Stevens County 4-H State Fair Results

4-H is actively known for its strong values in positive youth development, and the motto “to make the best better”, is how a 4-H’er strives to live every single day.  As the 4-H Extension Educator, I am proud and encouraged to say that the 4-H’ers in Stevens County have beautifully exemplified what this looks like at the family, club, and county level. However, it does not end there. There were 41 4-H’ers who lived out 4-H’s core mission at the state livestock and general 4-H encampments as well. It is an honor and privilege to share the project results from our youth here in Stevens County 4-H.

We had 34 4-H youth partake in the Livestock Encampment (August 20-24) and 15 youth partake in the General 4-H Project Encampment (August 24-26) at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair! 

• Check out the results from their projects here. 
• Check out our Stevens County 4-H State Fair pictures via smugmug here.

Livestock State Fair Results:

Beef:

We had a total of 7 exhibitors participate in the 4-H beef project at the Minnesota State Fair.

Jaxon Hilbrands received reserve champion Maintainer heifer with his registered junior yearling Maintainer breeding heifer. He also is a beef livestock interview finalist and participated in the beef showmanship competition.

Berdine Kleindl received 3rd in class with her commercial senior yearling breeding heifer. She also is a beef livestock interview finalist.

William Zeltwanger received 6th in class with his crossbred dairy steer. 

Henry Zeltwanger received 7th in class with his crossbred dairy steer. 

Malakai Montana received 4th in class with his crossbred market beef steer. He is the beef livestock interview champion in his age category and competed in the beef showmanship competition.

Faith Naig received 4th in class with her crossbred market beef steer. She also competed in the beef showmanship competition.

Ella Anderson received 4th in class with her prospect heifer calf. She also competed in the beef showmanship competition.

Dairy:

We had a total of 5 exhibitors participate in the 4-H dairy project at the Minnesota State Fair.

Xavier Kleindl received champion Brown Swiss Production with his Brown Swiss five years + aged cow. He also competed in the dairy showmanship competition.

Kaleb Heins received a blue ribbon and 2nd in class with his crossbred & other breeds-aged cow, five years + dairy cow. He also competed in the dairy showmanship competition.

Echo Schaefer received a red ribbon and 7th in class with her crossbred & other breeds junior yearling dairy heifer. She also competed in the dairy showmanship competition.

Ahna Heins received a red ribbon and 9th in class with her registered 2-year old Holstein dairy cow. She also competed in the dairy showmanship competition.

Parker Albrecht received a blue ribbon with his registered fall dairy Holstein calf. He also competed in the dairy showmanship competition.

Goat: 

We had a total of 5 exhibitors participate in the 4-H goat project at the Minnesota State Fair.

Mona Quiram received 13th in class with her dry yearling doe Nigerian Dwarf.  She also competed in the goat showmanship competition.

Katylynn Kenyon received 5th in class with her senior meat breeding doe kid. She also competed in the goat showmanship competition.

Alice Mahoney received 3rd in class with her junior yearling meat breeding doe. She also competed in the goat showmanship competition.

Kallista Banister received 10th in class with her junior yearling meat breeding doe. She also competed in the goat showmanship competition.

Presten Banister received a green ribbon with his senior yearling meat breeding doe. He also competed in the goat showmanship competition. 

Poultry:

We had 3 exhibitors participate in the 4-H poultry project at the Minnesota State Fair.

Zachary Kleindl received a blue ribbon with his Fancy pigeons breeding pair. He also competed in the poultry showmanship competition.

Greyson Jost received reserve champion breeding chickens with his breeding pen. He also competed in the poultry showmanship competition.

Mandy Kleindl received champion breeding geese with her breeding pen. She also competed in the poultry showmanship competition.

Rabbits:

We had a total of 7 exhibitors participate in the 4-H rabbit project at the Minnesota State Fair.

Nathan Howe received a blue ribbon with his senior doe Flemish Giant breeding rabbit. He also competed in the rabbit showmanship competition.

Kayla Howe received reserve champion Flemish Giant with her senior doe breeding rabbit. She also is a rabbit showmanship finalist and received a blue ribbon.

Denica Sleiter received a blue ribbon with her senior doe Flemish Giant breeding rabbit. She also competed in the rabbit showmanship competition. 

Ilse Rose received a blue ribbon with her junior doe Holland Lop breeding rabbit. She also is a rabbit showmanship finalist and received a blue ribbon.

Landon Montzka received a blue ribbon with his junior buck Mini Satan breeding rabbit. He also competed in the rabbit showmanship competition.

Gabriella Jost received a blue ribbon with her intermediate doe Satin breeding rabbit. She also competed in the rabbit showmanship competition.

Renly Quiram received a white ribbon with her senior buck-other small breed purebred-breeding rabbit. She also competed in the rabbit showmanship competition. 

Sheep:

We had a total of 7 exhibitors participate in the 4-H sheep project at the Minnesota State Fair.

Scarlet Bergstrom-McKee received champion registered Suffolk ewe lamb and fourth overall breeding ewe with her registered fall ewe lamb breeding ewe. She also competed in the sheep showmanship competition and placed 2nd in class which earned her a reserve champion breeding ewe showperson in the advanced division.

