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Volunteer evaluators working with Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County’s 4-H program evaluated over 1,200 4-H Creative Crafts, Ceramics, Conservation, Foods, Horticulture, STEM, Sewing Projects, and other non-animal exhibits. Youth throughout Chautauqua County have been working for months, and in some cases, years to create true works of art. From photography to woodworking youth projects will be displayed in the 4-H Building during the 2026 Chautauqua County Fair.
4-H youth are 8-19 years with varying experience levels. Cloverbuds (youth ages 5-7) are not “judged” and all Cloverbud projects are awarded a Cloverbud Ribbon. Over 20 judges spent one-on-one time with 4-H participants evaluating their projects. Judges evaluate using the Danish system. The Danish system allows judges to determine based on a 4-H’ers age and experience, if they feel that the completed project is Excellent (Blue), Good (Red), or Worthy (White).
Youth presented each of their projects to a judge in the respective department, for example, a sewing project may be judged by an experienced seamstress. Each judge spends a few minutes with each youth determining the youth’s age, experience level, and providing encouragement and constructive criticism.
This year, 50 projects were selected to be displayed at The Great New York State Fair. County judges select projects that are exceptional for the youth’s age and experience level. These items will be on display and judged at The Great New York State Fair.
All these exceptional projects created by Chautauqua County 4-H’ers were on display at the 2026 Chautauqua County Fair, July 19-26 in Dunkirk. Youth projects are on display in the 4-H Building where there will also be children’s activities, canine demonstrations, Fashion Revue and Public Presentations.
Projects selected for State Fair:
Emelise Runge, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Welding Stained Glass Flower; Garrett Lesch, Canadaway - Tin Punch; Everett LeBarron - Leather Basket; Malcolm Long, Canadaway - Leather Basket; Drake Joy, Canadaway - Leather Basket; River Long, Canadaway – Leather Flowers; Garrett Lesch, Canadaway-Leather basket; Gavin LeBarron, Canadaway-Leather notebook; Michael Hollman, Canadaway - Leather belt; Ava Meyer, lone member - Quilt; Claudia Almekinder, Harmony Haystackers - Jacket; Addie Meyers, Country Critters - Blouse; Grace Meyers, lone member - Quilted pillow cover; Gianna Valone, Country Critters - Quilt; Owen Lindsey, Harmony Haystackers - Vest; Kristen Heath, Sherman Kountry Kids - Apron; Kiah Dean, SilverCreek Grapestompers - Quilt of Valor; Wyatt Winton, lone member -Photography; Aubryn Runge, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Photography; Emelise Runge, Frewsburg - Photography; Paige Winton, lone member - Photography; Everette LeBarron, Canadaway -Photography; Lolita Ribaudo, Frewsburg Hayseeds -Photography; Tyler Crowell, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Cutting Board; Isabella Jones, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Cutting Board; Laine Carpenter, Frewsburg Hayseeds.
Also, Gun Rack; Landon Carpenter, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Upcycled American Wooden Flag; Johnathan Lyon, Harmony Hayseeds - Refinished end table; Kristen Heath, Sherman Kountry Kids - Painting of a deer; Thalia Fanara, Chautauqua County Jr Trail Riders - Dog Leash; Denza Fanara, Chautauqua County Jr Trail Riders -tie dye T-shirt; Vaeda Kaczar, Fluvanna Farmyard Friends -Painted Rock; Anastazia Morris, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Stenciled dragonfly; Aubryn Runge, Frewsburg Hayseeds -Stenciled Shadow box; Abigail Rexford, Levant Livewires - Macrame keychains; Ella Olmstead, Fluvanna Farmyard Friends – Tie Dye Apron; Penelope Stow, Sherman Kountry Kids - Tie Dye T-shirt; Sylas Haase, Chautauqua County Jr Trail Riders -Tie Dye T-shirt; Anastazia Morris, Frewsburg Hayseeds- Stained Glass Tulips; Garrett Lesch, Canadaway - Hog Project Notebook; Garrett Lesch, Canadaway - 4-H Record Notebook; Elizabeth Jones, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Cross-Stitch; McKenna Bartlett, Harmony Haystackers - Epoxy coasters; Anastazia Morris, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Cat Welcome décor; Anastazia Morris, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Crochet; Samantha Overend, Frewsburg Hayseeds - Crochet; Gavin LeBarron, Canadaway - Ceramics; Harrison LeBarron, Canadaway - Ceramics; Lukas Liskow, Country Critters - Ceramics; Abigail Rexford, Levant Livewires - Ceramics ; and Rowen Liskow, Country Critters - Ceramics.
Special Judges Awards:
Ava Meyer, lone member - Quilt; Owen Eckman, Frewsburg - Table; Emerson Dodd, Canadaway -Foods/Strawberry Fruit Leather; and Garrett Lesch, Canadaway - Horticulture/Flower Variety.
Congratulations to all those selected! State Fair entries can be viewed at the Great New York State Fair August 26- Sept 7th, 2026 in Syracuse, NY.
The 4-H Youth Development Program is one of many programs offered by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Chautauqua County (CCE-Chautauqua). CCE-Chautauqua is a community based educational organization, affiliated with Cornell University, Chautauqua County Government, the NYS SUNY system, and the federal government through the United States Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture. For more information, call 716-664-9502 or visit our website at www.cce.cornell.edu/chautauqua. Cornell University Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.