After months of hard work, dedication, and countless hours of preparation, members of the Edson Hilltop 4-H Club proudly represented their community at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. From early morning chores to late-night project work, these young exhibitors spent the past year developing skills, building confidence, and preparing projects that showcased their talents.
The results reflected their commitment. Club members earned more than 100 awards across a wide variety of project areas, demonstrating the diverse opportunities available through the 4-H program. Exhibits ranged from beautifully prepared culinary creations and educational veterinary science displays to livestock projects featuring horses, chickens, alpacas, pigs, and cattle.
For many exhibitors, success began long before fair week. Animals required daily feeding, grooming, training, and care, while static projects involved months of planning, research, creativity, and practice. Through each project, members learned valuable life skills including responsibility, time management, leadership, communication, and perseverance.
Once arriving at the fair members met with judges to present their projects and animals. This gave members the opportunity to demonstrate not only the quality of their projects and animals but also the knowledge and showmanship skills they have developed throughout the year. Each participant represented the values of 4-H with pride and professionalism.
The Northern Wisconsin State Fair is much more than a competition—it's a celebration of the dedication and growth of young people. Every ribbon earned tells the story of hard work, learning, and personal achievement. While awards recognize excellence, the true success lies in the confidence gained, friendships formed, and lessons learned throughout the journey.
The Edson Hilltop 4-H Club is under the guidance of dedicated club leaders Erin Plombon and Andrea Mahr, whose encouragement, organization, and commitment help members grow throughout the year. Their leadership, along with the support of parents and volunteers, plays an important role in preparing youth for opportunities like the Northern Wisconsin State Fair and fostering the confidence and life skills that 4-H is known for.

Delton Kenealy
Grand Champion Rate of Gain for Steer Project
Lincoln Wilichowski
Bred and Owned Aware for Swine
Jacob Haas
Grand Champion Beef Carcass
Hope Ellenbecker
Culinary Arts- Blue Ribbon
Culinary Arts- Blue Ribbon
Wether Lamb- Blue Ribbon
Ewe- Red Ribbon
Lamb- 2nd Reserve Grand Champion
Horse- Reserved Grand Champion in High Point
Oaklynn Mercier-Kragness.
Education poster on her ducks-Younger Youth Participant
Photography on her baby calves- Younger Youth Participant
Culinary Arts-Younger Youth Participant
Stuffed Animal Show-Cloverbud Participant
Winnie Witt:
Ceramics- Younger Youth Participant
T-Shirt Design- Younger Youth Participant
Stuffed Animal Show-Cloverbud Participant
Weildone Witt:
Ceramics- Younger Youth Participant
Veterinary Science- :Ladybug Education Poster- Younger Youth Participant
Stuffed Animal Show-Cloverbud Participant
Ryea Witt:
Alpaca- Junior Showmanship Champion
Alpaca Performance- Red Ribbon
37mos Non-Breeder Male Alpaca- Red Ribbon
Junior Obstacle- Red Ribbon
Jr Pack-Alpaca- Red Ribbon
Jr Pack-Alpaca- Blue Ribbon

Stuffed Animal Show-Cloverbud Participant
Ceramics- Younger Youth Participant
Veterinary Science- Squirrels- Younger Youth Participant
Veterinary Science-Model of Pony-Younger Youth Participant
James Mahr:
Champion Intermediate Dairy Showman
Dairy Spring Calf - Blue
Dairy Fall Calf - Red
Beef Market Animal - Blue
Welding Project - Red
Justin Cochran:
Chicken- Junior Poultry Showmanship Champion
Woodworking - outdoor wooden well - Judge’s Favorite and entered in State Fair
Sewing - Pajama shorts judge’s favorite and entered in the State Fair
Cultural Arts - Acrylic Canvas Painting - Best of Show
Cultural Arts - Dry brushed ceramic Reindeer - Best of Show
Wyatt Cochran:
Cultural Arts - ceramic airbrushed MACS bulldog and sewn dog bed - Judge’s favorite and entered in the State Fair
Amy Burgan:
Meat Goats- Reserve Youth Showmanship
Wyandotte Hen- red ribbon
Wyandotte pullet- white ribbon
Cultural Arts-Younger Youth Participant
Woodworking project- Younger Youth Participant
Elliot Burgan:
Meat Goats- Grand Youth Showmanship
Sussex Pullet- red ribbon
Cultural Arts-Younger Youth Participant
Woodworking project- Younger Youth Participant
Avery Mahr:
Beef Market Animal- Reserve Grand Champion
Dairy Spring Calf - Blue
Dairy Fall Calf - White

