The Marinette County Fair held its award ceremony on Sunday, Aug. 30, in the show barn at the fairgrounds. The recently crowned 4-H Royalty — consisting of king Trent Van De Walle, queen Emilie Gerken and princesses Rebekah Retza and Grace Gromala — helped out by giving the winners their awards.
During the afternoon ceremony, the Marinette County Fair Board recognized four individuals as 2026 Friends of the Fair, Ann VanDeWalle, Sally Witak, Dr. Marcia Hageman and Hubert Widedemeier. They were all presented with individualized plaques.
VanDeWalle has been a supporter of the fair for many years. The many projects that she and her family have contributed to and volunteered at have not gone unnoticed. She continues to be an active volunteer of the livestock project and auction.
Witak has always been willing to help where needed. She sells tickets at a booth, organizes t-shirt orders and completes any other jobs that arise. She volunteers for many shifts in the fair office and is willing to help when asked.
Dr. Hageman has been giving her time as the fair veterinarian for many years, ensuring animals are healthy and safe at the fair. Additionly, she has been a vital part of the annual veteran’s quilt raffle at the fair, making quilts to raffle off to military veterans each year.
Widedemeier is known by many in the pulling community. He started pulling in 1972. In the 1990s, Hubert took over organizing the farm tractor pull at the fair. He continued doing this for over 30 years. Widedemeier was essential in keeping this fair tradition alive and making it what it is today.
The following is a partial list of exhibitors honored:
Showmanship: Beginner — Erik Eichhorn, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Intermediate — Alivia Finger, Merry-Go-Getters 4-H Club; and Senior — Jillian Behnke, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club. Winners received trophies sponsored by United Cooperative.
Club/Herd: Large Herd — Merry Go Getters 4-H Club (first place) and Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club (second place). Small Herd — Coleman FFA (first place), Golden Opportunity 4-H Club (second place) and Kountry Kids 4-H Club (third place). Clubs will receive monetary awards from the Marinette County Fair Association.
Production: Isabella Carlson of the Merry Go Getters 4-H Club won in all three categories (Top Butterfat, Top Milk Production and Top Protein). She was awarded rosettes provided by the Marinette County Fair Association.
Outstanding Exhibitor: Julie Borkovec of Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club received a plaque sponsored by Hoppe Dairy.
Best Fitted Holstein: Under two years — Jerin Gross, Coleman FFA; Over two years — Alisa Finger, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club. Both winners received trophies sponsored by Marinette County Dairy Promotions.
Best Udder: Drea VanDeWalle, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club. She received a special rosette provided by the Marinette County Fair Association.
Best Fitted Colored Breed: Under two ears — Alivia Finger of Merry Go Getters 4-H Club received a trophy sponsored by Associated Bank. Over two years — Drea VanDeWalle of Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club received a trophy sponsored by Doug and Mary Quaak.
Supreme Showman Dairy: Jillian Behnke of Merry Go Getters 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve Supreme Showman Dairy went to Breanna Klimek of Merry Go Getters 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
Showmanship: Beginner — RaeLee VanDeWalle, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Intermediate — Piper Ermis, End of the Trail 4-H Club; and Senior — Payton DeClark, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club. Winners received trophies sponsored by United Cooperative.
Supreme Beef Showman: This special recognition went to Piper Ermis, End of the Trail 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme beef showman went to Peyton DeClark, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
Showmanship: Beginner — Addy Schwittay, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Intermediate — Hannah Gerken, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club; and Senior — Trent Van De Walle, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club. Trophies were sponsored by Chris and Sheryl Vieth.
Supreme Swine Showman: This special recognition went to Hannah Gerken, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme swine showman went to Trent Van De Walle, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
Showmanship: Beginner — Adaleena Christesen, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Intermediate — Emilie Gerken, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club; and Senior — Owen Dunkes, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Trophies were sponsored by Chris and Sheryl Vieth.
Supreme Sheep Showman: This special recognition went to Emilie Gerken, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme sheep showman went to Owen Dunkes, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
Showmanship: Beginner — Haven Hoida, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club; Intermediate — Ayda Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club; and Senior — Owen Dunkes, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Beginner and intermediate trophies were sponsored by Winterset Farms and the senior trophy was sponsored by Associated Bank.
Supreme Goat Showman: This special recognition went to Owen Dunkes, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme goat showman went to Wyatt Dunkes, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
The following received plaques provided by the Marinette County Fair Association:
Beef — DeClark Family, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club; Dairy — (Colton and Adalyn) Schwittay Family, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Sheep — Schwittay Family, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Swine — (Trent & Grant) Van De Walle Family, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Goats — Brzoznowski Family, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Waterfowl — Klimek Family, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Poultry — Thoreson Family, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; and Rabbit — (Landon and Alyiah) Papesh/Johnson Family, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club.
All grand and reserve banners for these awards were donated by the Dura Family and the winners received them prior to this event.
Grand Champion Beef — Aspyn Maye, Stargazer 4-H Club; Reserve Grand Champion Beef — Haven Hoida, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club; Grand Champion Dairy Breed — Miles Meyers, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Breed — Mia Egge, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club.
Grand Champion Sheep — Cam Harding, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Reserve Grand Champion Sheep — Jeffrey Gordon, Badger Buds 4-H Club.
Grand Champion Swine — Alisa Finger, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Reserve Grand Champion Swine — Keion Brown, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club.
Grand Champion Goat — Gracelyn Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Reserve Grand Champion Goat — Rachel Gray, Badger Buds 4-H Club.
