Local 4-H kids do well at NY State Fair

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: Members of the Orleans County 4-H Rabbit Raisers Club participated in the New York State Fair Rabbit Show and Rabbit Knowledge Decathlon Labor Day Weekend.  4-Hers from 13 counties around the state took park in the Knowledge Decathlon on Sept. 4.  The Orleans County Sr. Team took first place with Amelia Sidonio, Peggy-Jo Gabalski and Rachel Gregoire. Photo:  left to right in back: Joan-Marie Gabalski, Peggy-Jo Gabalski, John Gabalski, Hugh Gabalski, all of Byron, Brian Shaw of Kendall, Zach Albright of Elba, Owen Shaw of Kendall. Front row, far right: Nate Shaw of Kendall and Sebastian Zilempe of Middleport.

SYRACUSE – Orleans County was well represented during the 2016 New York State Fair, which wrapped up its annual run on Labor Day at the State Fairgrounds in Syracuse.

Photo courtesy of Marlene Seielstad: Kaitlin Zwifka of Albion won a ribbon for a horse-riding event at the State Fair.

Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Educator Robert Batt provided the following results:

• In Dairy Goats, Natalie Mrzywka of Holley was reserve for the Kim Berham Award, which recognizes overall accomplishments for showmanship, project record, knowledge and herdsmanship.

• In sheep, Nicole Mrzywka of Holley won Champion Medium Weight Market Lamb.

• Rylie Lear of Waterport won Reserve Senior Showman in Beef.

• Orleans County Rabbit Raisers brought home many ribbons from the State Fair including the coveted 1st Place ribbon in the Senior Team Division of the Rabbit Knowledge (Science) Decathlon.

The team consists of Peggy-Jo Gabalski, Rachel Gregoire, and Amelia Sidonio. Peggy-Jo placed second in the individual Top 10, Rachel placed third and Amelia placed fourth.

Orleans County fielded two Junior Teams. John Gabalski, Joan-Marie Gabalski and Will Gregoire took second place. Zach Albright, Sebastian Zilempe, Brian Shaw and Owen Shaw took fifth place.

Will Gregoire placed fourth in the individual Top 10, John Gabalski placed sixth and Brian Shaw placed ninth.

In the Novice Division, Meagan Hardner placed fifth and Nate Shaw placed eight in the individual Top 10.

Brian Shaw also won Best of Breed for both his Himalayan rabbit and his English Spot rabbit.

Photo by Kristina Gabalski: Orleans County 4-Her Rachel Gregoire of Murray and Orleans County 4-H Educator Robert Batt man the Orleans County Booth in the Youth Building on the New York State Fairgrounds in Syracuse Labor Day weekend. Projects displayed around them are exhibits by Orleans County 4-Hers.

Nate Shaw received Best Opposite for his Rex and Best of Breed for his Silver; Zach Albright  received Best Opposite for his Satin rabbit; Peggy-Jo Gabalski received Best Opposite for her Californian rabbit; Hugh Gabalski received Best of Breed for his Havana rabbit and Best Opposite for his American Fuzzy Lop, and Peggy-Jo Gabalski received Best of Breed for her American Fuzzy Lop.

• Family and Consumer Science exhibits in the Youth Building received awards including Rylie Seielstad’s banana bread, Sophia Cardone’s sugar cookies, Alexandria Perraciny’s beaded bookmark and Amelia Sidonio’s photographs all received rosettes for outstanding youth exhibit. Amelia’s photos were recognized as the top four in the state.

Peggy-Jo Gabalski’s felted doll won overall third in New York State for all county fairs in the Art and Home Building.

• 4-H Dog Show participants brought home seven Grand Champion and seven Reserve Grand Champion Awards. Kaitlyn Johnson won Grand Champion awards in Beginner B Obedience, Advanced Novice Obedience and Rally Excellent. Lydia Hoffann won Reserve Champion Awards in Beginner C Obedience and Rally Novice. A. Rori Higgins won Grand Champion in Beginner A Obedience. Erin Kiefer won Grand Champion in Agility Open. Rachael Kiefer won Grand Champion in Grooming and Handling B Senior and Reserve Champion in Agility Open and Agility Excellent.

Nicole Mrzywka won Reserve Champion in Graduate Beginner A Obedience, Rally Novice B and Pre-Novice Agility. Madison Ploof won Grand Champion in Grooming and Handling A Senior. Amber Kiefer, Brooke Kiefer, Erin Kiefer and Rachael Kiefer won Grand Champion in the Four-Person Team Class.

