MONTE VISTA– This year’s San Luis Valley Area Fair featured a number of special 4-H contests, including a fashion revue, cake decorating contest, cupcake decorating contest, and robotics competition. A diverse group of 4-H youth, from around the valley competed in these contests and a select few took home top honors.
4-H members in the Clothing Construction and Artistic Clothing projects participated in the Fashion Revue contest on Tuesday, Aug. 7. Contestants were judged on style, poise, attitude and movement. The Junior Grand Champion was Kandace Pargin, and Reserve Grand Champion went to Kyra Griffin. Lacey Johnson took the Intermediate Grand Champion honors. The Senior Grand Champion was Kristine Hoffner. She will go on to represent the San Luis Valley in the State Fashion Revue later this month in Pueblo.
In the Cake Decorating Contest, held on Wednesday, Aug. 8, eight members decorated cakes live on-site. The event was a great demonstration of the skills involved in this project. Kyra Griffin received Grand Champion for her campfire themed cake, and Mollie Hostetter received Reserve Grand Champion for her smiley face cake. Seanna Garcia, Kristine Hoffner and Ada Pence were also recognized as champions in their individual units.
In addition to watching the Cake Decorating Contest, spectators were invited to try their hand at decorating their own cupcake in the open Cupcake Decorating Contest. Sixty San Luis Valley residents entered in the contest. Winners included Jack Sowards, Baylee Malouff and Noah Scauezee in the five and under age division, and Liam Griffin, Landon Crowder, Tyler LePlatt, Bristol Pence and Warren Hostetter in the six to eight age division. In the nine to 12 age division, Nolween Defaye, Mollie Hostetter, Elena Escobedo, Avery Hostetter and Idahlia Garcia were recognized for outstanding cupcakes. Rounding out the older age divisions, Alyssa Tipsword and Marissa Johnson won in the 13 to 17 age group, and Sandee Hostetter and Alliyah Garcia won in the 18 and up group.
Also on Wednesday, Aug. 8, four 4-H Robotics teams competed in the Robotics Challenge competition. This year’s contest featured an autonomous car challenge where teams had to program their robot to drive through a neighborhood. Competitors needed to avoid obstacles, like cars, cyclists and pedestrians, follow traffic laws, and successfully parallel park. Julie Wisener, Brice Wisener and Todd Adams of the Lego Warriors team took home the Grand Champion award with a near perfect run. Reserve Grand Champion went to the Future Futuramas team of Maya Cordero and Makaio Estrada. Winning teams qualified for the state contest, which will be held in September in Pueblo.
For more information on the 4-H youth development program, visit the San Luis Valley website at http://sanluisvalley.colostate.edu, call 719-852-7381 or email [email protected]. 4-H is a cooperative effort between Colorado State University Extension and Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Mineral, Rio Grande and Saguache counties. Extension programs are available to all without discrimination.