Traill County 4-H Achievement Day welcomes pet show, far more exhibits | News

This year’s Traill County 4-H Achievement Day in Hillsboro will feature more static and animal exhibits than the event has seen in recent history.

Katie Mueller, an administrative assistant with NDSU Extension in Traill County, said the county has seen an uptick in its number of 4-H chapters and participants since 2021.

“Three years ago we had one chapter and 20 kids in 4-H,” Mueller said Wednesday. “This year, we have three clubs and 70 kids enrolled in Traill County.”

The ballooning number of youth active in 4-H has led to more static and animal exhibits set to be showcased at today’s (Friday’s) Achievement Day in Hillsboro.

After seeing 80 exhibits three years ago, today’s 4-H showcase, which will be held inside and outside the Quonset buildings east of the Traill County Highway Department building at 319 2nd Ave. S.W. in Hillsboro, will feature 260.

“That’s pretty exciting to see that growth,” said Mueller, who has been coordinating on this year’s Achievement Day with Extension agent Jill Murphy as the latter prepares to return from maternity leave.

Achievement Day kicks off with poultry and rabbit judging at 9 a.m. in Hillsboro, although static exhibits will be available throughout the program from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The program will feature the debut of a pet show at 10 a.m. with area 4-H kids showing off their cats, dogs and two turtles.

“We’ve done (static) pet exhibits in the past and we thought it would be nice to do a pet show,” Mueller said. “It’s a fun event for the kids.”

A kids coloring display will run from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and a kids straw bale scramble, where kids dig through bales looking for coins, will start at 11 a.m.

Livestock judging will follow at noon and this year’s animal entries will include kids showing off their geese, swine, sheep, goats, chickens and ducks.

A parade of champions honoring winners will round out the one-day program.

Although the animal exhibits seem to pull in the biggest crowds on Achievement Day, Mueller encouraged people to take time to check out this year’s static exhibits.

Projects put together by kids in Traill County 4-H chapters cover a wide variety of interests and subject areas, she said.

“Any interest or skill that a child has, there’s a project for that in 4-H,” Mueller said. “From quilting to baking or woodworking to photographing, if a kid has an interest in an area there’s usually a project that kids can do to show off their skills.”

Food and beverages will be available to purchase from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. today.

Although Achievement Day pulls in repeat attendees every year, Mueller said she’s hopeful that first-timers will come check out today’s program if they’re in the area.

“If people haven’t been there before, we would encourage them to come have fun and see what 4-H is all about,” she said.