SIDNEY, IA  - Charitable giving, 4-H enthusiasm, a cherry pie dynasty and the ugliest cake were all recognized Saturday at the Fremont County Fair in Sidney, Ia.

The giving included the 4-H program fees for 86 Fremont County members and a $1,100 bid for the fair’s top cherry pie.

Cora Moody, 13, is this year’s pie champion, following up her sister’s reserve championship last year using the same family recipe.

Moody: “Well, it’s my grandma’s recipe. I got to use that, so I think that’s really cool.”

There were 55 pies in this year’s competition and the recipe of Kathy Moody once provided a crust 4-Hers could make on site and a filling that caught the judge’s attention.

 

Brian Langner of Shenandoah, Iowa, was inspired by the fair’s Barn in the USA theme for the open class ugliest cake contest.

Langner: “When I saw what the fair theme was this year I just thought of something you’d find in a barn. That’s why I named it “Watch Your Step” because, especially going through the cattle barn, you don’t want to step in anything.”

He expects to donate his $8 top prize back to the fair.

The Fremont County 4-H Youth Committee selected Scott and Heidi Lowthorp for the 2024 4-H Hall of Fame.

Scott, a materials manager for Cargill at Nebraska City, helped establish the Fremont County Fletchings Safety and Education of Shooting Sports 4-H Specialty Club in 2011.

 Heidi has been employed by the extension service since 2007 as the parent educator for growing strong families.

 

 

Here is the extension services press release

 

Saturday night awards

Several recognition awards were presented during the program Saturday night, July 20, at the 2024 Fremont County Fair.  This is a great way to honor worthy businesses, organizations and individuals who give of their time and talents to 4-H.

NEW Cooperative Inc. is a farmer-owned grain, agronomy, energy, and feed co-op headquartered in Fort Dodge.  The NEW Cooperative Foundation is the charitable giving entity committed to investing in organizations like 4-H that are dedicated to youth and education, human services, and civic purposes that further enhance the quality of life.  The foundation has donated nearly $95,000 to county extension offices this year.  Fremont County received $1,720 which will cover half of the 4-H program fees for our 86 4-H members.  Additionally, they donated t-shirts to all of the livestock exhibitors.

 

Cameron Owen 4-H Enthusiasm Award, presented by Mary Kay Walter, Jim Nahkunst, Kerry Aistrope and Curtis Brooks

The Cameron Owen 4-H Enthusiasm Award was established in 2017 to honor Cameron Owen, a member of the Washington P.E.P. 4-H Club. 

Cam lived and loved 4-H.  Every year, he gave his best effort on his projects, whether it was his pigs, sheep, welding, baking, or being part of his club’s Share the Fun skit.  His projects may not have been perfect, but he did them himself, with pride, and gave everything he had.  To qualify, members must be currently enrolled in a Fremont County 4-H club.  Clover Kids are not eligible.  Each year, Fremont County 4-H club leaders are asked to nominate a club member who shares Cam’s passion for 4-H.  This year’s nominees were all very deserving, which made for a tough decision for our committee.  The nominees were:

  • Margaret Roberts (Fremont County Fletchings)
  • Katie Howe (Riverside Rockets)
  • Maddie Hensley (Silver Skylarks)
  • Abby Martin (W.M.P.)
  • Ellie Ward (Riverton Fisher)

This year’s candidates were excellent.  For this reason, two winners were selected:  Margaret Roberts and Abby Martin.

 

Graduating 4-H Members

Maddie Hensley is a member of the Silver Skylarks 4-H Club.  She will be attending Southeast Community College to wrestle and major in Diversified Ag before transferring to a school in Des Moines to get a degree in Massage Therapy.  Her favorite 4-H member is dunking Maci Slater in the cattle tank on the last day of fair and having a water war in the cattle tank with everyone.  4-H has taught Maddie how to raise, take care of, show, and be patient with livestock.  She has learned so many new people skills, public speaking skills, and life skills and she has gained new connections by being a part of 4-H.

Lillian Howe is a member of the Riverside Rockets 4-H Club.  She will be attending Texas Christina University, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.  Her favorite 4-H memories including getting ready for shows early in the mornings with friends.  Lillian said 4-H has made her a better communicator and leader, and has made her more confident and independent.

 

Grant Laumann is a member of the Washington P.E.P. 4-H Club.  Now that he has finished high school, Grant will be farming full-time with his grandpa.  His favorite 4-H memories are winning Grand Champion Mare and showing pigs for the first time.  Grant credits 4-H with helping him build lasting relationships with people and teaching him how important dedication, hard work, and helping out your community are.

 

Kandra Laumann is a member of the Washington P.E.P. 4-H Club.  Her future plans are to include Nebraska Methodist College to major in nursing.  Her favorite 4-H memory is being part of the fair queen contest.  Through this opportunity, she was able to meet new people and experience new things that have helped her become the person she is today.  4-H has helped Kandra take responsibility and get out of her comfort zone. 

