rd Place Pure Breed Dairy Steer, Interview Finalist, Dairy Steer Showmanship Participant

Kara Kostohryz – Blue Ribbon Photography, Blue Ribbon Presentation

Braeden Malone – Blue Ribbon Red & White Holstein Three-Year-Old Cow

Brielle Malone – Blue Ribbon Crossbred Aged Cow

Brock Malone – Reserve Champion Milking Shorthorn Cow

Kadence Matzke – Blue Ribbon Boys & Girls Club Springboard Photography

Ella McCall – Blue Ribbon Craft

Lucey Minten – Blue Ribbon Brown Swiss Junior Yearling, Blue Ribbon Creative Writing, Community Impact Recognition

Macey Minten – Purple Ribbon Crossbred Junior Yearling

Charlotte Mursu – Blue Ribbon Performing Arts

Ayden Muscha – Blue Ribbon New Zealand Intermediate Buck

Kacie Riepe – Red Ribbon Mini Rex Senior Doe

Izak Schermerhorn – Purple Ribbon Market Gilt

Amber Schwantes – Green Ribbon Meat Market Goat, Market Goat Showmanship Participant

Caroline Schwantes – Purple Ribbon Grade Holstein Fall Calf

Jeffery Schwantes – Purple Ribbon Grade Holstein Spring Yearling

Caylee Seedorf – Champion Crossbred Heifer, 10th Place Showmanship

Clayton Seedorf – Blue Ribbon Crossbred Fall Calf

Micah Thompson – Purple Ribbon Mini Lop Senior Doe, Purple Ribbon Livestock Demonstration, 9th Place Advanced Showmanship

Paloma Trejo – Blue Ribbon Boys & Girls Club Springboard Photography

Scarlet Trejo – Blue Ribbon Boys & Girls Club Springboard Photography

Rachel Tumberg – Blue Ribbon Creative Writing

Rose Tumberg – Purple Ribbon Fine Arts

Elizabeth Tuper – Blue Ribbon Boys & Girls Club Springboard Plastic Sculpture

Jack Tuper – Blue Ribbon Boys & Girls Club Springboard Plastic Sculpture

Kelly Wagenman – Blue Ribbon Fine Arts

Evyn Wagner – Blue Ribbon Ayrshire Winter Calf

Audrey Weller – Blue Ribbon Registered Holstein Summer Yearling

Maggy Weller – Blue Ribbon Registered Holstein Fall Calf

Lillian Woodbridge – Green Ribbon Junior Yearling Meat Breeding Doe, Meat Breeding Doe Showmanship Participant

Jaeger Zutter – Red Ribbon Market Turkeys

Country Bumpkins 4-H Club – Blue Ribbon Club Banner

Ottertail Lakers 4-H Club – Blue Ribbon Club Banner