• In Horse, here are the following results.

Photo courtesy of Marlene Seielstad: Riley Seielstad of Albion took home many ribbons from the State Fair.

English: Showmanship at halter Jr. – Rachel Inman – 7th Showmanship at halter Sr. – Elizabeth Storm 3rd, Jessica Suttera 7th Trail Hunt Seat Sr.  Jessica Suttera – 7th; Elizabeth Storm, 10th Equitation Pont – Riley Seielstad – 7th, Hayleigh MacDonald – 10th Equitation Jr. – Rachel Inman, 8th Equitation Sr. – Mary DiBattisto – 2nd;

Hannah Wehling – 5th; Elizabeth Storm – 10th Hunter Flat Pony – Riley Seielstad – 6th Hunter Flat Jr. – Rachel Inman – 6th Hunter Flat Sr. – Jessica Suttera – 5th; Elizabeth Storm – 9th; Mary DiBattisto – 10th Hunter Pleasure Jr. – Rachel Inman 8th Hunter Pleasure Sr. – Jessia Suttera- 9th Hunter Hack Pony – Riley Seielstad – 2nd;

Hayleigh MacDonald – 8th Hunter Hack Jr. – Emilee Novak – 5th Hunter hack Sr. – Mary DiBattisto 1st; Anna Garbowski –  4th; Andrea Toussaint – 7th Working Hunter Pony – Riley Seielstad – 5th; Hayleigh MacDonald 7th   Working Hunter Jr. – Emilee Novak – 5th Equitation over Fences Pony – Hayleigh MacDonald – 7th Equitation over Fences Jr. – Emilee Novak – 6th Equitation over Fences Sr. – Mary DiBattisto – 3rd; Andrea Toussaint – 8th; Hannah Wehling – 7th

Western: Introductory Level Test A Jr. – Madison Bale – 2nd Introductory Level Test B Jr. – Madison Bale – 2nd Basic Level Test A – Madison Bale 1st Western Trail Jr. – Madison Bale – 4th Wester Trail Sr. – Elizabeth Storm – 10th Western Showmanship Sr. – Kelsey Hilburger – 6th; Jessica Suttera – 8th Western Pleasure Pony – Rachel Inman – 5th Western Pleasure Sr. – Kelsey Hilburger – 2nd Wester Road Hack Jr. – Rachel Inman – 10th Western Road Hack Sr. – Kelsey Hilburger 6th Western Horsemanship Jr. – Rachel Inman – 4th;

Emma Klaver 10th Western Showmanship Sr. – Jessica Suttera 1st ; Elizabeth Storm – 5th Stock Seat Equitation Jr. – Rachel Inman  – 3rd Stock Seat Equitation Sr.  – Jessica Suttera – 2nd Costume Class – Madison Bale, 7th

Hannah Wehling of Albion was among the honored riders at the State Fair.

Dressage: Training Level Test 1 Jr. – Emilee Novak – 3rd Training Level Test 1 Sr. – Mary DiBattisto – 2nd; Andrea Toussaint – 4th; Kelsie Johnstone – 5th; Riley Seielstad – 6th Training Level Test 2 Jr. – Hayleigh MacDonald – 2nd; Emilee Novak – 7th Training Level Test 2 Sr. – Mary DiBattisto – 1st; Riley Seielstad – 3rd; Hannah Wehling – 8th; Kaitlin Zwifka – 9th; Kelsie Johnstone, 10th Dressage Equitation Jr. – Hayleigh MacDonald – 3rd;  Emilee Novak – 7th

Dressage Equitation Sr. – Mary DiBattisto – 1st; Hannal Wehling – 4th; Riley Seielstad – 5th; Andrea Toussaint – 10th Training Level test 3 Sr. – Hannah Wehling – 2nd; Kaitlin Zwifka – 7th Prix Caprilli Jr. – Emilee Novak – 3rd; Hayleigh MacDonald – 4th Prix Caprilli Sr. – Kaitlin Zwifka – 1st; Hannah Wehling – 3rd; Riley Seielstad 4th; Mary DiBattisto – 7th; Kelsie Johnstone – 8th; Andrea Toussaint – 9th

Provided photo: Rylie Lear of Waterport won Reserve Senior Showman in Beef.