Odessa Junior Livestock Club competes at fair

DAVENPORT - The Odessa Junior Livestock 4-H Club members put their hard work on display at the Lincoln County Fair last month entering a variety of projects, from baking and Lego creations to livestock animals they raised.

Representing Odessa in the beef barn were Morgan and Mason Lewis and Simon King. Our club president, Morgan Lewis, showed her heifer, Daisy, and two steers, Maverick and Mike. She was awarded a belt buckle for Overall Showman.

Simon King showed his steer, Newkirk; and Mason Lewis' steer, Bob, was named Reserve Champion 4-H Steer.

In the hog barn from Odessa were Vice President Cannon Roberson and Treasurer Katherine Roberson, Harley and Harvin Ryan, and Angela and Michael Douglas along with their hogs Jackie, Blueberry, Gravy, TJ, Charlotte, and Wilbur.

Mayci Hayduk, club secretary, showed her rabbit, Mabel. Rylin Hayduk showed her rabbit, Jumper, who she even dressed up with for the costume contest.

Jamie Willihan competed with her Boer goat, Bebe, who was named the Grand Champion goat in her division.

In the poultry barn, Hesston Stanford showed his Silkie chicken, named Egg, and Ezra King showed his chickens, Chester and Chirp. The boys were all smiles when they proudly earned blue ribbons.

Entering their Lego creations were Silas and Cole Sebesta, Simon and Ezra King, and Mayci Hayduk. They all brought home blue ribbons.

Cole Sebesta also earned a blue ribbon for his chocolate chip cookies.

Haisley, Tinley, and Rylin Hayduk also entered their paintings in the craft department.

Almost all members also entered educational posters. For example, Silas Sebesta's poster taught about pack llamas, while Harvin Ryan's poster taught about the parts of a combine.

Members Simon and Angela also entered 4-H Record Books, which took a great deal of record-keeping and showed a log of the time they spent with their projects.

Angela earned Best in Show for her Record Book in the Junior age group.

When asked about their favorite parts of the fair, most of the club members said they had a great time hanging out with their friends, playing on the inflatable bouncy houses and mechanical bull, and watching the rodeo.

Annabelle Roberson and Connor Douglas loved the bouncy houses and helping their siblings clean pig pens. Haisley and Tinley Hayduk enjoyed the face painting booth.

And Brayden Stanford loved watching bull riding at the rodeo, while Harley Ryan enjoyed the chicken chase at the rodeo.

Simon King was a great helper to the balloon animal creators. Rebecca Bramer was a great help to the entire club throughout the fair.

It was a very fun and successful fair for the members of the Odessa Junior Livestock 4-H Club, and they are already planning their projects for next year.

Jennifer Lewis was 4-H club leader this year.