Catching up with the Clover

Dawn Stuckey, Senior 4-H Youth Development Agent for Colleton and Hampton Counties

Livestock showmanship helps 4-H youth shine! From daily care and training to presenting their animals before a judge, members gain responsibility, communication skills, and poise under pressure. Each show builds resilience and self-assurance—confidence that carries far beyond the barn.

4-H Fair Season is Underway!

Ask any 4-H member what they are doing between September and November, and most will say, “Getting ready for the fair.” Across the Savannah Valley Region, participation in livestock projects and showmanship continues to grow. Behind the scenes, 4-H Agents have been working hard to encourage and prepare youth for their moment in the spotlight. From project registration and showmanship clinics to club meetings and organizing shows, young people have taken full advantage of opportunities to learn about livestock and build their confidence.

Livestock showmanship is one of the most powerful confidence-building experiences in 4-H because it combines responsibility, skill, and public presentation. Through daily feeding, grooming, training, and recordkeeping, youth learn responsibility and mastery of their species. Seeing their hard work pay off in the show ring provides a strong sense of accomplishment. Gaining skills in handling and presenting their animals helps youth grow personally, realizing they can tackle challenging tasks, overcome setbacks, and develop resilience and adaptability.

Standing before a judge and audience to answer questions, while keeping an animal under control, teaches poise under pressure, quick thinking, and communication skills. Each project gives youth the chance to set goals, work toward them, and celebrate success, whether that’s winning a ribbon or simply improving from the last show.

Participation in livestock projects allows youth to shine among their peers, receive recognition for their hard work, and take pride in representing themselves and their club. The confidence gained in the barn and show ring carries over into school, careers, and leadership opportunities. Many 4-H showmen report feeling more comfortable speaking in front of groups, taking on responsibility, and stepping into leadership roles because of their showmanship experiences.

This year, 4-H members had the opportunity to exhibit their livestock in numerous shows County Fair, our valued regional partner. The Fair provides a platform for youth to compete, demonstrate their skills, and gain recognition across all 4-H project species.

The local agriculture community continues to play an essential role in supporting these efforts. AgSouth Farm Credit generously sponsored the belt buckles awarded to our Grand and Reserve Grand Champions, while the Orangeburg County Farm Bureau provides across the state. Savannah Valley 4-H proudly hosted livestock shows at the Orangeburg

opportunities beyond the show ring through scholarships that promote agricultural education and strengthen the future of the industry.

Orangeburg County Fair 4-H Livestock Show results:

Rabbits:

Senior Division:

1^st Place – Blake Proffit, Calhoun County

2^nd Place – Daniel Grimaldi, Williamsburg County

Junior Division:

1^st Place – Arden Epps, Colleton County

2^nd Place – Ivy Williams, Dorchester County

3^rd Place – Lucy Grimaldi, Williamsburg County

4^th Place – Ben Smith, Williamsburg County

5^th Place – Kenny Smith, Williamsburg County

                Cloverbuds Division:

                1^st Place – McKinley McIntire, Colleton County

                2^nd Place – Mahala Capps, Clarendon County

                Grand Champion: Arden Epps, Colleton County

                Reserve Grand Champion: Blake Proffitt, Clarendon County

                Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Grand Champion Scholarship- Blake Proffitt

                Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Reserve Grand Champion Scholarship– Daniel Grimaldi

Also participating in Rabbit showmanship were Rebeca Buck, Clarendon County; Brynlee Kanagy, Barnwell County; Regan McIntyre, Colleton County; and Aticus Tomkinson, Florence County.

Poultry:

                Senior Division:

                1^st Place – John Jarrett, Spartanburg County

                2^nd Place – Lawson Weilnau, Colleton County

                3^rd Place – Seraphina McCoon, Clarendon County

                4^th Place – Ella Mina, Calhoun County

                4^th Place- Blake Proffitt, Clarendon County

                5^th Place- Ada Jarrett, Spartanburg County

                Junior Division:

                1^st Place – Isabella Spivey, Colleton County

                2^nd Place- Josiah Ard, Orangeburg County

                3^rd Place- Emma Wirth, Berkeley County

                4^th Place- Hannah Wirth, Berkeley County

                5^th Place- Breayan Krontz, Berkeley County

                Cloverbud Division:

                1^st Place- Caroline Jamieson, Lancaster County

                2^nd Place- Ellie Blayke Jamieson, Lancaster County

                3^rd Place- June Fisher, Calhoun County

                4^th Place- Helen Stewart, Berkeley County

                5^th Place- Dash Kanagy, Barnwell County

                Grand Champion: John Jarrett, Spartanburg County

                Reserve Grand Champion: Isabella Spivey

                Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Grand Champion Scholarship: Lawson Weilnau

                Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Reserve Grand Champion Scholarship: Blake Proffitt

Also participating in poultry showmanship were Jacob Kanagy, Barnwell County; Thomas Krontz, Berkeley County; Pippa Spivey, Colleton County; Jethro Yost, York County; Penelope Bell, Beaufort County; Lena Barton, Orangeburg County; Matthias Ard, Orangeburg County; Bowen Davis, Chesterfield County; Rhegan Stillman, Dorchester County; Claire Stewart, Berkeley County;  Fiona Stewart, Berkeley County; Corban Barton, Orangeburg County; Macy Davis, Chesterfield County; and Faith Davis, Chesterfield County,