Broilers Grand Champion Poultry — Ayda Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Broilers Reserve Grand Champion Poultry — Sadie Kahles, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club; Roasters Grand Champion Poultry — Breanna Klimek, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club; Roasters Reserve Grand Champion Poultry — Castiel Winans, Golden Opportunity 4-H Club.
Roaster Grand Champion Rabbit — Aiden Tisler, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club; Roaster Reserve Grand Champion Rabbit — Raquel Gray, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Stew Grand Champion Rabbit — Madison Fronsee, Golden Opportunity 4-H Club; Fryer Grand Champion Rabbit — Raquel Gray, Badger Buds 4-H Club.
Evelyn Gerharz, End of the Trail 4-H Club, received the Rookie Girl award and Kumar Samano, also from End of the Trail, received the Rookie Boy award. Trophies were sponsored by Associated Bank.
The following junior horse winners already received their ribbons and neck sashes, which were donated by JDL Stables:
Friday Best Of Show Grand Champion — Alexa Kinziger, End of the Trail 4-H Club; Friday Best Of Show Reserve Grand Champion — Addisyn Staudenmaier, Stargazers 4-H Club.
Saturday Best Of Show Grand Champion — Chailynn Risner, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Saturday Best Of Show Reserve Grand Champion — Belle Keyport, Stargazers 4-H Club; Overall Halter Grand Champion — Alexa Kinziger, End of the Trail 4-H Club; Overall Halter Reserve Grand Champion — Chailynn Risner, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club.
Supreme Horse Showman — This special recognition went to Alexa Kinziger, End of the Trail 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme horse showman also went to Alexa Kinziger. She was honored with special banners provided by the Dura Family.
Overall Fastest Time Grand Champion — Chailynn Risner, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Overall Fastest Time Reserve Grand Champion — Kendall Walk, Stargazers 4-H Club; Most Versatile Grand Champion — Chailynn Risner, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Most Versatile Reserve Grand Champion — Alexa Kinziger, End of the Trail 4-H Club.
The following awards also donated by JDL Stables were given out at the ceremony:
Super Horse Grand Champion — KS Timber Wolf; Super Horse Reserve Grand Champion — JDL’s Kung Fu Poe; Rookie Girl Grand Champion — Evelyn Gerharz, End of the Trail 4-H Club; Rookie Girl Reserve Grand Champion — Vivian Weglarz, End of the Trail 4-H Club; Rookie Boy Grand Champion — Kumar Samano, End of the Trail 4-H Club; Rookie Boy Reserve Grand Champion — Nicholas Hemstock, Golden Opportunity 4-H Club.
The Open Division added a Horse Department this year, giving adults and youth a chance to also compete. The following already received their ribbons which were also donated by JDL Stables:
Best Of Show Grand Champion — Flynn Dessart; Best Of Show Reserve Grand Champion — Kumar Samano; Overall Halter Grand Champion — Alexa Kinziger; Overall Halter Reserve Grand Champion — Kristin Lepinski; Overall Showmanship Grand Champion — Kristin Lepinski; and Overall Showmanship Reserve Grand Champion — Evelyn Gerharz.
Grand Champion — Raquel Gray, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Reserve Grand Champion — Gabriella Johnson, End of the Trail 4-H Club. Showmanship Winners — Clara Isaacson, Middle Inlet Moonshiners 4-H Club; Anastasia Ice, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Gabriella Johnson, End of the Trail 4-H Club; Brooke Walters, Badger Buds 4-H Club; and Raquel Gray, Badger Buds 4-H Club. All received specialized trophies.
Showmanship: Beginner — Everly Thoreson, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Intermediate — Ayda Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club; and Senior — Gracelyn Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Winners received trophies sponsored by Doug & Mary Quaak and feed cups provided by a fellow exhibitor.
Supreme Poultry Showman: This special recognition went to Gracelyn Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme poultry showman went to Ayda Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
Show Aprons in Poultry: Youth fair grand — Aliya Papesh/Johnson, Nelligan Lake 4-H Club; Youth fair reserve — Gracelyn Brzoznowski, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Open fair grand and reserve — Alex Johnson. Aprons were provided by a fellow exhibitor.
Showmanship: Beginner — Anastasia Ice, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Intermediate — Kayl Ellie, Stargazers 4-H Club; and Senior — Macie DeSmidt, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club. All three received trophies sponsored by the Northern Pigeon, Poultry and Rabbit Club and feed cups provided by a fellow exhibitor.
Supreme Rabbit Showman: This special recognition went to Macie DeSmidt, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club. Supreme showmen all received belt buckles provided by several sponsors. Reserve supreme rabbit showman went to Kayl Ellie, Stargazers 4-H Club. Both were honored with a special banner provided by the Dura Family.
Show Aprons in Rabbit: Youth fair grand — Cam Harding, Beaver Four Leaf Clover 4-H Club; Youth fair reserve — Brooke Walters, Badger Buds 4-H Club; Open fair grand — Kim Harding; Open fair reserve — Isabella Brault. Aprons were provided by a fellow exhibitor.
Showmanship: Senior — Breanna Klimek, Merry Go Getters 4-H Club, received a trophy sponsored by an anonymous donor.
The following vendors were awarded special rosettes provided by the Marinette County Fair Association:
Inside: Elevated Play Company, first place; Cunningham Creations, second place; Nana’s Freezie Sweets, third place; and St. Bougie, fourth place.
Outside: D’s Creative Faces, first place; Frampa’s Acres, second place; Florence VFW, third place; and Twisted Kernal, fourth place.
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