Food Preservation - Rhubarb Sauce - Award of Excellence, Norma Ausman Memorial Award
Food Preservation - Strawberry Rhubarb Jam - Blue Ribbon
Cultural Arts - Glass Snowman Ornament - Award of Excellence
Cultural Arts - Miniature Cafe - Red ribbon
Culinary Arts - S’more Cookies - Blue ribbon
Cultural Arts - Horse Ceramics - Red Ribbon
Home Furnishings - Mosaic Coaster - Blue Ribbon
Joey Mahr
Younger Youth Participant Ribbons for: Wooden Tool Box, Cookies, Dill Bread, Snowman Ornament, Ceramic Dog, leather work bracelet, and mosaic coaster
Jamison Elstran
Beef- Beginner Showmanship Reserve Champion
Matilda Roycraft
Beef- Beginner Showmanship Champion
Kendall Knox
Market Animal Hog- Reserve Grand Champion
Champion Barrow Blue Ribbon
Guilt Hog Red Ribbon
Showmanship Blue Ribbon
Abigail Seidl:
Cultural Arts- Blue Ribbon
Cultural Arts- red ribbon
Kylee Seidl:
Beef- pink ribbon, red ribbon
Beef- red ribbon intermediate showmanship
Beef- white ribbon carcass
Zander Kelly
Natural Science- Red Ribbon
Cultural Arts- Blue Ribbon
Cultural Arts - Red Ribbon
Photography - Red Ribbon
Photography - Red Ribbon

Rabbits- Blue Ribbon
Rabbits Showmanship- White Ribbon
Lance Kelly
Natural Science- Red Ribbon
Cultural Arts- Red Ribbon
Cultural Arts- Red Ribbon
Photography - Blue Ribbon
Heifer- Red Ribbon
Heifer Showmanship- Red Ribbon
Henry Plombon
Musical Presentation- Blue Ribbon
Junior Mechanical- Red Ribbon
Justin Cochran
Jr Mechanical- Blue Ribbon
Cooper Ankney
Swine- Blue Ribbon & Red Ribbon
Briar Sonnentag
Swine- white ribbon, white ribbon, red ribbon at carcass show
Madalyn Pernsteiner
Swine- Beginner Showmanship Reserve Champion
Swine- Blue Ribbon & White Ribbon
Swine- Beginner Total Performance Reserve Champion
Swine- Stanley Lang Excellence in Showmanship Scholarship Award
Elizabeth Pegues
Cultural Arts- Younger Youth Participant
Victoria Pegues
Cultural Arts- Blue Ribbon
Edith Dotson
Junior Flowers and Houseplants-White Ribbon
Poultry-3 Blue Ribbons
Poultry Showmanship-Blue Ribbon

Brycelynn Dotson
Junior Mechanical-White Ribbon
Poultry-2 Blue Ribbons, 1 Red Ribbon, 1 White Ribbon
Poultry Showmanship-Blue Ribbon
Lydia Peterson
Photography- Red Ribbon
Freya Gindt
Beef- 1 Blue Ribbon (steer), 1 Red Ribbon (showmanship)
Alexa Gindt
Veterinary Science- poster on the anatomy and physiology of a dairy goat- Blue ribbon and Judges choice (entered in the state fair)
Lloyd Polzin
Cultural Arts: Oil Painting of Wolf- Younger Youth Participant
Cultural Arts: Painted Coneflower Card- Younger Youth Participant
Cultural Arts: Pencil Drawing: Dog Laying Down- Younger Youth Participant
Cultural Arts: Mixed Media (Oil Pastel, Marker, and Crayon Drawing of Name- Younger Youth Participant
Cultural Arts: Ceramic Chicken- Younger Youth Participant
Cultural Arts: Crayon and Marker Drawing of Knight in Stain Glass- Younger Youth Participant
Computers/ STEAM: Model- Build of a Lego Technic John Deere Kit- Younger Youth Participant
Photography (Farm Machinery- Toy Tractors) Younger Youth Participant
Lego Pre-Build Under the Sea Participant Cloverbud Stuff Animal Show Participant
Congratulations to all of the Edson Hilltop 4-H members on an outstanding showing at the Northern Wisconsin State Fair. Your commitment, sportsmanship, and enthusiasm continue to make your club and community proud. The future is bright for these young leaders, and their accomplishments are a wonderful reminder of the positive impact 4-H has on youth across our area. For more information on joining 4-H visit www.chippewa.extension.wisc.edu.