Kendall and Kane County 4-H members earned ribbons and honors in the several divisions of the 2016 Illinois State Fair Junior Horse Show this summer.

Five $1,000 scholarships were awarded to Illinois 4-H members who earned Superior Young Producer Award honors, including Kane County 4-H’ers Madde Klinkey and Bailey Ricketts, both of St. Charles.

Kane County 4-H members Bailey Ricketts (left) and Madde Klinkey, both of St. Charles, each earned a Superior Young Producer Award scholarship at the Illinois State Fair Junior Horse Show.

The SYPA horse contest had three separate areas of testing — a skill-a-thon where members worked through visual and hands-on management stations, a written test on equine management, and a live-animal judging contest. The top three winners in each of those division received honors. The contest is administered by Debra Hagstrom, University of Illinois Extension equine specialist.

Illinois 4-H Foundation, ADM, and the Illinois State Fair sponsor the Superior Young Producer Award program, which rewards 4-H and FFA members who excel in their knowledge of the livestock industry in five specific species, including horse, beef, dairy, sheep, and swine. This year, the lifetime total dollars awarded topped the $500,000 mark for the 21-year history the Superior Young Producer program.

During the Illinois State Fair Junior Horse Show, many local 4-H members also placed in the top three of various show divisions, including Hunter, Western, and Gymkhana. Kendall County 4-H’s Kylie Marko claimed three first-place finishes in Gymkhana to garner her Grand Champion honors. In addition, Magdalen Turbak of St. Charles took home Reserve Champion in Pony Hunter with her horse “Imma Bonanza Impressor.”

The following Illinois State Fair Junior Horse Show awards went to Kendall County 4-H and Kane County 4-H members, according to results posted by the Illinois State Fair (top three places listed, in alphabetical order by last name):

Elena Chapa of Maple park showing “Last Lil Detail” and “One Hot Jaz”

• Hunter Horse, Hunter Showmanship, third place, age 13-14
• Western Horse, Horsemanship, third place, age 13-14

Taylor Emigh of Sugar Grove showing “Ranger”

• Gymkhana Division, Barrel Race, third place, age 15-21
• Gymkhana Division, Flag Race, third place, age 15-21
• Hunter Horse, Traditional Hunter, over 58 inches, third place, age 17-18
• Western Pony, Ranch Horse Riding, under 56 inches, third place, age 15-21

Myah Hawley of Seneca showing “Aria”

• Gymkhana Division, Flag Race, second place, age 15-21

Kylie Marko of Marseilles showing “Martini”

• Gymkhana Division, Barrel Race, first place, age 15-21
• Gymkhana Division, Flag Race, first place, age 15-21
• Gymkhana Division, Pole bending, first place, age 15-21

Saige McNeill of Morris showing “IBA Cutter”

• Gymkhana Division, Barrel Race, first place, age 8-9
• Gymkhana Division, Flag Race, second place, age 8-9
• Gymkhana Division, Pole bending, first place, age 8-9
• Western Horse, Ranch Horse Riding, over 56 inches, second place, age 8-9

Anna Merrigan of Minooka showing “Miss Hazelwood”

• English and Western Costume Class, first place, age 10-12

Olivia Merrigan of Minooka showing “Hancocks Clabber Kat”

• Gymkhana Division, Barrel Race, second place, age 15-21
• Gymkhana Division, Pole bending, third place, age 15-21

Samantha Merrigan of Minooka showing “A Treasure Bandit”

• English and Western Costume Class, third place, age 13-14
• Gymkhana Division, Pole bending, first place, age 10-14
• Hunter Horse, Traditional Hunter, over 58 inches, third place, age 13-14

Nicole Stiegart of Yorkville showing “Heza Smokin’ Loki”

• Hunter Horse, Equitation over fences, second place, age 17-18

Magdalen Turbak of St. Charles showing “Imma Bonanza Impressor”

• Hunter Horse, Equitation over fences, first place, age 17-18
• Hunter Horse, Equitation over fences, over 58 inches, third place, any age
• Pony Hunter, Hunter Horse, Reserve Champion, age 17-18

Maddie Wietting of Joliet showing “Merry Legs”

• English or Western Egg and Spoon, first place, age 8-9
• Gymkhana Division, Pole bending, third place, age 8-9

For full results, visit this page of the Illinois State Fair website

About 4-H

4-H is part of University of Illinois Extension. It is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills. University of Illinois Extension provides educational programs and research-based information to help Illinois residents improve their quality of life, develop skills and solve problems. To learn more about University of Illinois Extension in your county, visit web.extension.illinois.edu/dkk/.