By Nikki Burkhamer
Examiner Contributor
The Logan County Fair’s 4H Style Review showcased on Tuesday, July 8, when contestants modeled their textile crafts in front of an admiring crowd.
It was Gillian Knight who garnered the highest award for her expertly sewn and designed prom dress. In her eighth year of showing, Gillian is a member of two 4H clubs: Willing Workers and Riverside Hustlers.
Gillian felt really good about presenting her project.
“This is probably my favorite thing I have ever made out of my eight years of sewing. I put a lot of hard work into it. As soon as I saw the pattern, I knew I wanted to make it, and I really thought I made it my own, and I put everything I had into it. It paid off.”
While standing in her sparkly and navy prom dress, the State Fair Representative explained, “I think I have gone to the State Fair for sewing every year, but this one feels so different than the other ones. Honestly, it’s one of my last projects, and it just feels like I have accomplished a lot, so it’s really nice.”
A soon-to-be senior at Riverside High School, Gillian is closely followed by her younger sister, Valerie Knight, who is an incoming sophomore at Riverside. She is also a member of both Willing Workers and Riverside Hustlers. After winning Reserve Best of Show for her detailed quilt and a lined suit, Valerie excitedly shared, “It’s kind of one of the best feelings in the world. You’ve worked so long throughout the entire year, pretty much, on a garment that you love and a quilt that you love.
“For my quilt it was 41 hours, and then for my suit it was 51 hours. So, a total of 92. It just feels amazing when you put in all this hard work to be rewarded for it.”
Sewing is an age-old craft that needs to be preserved in our high-tech and innovative world.
“I think pointing out many of the positives, and continuing to encourage them and supporting the young people to keep sewing is a positive thing to do. Thinking about what they want to make next and having them think ahead and having a planning process to do that will help them to keep sewing,” Jann Klopfenstein emboldened.
Klopfenstein came from Auglaize County to judge the Logan County Fair’s Fashion Review with over ten years of judging experience.
The Wapakoneta resident said, “Construction was wonderful. A lot of hours and time went into these projects and their well thought out process of constructing those garments. It was an honor to judge them, actually.”
Diane Jess, from Champaign County, has also been judging 4H sewing projects for over 10 years.
She was impressed with the participants of The Style Revue, and she shared, “I really enjoyed judging in Logan County. It’s a wonderful county and they have beautiful, beautiful sewing projects. I probably should be paying them to let me judge.”
Style Revue Results
Beginning Categories:
Skillathon Winner: Delia Rose; Sew Well Done Award Winners: Delia Rose, Emery Warren and Charlotte Jackson; 1st Place Sew Fun and State Fair Representative: Delia Rose, State Fair Alternate: Emery Warren; 1st place Terrific Tops and State Fair Representative: Charlotte Jackson; 1st place Sundresses and Jumpers and State Fair Representative: Charlotte Jackson; 1st place Designed By Me and State Fair Representative: Emerson Gordon.
Intermediate Categories:
Skillathon Winners: Audra Harford, Emily Adams, and Lila Adams; Sew Well Done Award Winners: Audra Harford, Emily Adams, Lila Adams, Kaitlyn Adams, and Beatrice Adams; 1st Place Clothes for Middle School and State Fair Representative: Lila Adams; 1st place Athletic Wear and State Fair Representative: Audra Harford; 1st place Lounging Jr. and State Fair Representative: Emily Adams; 1st place Lounging Sr. and State Fair Representative: Beatrice Warren; 1st place Embellish and State Fair Representative: Kaitlyn Adams, State Fair Alternate: Charlotte Jackson; 1st place Shopping Savvy and State Fair Representative: Lila Adams.
Advanced Categories:
Skillathon Winners: Valerie Knight, Gillian Knight, Kaitlyn Adams, and Carly Strayer; Sew Well Done Award Winners: Valerie Knight, Gillian Knight, Kaitlyn Adams, Carly Strayer, and Audrey Warren; 1st Place Clothes for High School and State Fair Representative: Valerie Knight; 1st place Dress Up Formal Wear and State Fair Representative: Gillian Knight,
State Fair Alternate: Audrey Warren; 1st place Clothes for Career and State Fair Representative: Kaitlyn Adams; 1st place Outerwear and State Fair Representative: Carly Strayer;
Quilts: Yes, You can Quilt, Sew Well Done Award Winners: Audra Harford, Beatrice Warren, Valerie Knight, and Audrey Warren; 1st Place and State Fair Representative: Audra Harford, Alternate: Beatrice Warren; Quilting Best Better 1st Place and State Fair Representative: Valerie Knight, Alternate: Audrey Warren; State Fair Awards: Harbage Award, Carly Strayer; MCE Award, Valerie Knight; Fashion Revue Award, Gillian Knight; Rising Star Award, Delia Rose; Consumer Clothing Award, Lila Adams.
Top Awards of the Night
Best Overall Constructed Garment Award: Valerie Knight
Best Overall Total Look Award: Gillian Knight
Wool Award: Carly Strayer
Best Overall Interview Award: Gillian Knight and Valerie Knight
Top Overall Award: Beginner: Delia Rose; Intermediate: Emily Adams; Senior: Carly Strayer
Best of Show: Gillian Knight
Reserve Best of Show: Valerie Knight