Dairy Goats:

                Senior Division:

                1^st Place- John Jarrett, Spartanburg County

                2^nd Place- Blake Proffitt, Clarendon County

                3^rd Place- Seraphina McCoon, Clarendon County

                Junior Division:

                1^st Place- Rhegan Stillman, Dorchester County

                2^nd Place- Shelby Solomon, Colleton County

                3^rd Place- Adelyn Ard, Orangeburg County

                4^th Place- Nolan Ard, Orangeburg County

                Cloverbud Division:

                1^st Place- William Brown, Orangeburg County

                2^nd Place- Clinton Brown, Orangeburg County

                3^rd Place- Reed Brown, Orangeburg County

                Grand Champion: John Jarrett

                Reserve Grand Champion: Rhegan Stillman

                Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Grand Champion Scholarship: Blake Proffitt

                Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Reserve Grand Champion Scholarship: John Jarrett

Market Swine:

                Weight Class 1 (90-185 lbs)

                1^st Place- Davis Avant, Bamberg County

                2^nd Place- Reace Hutto, Bamberg County

                3^rd Place- Collin Ard, Orangeburg County

                4^th Place- Lillie McElrath, Orangeburg County

                5^th Place- Sophie Hutto, Bamberg County

                6^th Place- Sadie Hutto, Bamberg County

                7^th Place- Millie Harwell, Bamberg County

                8^th Place- Kolsen Gibson, Colleton County

                Weight Class 2 (186-225 lbs)

                1st Place-Blaine Abruzzino, Union County

                2^nd Place- Knox Murdaugh, Bamberg County

                3^rd Place- Levi Avant, Bamberg County

                4^th Place- Levi Avant, Bamberg County

                5^th Place- Millie Harwell, Bamberg County

                6^th Place- Kennedy Godley, Colleton County

                7^th Place- Kenneth Godley, Colleton County

                8^th Place- Ainsley Kanagy, Barnwell County

                Weight Class 3 (225 lbs and up)

                1^st Place- Lawson Weilnau

                2^nd Place- Davis Avant

                3^rd Place- Knox Murdaugh

                4^th Place- Blaine Abruzzino

                5^th Place- Paige Ulmer

                6^th Place- Lawson Weilnau

                7^th Place- Lawson Weilnau

                8^th Place- Lawson Weilnau

                SC Born & Bred

                Millie Harwell

Market Hog Grand Champion owner: Lawson Weilnau

Market Hog Reserve Grand Champion owner: Davis Avant

Market Hog Third Place Overall: Blaine Abruzzino

                Senior Showmanship:

                1st Place- Lawson Weilnau

                2^nd Place- Reace Hutto

                3^rd Place- Paige Ulmer

                Junior Showmanship:

                1^st Place- Blaine Abruzzino

                2^nd Place- Collin Ard

                3^rd Place- Sadie Hutto

                4^th Place- Ainsley Kanagy

                5^th place- Kolsen Gibson

               Cloverbud Showmanship (Not ranked):

Levi Avant, Davis Avant, Kennedy Godley, Kenneth Godley, Sophie Hutto, Knox Murdaugh, Millie Harwell, Lillie McElrath

Grand Champion Showman: Lawson Weilnau

Reserve Grand Champion Showman: Blaine Abruzzino

Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Grand Champion Scholarship: Lawson Weilnau

Orangeburg County Farm Bureau Reserve Grand Champion Scholarship: Reace Hutto

4-H Livestock Poster Contest

Senior Division:

                1^st Place- Daniel Grimaldi, Florence County

                2^nd Place- John Jarrett, Spartanburg County

                3^rd Place- Ada Jarrett, Spartanburg County

                Junior Division:

                1^st Place- Arden Epps, Colleton County

                2^nd Place- Benjamin Smith, Florence County

                3^rd Place – Kenneth Smith, Florence County

                Cloverbud Division:

                1^st Place- Elly Rose, Orangeburg County

                2^nd Place- Lena Barton, Kershaw County

                3^rd Place- McKinley McIntire, Colleton County

The Savannah Valley 4-H Staff would like to thank AgSouth for sponsoring belt buckles and the Orangeburg County Farm Bureau for providing scholarship funds. We would like to acknowledge the Orangeburg County Fair Board for their support and for providing premiums for our 4-H Showmen. We would also like to recognize the work and dedication of our agriculture, horticulture, livestock, natural resource, and agribusiness agents, as well as the support of our administrative assistants, in our youth livestock program. Programs like these could not exist without the support of our Extension Staff and our sponsors. During “fair season,” all district and regional staff dedicate countless hours to preparing, judging, scoring, and training youth for their moment in the spotlight. We also recognize the dedication and support of our parents and volunteers who work with youth on projects and record books at home. The partnerships between youth and caring adults are what 4-H strives to create so that we can continue to “Make the Best, Better.” For more information about SC 4-H in your area, please visit the Clemson Extension website at https://www.clemson.edu/extension/co/.

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