The 2024 Mastery Showcase concluded with a remarkable display of talent and dedication, highlighting young participants’ exceptional abilities across the region. The event, which aims to celebrate and promote excellence in various disciplines, saw exciting competition and outstanding performances.

Hope Baysinger from Sanborn County led the pack, securing first place with her exemplary project, “Clothes for a Cause.” She sewed pants and skirts to send to a poverty community. Baysinger’s achievement is a testament to her hard work, creativity, and mastery in her chosen field. Her success at the showcase brings pride to Sanborn County.

The Mastery Showcase is known for its rigorous evaluation process, including display and interview judging phases. Participants must present their projects and answer questions from the judge, Dr. Tim Tanner, SDSU Extension State 4-H Program Director, demonstrating their understanding and expertise.

The judging criteria focus on the quality and impact of the projects, as well as the participants’ presentation skills and ability to articulate their ideas clearly.

The 2024 Mastery Showcase provided a platform for young talents to shine and highlighted the importance of fostering creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills among youth. The event inspires future participants and reminds them of the incredible potential of young minds.

As the showcase concluded, the participants were celebrated for their achievements, and the top performers were awarded for their exceptional work.

…See a picture in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly journal!

With over 500 static exhibits entered for this year’s Sanborn County Achievement Days, it is safe to say that the county’s 4-H youth were ready for this year’s event. Results of how everyone did on their static exhibits and their animal entries will be in next week’s issue, but one exhibit from the weekend really stood out and earned Best of Show in the Miscellaneous category, and therefore, was chosen to be featured this week.

With the new addition to the 4-H building, Alex Anderson was able to do something a little different with his static exhibit in the Hobbies and Collections category. He has been fascinated with antique machinery at his great-grandpa’s farm for years, and this year he documented the work he did on one of his great-grandpa’s tractors for an exhibit. In order to display the work he did for the project, he, with help from family members, hauled his great-grandpa’s 1952 Super H McCormick Farmall to Forestburg, and with the extra space available from the new addition, Anderson drove the tractor right into the building to be put on display. 

Anderson said that there were just basic maintenance things that needed to be changed or fixed to get the tractor going. He said the most difficult part was getting the tractor to run on its own and not have to be pulled to start it. He got that accomplished and could take it to Forestburg without concerns about how he was going to put it on display. When asked about what he liked most about doing a project like this, Anderson commented, “What I like most is being able to learn about something you have interest in from other people, and it was easy to do. The parts are still being manufactured, so they weren’t difficult to get either.”

This project wasn’t the only one Anderson submitted, but it was by far the most unique.  He continued by saying, “One great thing about 4-H is that it is a great place to work on things you love and be able to be recognized for the work you’ve done.”

In next week’s issue, keep an eye out for results of all the exhibits entered at the Sanborn County Achievement Days and their judging results. 

…See a picture of Anderson and the tractor in this week’s issue of the Sanborn Weekly Journal!