 

Abby Martin is a member of the W.M.P. 4-H Club and the 2024 Fremont County Fair Queen!  She plans to attend Iowa Western to complete her general studies before transferring to Iowa State University for Animal Science.  Abby’s favorite 4-H memory is attending Junior Overnight as a County Council member.  4-H has impacted Abby by providing her with invaluable communication skills, helped her to develop leadership abilities, and exposed her to many opportunities for which she is very grateful.

 

Margaret Roberts is a member of the Fremont County Fletchings 4-H Club.  She will be attending Benedictine College to major in Education with an emphasis on Early Childhood.  Margaret’s favorite 4-H members is showing a miniature Hereford with the Walter Family at the Fremont County Fair.  Margaret said 4-H has helped build her communication skills by talking to judges, being a leader at club meetings, and being a part of County Council

 

Cameron Owen Scholarship Recipient, Tomie Thompson Lillian Howe (Riverside Rockets)

 

Hall of Fame

Fremont County 4-H Youth Committee has selected Scott and Heidi Lowthorp for the 2024 4-H Hall of Fame.

 

Heidi grew up in Nebraska 4-H.  Her mother served as a club leader, and her father helped with horticulture projects.  Heidi especially enjoyed Food and Nutrition, Child Development, and the talent show.

 

Heidi graduated from Medicine Valley High School is 1987 and went on to earn her BA in English and Journalism from Chadron State College.  Her first job as a reporter for the Clarinda Chronicle, brought her to Southwest Iowa.

 

Scott graduated from Shenandoah High School in 1984.  As a photographer for the Shenandoah Valley News, fate intervened when he and Heidi covered the same story.  They were married in 1993, and Heidi became a stepmom to Andy.  Jessica was born in 1996.

 

Jessica joined 4-H and Heidi served as a Silver Skylarks club leader.  She was also a Youth Committee member and briefly worked as a County Youth Coordinator. 

 

Scott was elected to the Fremont County Extension Council in 2013.  Over the years, he has served 4-H as a Youth Committee member, photography project leader, and the fair photographer.  Most notably, Scott helped establish the Fremont County Fletchings Safety and Education of Shooting Sports 4-H Specialty Club in 2011.  Since then, countless youth have gained archery, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader, and wildlife skills.

 

Scott and Heidi share fond memories of specific youth, including their daughter, Jessica, who developed communication, organizational, and leadership skills while gaining confidence through their involvement in 4-H.

 

A definite highlight was serving as chaperones for Citizenship Washington Focus in 2012.  They escorted 35 high school youth through our nation’s capital while nurturing their civic engagement.  They remember experiencing the living history of a veteran at the WWII Memorial as he recounted his years as a soldier.

 

Scott works as a Materials Manager for Cargill Turkey and Cooked Meats in Nebraska City.  In this role, he has enjoyed more opportunities to support Fremont County 4-H by representing the company at the 4-H Cherry Pie Sale, securing meat donations for various events, and earmarking monetary donations through Cargill’s volunteer program.

 

Heidi has been an employee of Fremont County Extension since 2007 as the Parent Educator for Growing Strong Families.  She enjoys maintaining her connection to 4-H through her work.

 

The pair credit 4-H with teaching youth skills such as being organized and keeping records.  They appreciate the organization’s commitment to civic engagement, and the opportunity for youth to try new things in a safe learning environment.

 

Lowthorp’s son, Andy, and his wife, Leslie, reside in Eagan, MN.  Their daughter, Jessica Devlin, and her husband, Joe, live in Omaha.

 

Alumni Award

This year’s Alumni Award winner is Sarah Martin.  Sarah is an amazing club leader for the W.M.P. 4-H Club.  She has also been a member of the Fremont County 4-H Youth Committee.  As the Davis-Rodgers FFA advisor for Shenandoah High School, Sarah has been a great liaison between 4-H, FFA, and the Fremont County Fair. 

Honorary Award

The 4-H Youth Committee has selected Jodi Hendrickson as this year’s Honorary Award winner.  Jodi has served as the Washington P.E.P. club leader, on the Fremont County 4-H Youth Committee, and as a member of the Fremont County Fair Association.  In these roles, Jodi has left a positive impact on the Fremont County 4-H program and has advocated for its merits.

Meritorious Award

Selected as the Meritorious Award winner is Fremont County Soil & Water Conservation District.  The District has been providing free-will donation meals at the fair for years.  They also make generous annual donations to the Fremont County 4-H program.  The Fremont County Soil & Water District has been a great partners in promoting agriculture and conservation practices.  This year, they brought the ISU Conservation Station to the fair to demonstrate the impacts of land management choices on water quality and the connections between our state’s water, soil, and wildlife.