The Illinois State Fair ran from Aug. 8-18 in Springfield, and Monroe County residents once again made this area proud as they received a number of awards and other recognitions throughout the event.

Youngsters with Monroe County 4-H had a strong showing, with 16 members exhibiting at the general projects show on Aug. 11.

Three of these young people received champion awards, including Valerie Branson with a theater arts project, Lane Shevlin with a leadership project and Janella Neary with an interior design project.

Other 4-H members representing Monroe County included Jessica Branson showing computer programming, Carter Cox with photography, Garrett Stechmesser welding, Emily Vogt with sewing, Duke Chandler and Brayden Koester with woodworking and Tessa Ervin, Avery Ervin and Natalie Finke with food preservation.

Also making an appearance at the fair through 4-H was Kevin Schreder, this year’s Monroe County inductee for the 4-H Hall of Fame.

Monroe County 4-H Program Coordinator Kelly Brandt offered some perspective on what exactly this honor means within the program.

“The hall of fame member is nominated by the extension office as a 4-H volunteer that has gone above and beyond in volunteering their time throughout the years with 4-H,” Brandt said.

She also offered praise for Schreder, noting how he, like many other volunteers, participated in 4-H when he was a child and has gone on to offer a tremendous amount of time and energy as a volunteer.

Schreder himself spoke about how he started with the program when he was 8. His grandfather owned a pig farm, so his project work initially focused on swine – though he did stretch out into woodworking, electricity, baking and other fields.

He also continued with collegiate 4-H, assisting with programs in other counties.

As a volunteer, Schreder mentioned his work with providing educational opportunities for 4-H members interested in swine, offering them a hands-on learning opportunity as well as the chance to learn more about the industry.

He has also served as co-chair for the annual Harvest Night Dinner Auction in November for a number of years.

Schreder spoke highly about the program he’s been giving back to as a volunteer, highlighting the benefits it provides for young people.

“I see it as an opportunity for young people to be involved,” Schreder said. “They learn being active with other people their age on a club level, learning officer roles and responsibilities being on committees. When they take their projects, it’s a way for them to just learn a lot of life skills. Whether you learn how to bake, sew, woodwork or anything, there’s just so many projects, and they’re all just skills you can use the rest of your life.”

He also voiced his thanks for the 4-H Hall of Fame recognition.

“It was an honor, kind of a humble honor,” Schreder said. “I guess I see myself doing the same thing as a lot of other people in the county, but it is an honor to be recognized. And it was a good experience to go up to the state fair and receive the recognition. But there’s a lot of volunteers in our county that support and promote the 4-H and extension programs.”

A longtime local family farm was also recognized at the state fair. 

Steve Launius was recognized for his ownership of four separate family farm plots – three of which have celebrated their sesquicentennial, while the fourth celebrated its centennial.

Within Monroe County is the DePuyt family farm, which came into the family in 1873.

“It’s an honor,” Launius said. “Makes you feel good. Brings you in relationship with people in the past.”

Another notable Monroe County presence at the fair was George Obernagel, who purchased the grand champion meat goat for $8,000 during the Governor’s Sale of Champions auction on Aug. 15.