Olivia Olson received 2nd in class with her registered Suffolk fall ewe lamb breeding ewe. 

Daphne Oelke received reserve champion registered Suffolk ewe lamb with her registered Suffolk February ewe lamb breeding ewe. She also competed in the sheep showmanship competition.

Nathan Olson received champion white and speckled face commercial yearling ewe. 

Krista Duncan received 6th in class with her black face market lamb. She also competed in the sheep showmanship competition.

Connor Duncan received 7th in class with his black face market lamb. 

Connor Olson received 12th in class with his white face all registered-all other breeds yearling.

Dairy Judging: 

Ahna and Kaleb Heins, Xavier Kleindl, and Echo Schaefer competed in the Dairy Judging at the MN 4-H State Fair and received 13th place. 

General Project State Fair Results:

• Anja Nordquist received a blue ribbon in the sewn non-garment division with her bee’s wax bread bag and poster.
• Angela Albrecht received a purple ribbon in the sewn non-garment division with her Alice in Wonderland framed sewing collage.
• Daphne Oelke, Scarlet Bergstrom-McKee, Olivia and Connor Olson (representing the Rendsville 4-H club) received a blue ribbon and a community impact recognition with Rendsville’s community pride club project.
• Annabella Vargas Staebler received a blue ribbon in the crafts division with her Mona Lisa lego assembled diamond project.
• Xavier Mack received a blue ribbon in the creative writing division with his short story titled “Darth Malevolent”.
• Gloria Gausman received a purple ribbon in the health and wellness division with her “cochlear implant basics” poster project.
• Nathan Howe received a blue ribbon in the photo manipulation division with his Split Rock Lighthouse picture project.
• Abigail Koehler received a blue ribbon in the safety division with her tornado safety poster project.
• Mona Quiram received a blue ribbon in the self determined division with her Gooseberry Falls Exploration poster project. 
• Jenna Looker received a blue ribbon in the shooting sports division with her archery scoring and safety poster project.
• Kallista Banister received a purple ribbon in the biology division with her Minnesota Wildlife project.
• Presten Banister will compete on August 31st with his Natural Resources (Exploring the environment) project.
• Rendsville 4-H club received a blue ribbon with their club banner.
• Pep & Progress 4-H club received a blue ribbon with their club banner.

The 2025 Minnesota State Fair competition will continue for the following 4-Her’s and their respective projects.

State Horse Show 

Kallista Banister and Krista Duncan will compete in both the pleasure riding and gaming competitions. Sayler Christians, Britney Woodke, and Samantha Maus will compete in the gaming competition at the 2025 MN 4-H State Horse Show September 5-9th. 

Sayler Christians, Gus Lietz, Pipe Kaiser, Kallista Banister, and Krista Duncan will be competing in horse Drill Team competition September 13-14 at the MN 4-H State Horse Show.

State Dog Show 

Gus Lietz, Samantha Maus, and James Woodke will compete in the 2025 Minnesota 4-H State Dog Show September 20-21.

2025 State 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational

State Shoot Invitational 

The 2025 State 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife Invitational will be held on September 5-7. Seventeen Stevens County 4-H youth are competing at this invitational in the archery and trap disciplines. They also created a wildlife project and will present it to judges at the invitational. The below individuals will be competing:

Parker Albrecht, Mari DeVries, Benjamin Dorweiler, Robert Dorweiler, Colton Gillespie, Ely Goodnough, Levi Kosbab, Zoe Krosch, Jacey Lonergan, Joseph Lonergan, Jenna Looker, Xavier Mack, Kaidence Peterson, Mona Quiram, Ethan Sperr, Ali Young, and Lillian Young.

Our Shooting Sports 4-H youth are coached by Vince Kehoe, Chad DeVries, Dave Mahoney, Jack Mahoney, David Quiram, Deidra Mack, Wes Peterson, JoAnn Lonergan, Shawn Kosbab and Matt Lhotka. Stevens County 4-H is very grateful for our screened and certified coaches.

Conclusion:

Stevens County 4-H is very thankful for the dedicated 4-H families, volunteers, and community members who help provide positive learning, leading, and serving opportunities for our young people. We are truly blessed to be surrounded by such an encouraging and supportive community.

State 4H Judging Results brought to you by:

• Stevens Community Medical Center

• Starbuck Clinic

• Bonanza Bean

• Kannegeisser Truck Sales

• Hometown Community Bank

• Riverview

• Hagen’s Repair

• Bonanza Valley State Bank

• Morris Liquors

• Runestone Telecom Association

• Midwest Insurance Services

• Villard Implement

• Dacotah Bank

• Wendell Pioneer Insurance

• Eco Water Systems

• Federated Telephone

• Mohr Plumbing & Heating

• The Homestead

• Hancock Coop

• Town & Country Supply

• Ag Country Farm Credit Services

• Donnelly Coop

• Midwest Machinery Company

• Willie’s SuperValu

• Morris Coop

• Morris Bearing & Supply

• Jacob Eyestad Trucking

• Heartland Motor Company

• Suidae Health & Production