Allamakee County 4-H holds 2021 Expressions Day; Several advance to Iowa State Fair


Extemporaneous Speaking participant ... Iowa State Fair Qualifier Natalie Byrnes. Submitted photo.

Working Exhibit participants ... Left to right: Iowa State Fair Qualifiers Breelyn and Tegan Dahlstrom. Submitted photo.

Educational Presentations participants ... Left to right: Iowa State Fair Qualifier Hailey Stein, Brinnly Rea, Iowa State Fair Qualifier Hannah Hagen. Submitted photo.

Share-The-Fun participants ... Left to right: Iowa State Fair Qualifiers Katherine and Hannah Hagen, Regan Miner, Iowa State Fair Qualifier Olivia Enyart. Submitted photo.

$15 Challenge participants ... Left to right: Iowa State Fair Qualifier Natalie Byrnes, Tara Schullo, Caleb Dahlstrom, Breelyn Dahlstrom, Brinnly Rea, Tegan Dahlstrom, Hailey Stein, Marissa Schullo, Ali Melcher, Megan Huinker, Olivia Enyart. Submitted photo.

Clothing Selection participants ... Left to right: Natalie Byrnes, Iowa State Fair Qualifier Elizabeth Fossum, Hannah Hagen, Katherine Hagen, Brinnly Rea, Olivia Enyart, Ali Melcher, Megan Huinker, Breelyn Dahlstrom, Mariah Schullo, Marissa Schullo.

A total of 16 Allamakee County 4-H youth recently showcased their talents and skills by competing in various communications and clothing events during the Expressions Day Program and Style Show held at the Allamakee County Fairgrounds Pavilion in Waukon Monday, June 28. Several youth received top awards, and some received the honor of representing Allamakee County at the 2021 Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, scheduled for August 12-22 this year. Participants are pictured in the surrounding photos, with special mention of the 4-H’ers advancing on to the Iowa State Fair who are highlighted below.

Some younger participants in the Expressions Day event are not yet age-eligible for State Fair advancement.

The Allamakee County 4-H’ers advancing to the Iowa State Fair with their Educational Presentations include Hannah Hagen and Hailey Stein. Within the Educational Presentations competition, youth are judged based on their stage presence, vocal projection, organization, visual aids, educational value of topic, and how well they kept their audience interested during their presentation.

Representing Allamakee County at the Iowa State Fair with their Working Exhibit are the sister pair of Tegan and Breelyn Dahlstrom. Working exhibits are judged on their ability to describe, demonstrate and teach a product or skill directly to a small audience.

Share-The-Fun is a category which allows 4-H’ers to share their act before an audience for pure enjoyment. Representing Allamakee County at the State Fair in the Share-The-Fun category are Olivia Enyart and the sister tandem of Katherine and Hannah Hagen.

Extemporaneous Speaking encourages the development of communication skills by providing 4-H members the opportunity to think, organize their thoughts, prepare a speech, and respond to questions when given a limited amount of preparation and speaking time. Natalie Byrnes will represent Allamakee County at the Iowa State Fair for Extemporaneous Speaking.

Selected to represent Allamakee County in the Clothing Selection category is Elizabeth Fossum. The Clothing Selection category provides participants the opportunity to develop skills when buying clothes, based on fit, care, construction and cost.

The 4-H’er selected to represent Allamakee County in the $15 Challenge at the Iowa State Fair is Natalie Byrnes. The $15 Challenge project was designed to “challenge” members to find alternative shopping venues for clothing items. Elizabeth Fossum and Natalie Byrnes will be attending the Iowa 4-H Awardrobe Event held at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines Thursday, August 12. All other presenters are scheduled throughout the course of the State Fair.