Iowa State University Extension and Outreach held four livestock skillathon contests at the Iowa State Fair this year, with 189 youth from 52 Iowa counties participating.

Each skillathon team comprised two or three individuals and included five stations, where youth worked together to solve problems and identify dairy cattle, goat, swine or sheep production components.

Awards for the swine, dairy, and sheep and goat skillathons were sponsored by the Iowa Pork Producers Association, Iowa 4-H Dairy Endowment, and by Premier 1 Supplies, respectively.

Here are the 2021 skillathon winners:

Dairy cattle

1. Kiele Eberling, Keagan Palmer, Sophia Palmer, all from Allamakee County

2. Adam Scott, Fayette County; and Ethan Palmer, Allamakee County

3. Cooper Barber, Clinton County; Deleaney Barber, Clinton County; and Olivia Hansen, Benton County

4. Kalli Barber, Clinton County; Jill Hansen, Benton County; and Charlie Rowe, Dallas County

5. Carter Eilers, Linn County; Madison Sickles, Iowa County; and Sydney Sparks, Jones County

Swine

1. Tucker Rohrig, Adair County; Kiley Allan and Brady Allan, Plymouth County

2. Jackson Sterle, Story County; Kane Boyle, Crawford County; and Zoe Reffitt, Harrison County

3. Sterger Mauson, Benton County; Reagan Gibson, Guthrie County; and Taylor Rohrig, Adair County

4. Sage Voegele, Lyon County; Caleigh Lewis, Butler County; and Alison Mehmen, Benton County

5. Sadie Fredrick and Lane McGraw, Warren County; and Ivan Greif, Clarke County

Sheep

1. Jackson Sterle, Nathan Faga, Wyatt Toot, all from Story County

2. Elly Holubar, Johnson County; and Libby Dix and Andrew Dix, Linn County

3. Joslyn Foxen, Fisher Paulsen, Sutten Paulsen, all from Black Hawk County

4. Hayden Lowry, Jasper County; Luci Kucera, Jasper County; Maddie Kucera, Tama County

5. Shannon Melody and Aiden Melody, Calhoun County; and Keely Kehrli, Buchanan County

Meat goat

1. Alicia Cumberland, Zane Smith, Audrey Smith, all of Van Buren County

2. Reagan Decious and Karlie Pettyjohn, Marion County

3. Wade Fisher and Jule Fisher, Plymouth County.

4. Jackson Sterle, Story County; and Tucker Rohrig and Taylor Rohrig, Adair County.

5. Grace Curtis and Maggie Reed, Greene County; and Gabby Stewart, Webster County

Iowa 4-H InventSTEM Challenge showcases youth innovation

This year 20 youth from across Iowa showcased their innovative ideas during InventSTEM (science, technology, engineering and math) at the state fair. This Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development program encourages youth to engage in the innovation process to solve real-world problems. The InventSTEM program uses a learning framework that encourages youth to take part in a variety of STEM learning opportunities.

The top youth teams in grades 4 to 12 across the state were awarded prizes, and they showcased their ideas at the 2021 Iowa State Fair.

The InventSTEM program, developed in partnership with Alliant Energy, has provided an opportunity to meet the rising demand for future professionals in STEM fields, helping young people improve their skills as they explore the importance of STEM in everyday life.

Iowa 4-H youth win International Harvester Awards

The International Harvester Collector's Club Award Program recognized Iowa 4H members for their state fair project achievements at the Iowa State Fair.

All state fair 4-H participants whose exhibits are associated with the International Harvester brand family qualify for this additional award, sponsored by the IH Collector's Club. Youth participants who applied provided information related to their project goals, processes, problem solving, expenses and learning opportunities.

Along with public recognition at the 2021 IH Awards Ceremony, winning 4-H members also receive a one-year membership to IH Collector's Club Chapter 5, an invitation to share their exhibit at a chapter club meeting or the Farm Progress Show, and a monetary award. While exhibits in every class are eligible for IH awards, tractor restoration is a favorite of 4-H members.

Source: Iowa State University Extension, which is responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and its subsidiaries aren't responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.