The Oakland County 4-H fair has come and gone, but the lustre from seven awards won by Clarkston area youths continue to shine.
Christine Bignotti, Beth Boyd, Elizabeth Brazeal, Chelsea Rawe and Tory Salvador all won Best of Show blue ribbons and State Gold Awards with their exhibits. The State Gold Award doubles as an invitation to show at the Michigan State Fair beginning on Aug. 10.
Down in the horse arena, Renee Knight’s Western Bareback prowess and Amanda Suddeth’s Western Showing and Fitting skills earned them Grand Champion status in their respective classes.
The Clarkston News would like to take the time to further recognize these young people’s stellar contributions to the fair. This week, three award winning youths are featured. The Aug. 17 edition of The Clarkston News will feature the four others.
Chelsea Rawe, of Davisburg, was inspired by her participation with the Veterinary Science Club, based in Davisburg, to create a hands-on suture board and scrap book for the exhibit hall.
‘When I found out I won, I was dumbfounded and I was really honored,? said Rawe.
Rawe’s suture board is used as a teaching tool for a variety of injuries, from closing cuts on the surface of the skin to work inside the body. Sponges affixed to the board mimic skin. Some activities on the board call for sutures to be made while the hands are inside a cup to recreate the experience of a veterinarian or surgeon applying sutures without being able to see their hands. Rawe’s suture board further hones nimble fingers by using a sock to simulate repairing an intestinal wall.
In Rawe’s scrapbook, she detailed a year’s worth of study and dissections with the Veterinary Science Club. Led by Dr. Elizabeth McGhee, the club offers a deep introduction into the physiological and surgical world of vetrinary science.
‘Most people would not be able to feel what a foal feels like still in the placenta until they were in veterinary school, but I already have,? said Rawe, who will be entering the eighth grade at Clarkston Junior High School and would like to pursue veterinary science in college.
Tory Salvador’s intricately knitted scarf was another blue ribbon exhibit to earn a State Gold Award and display at the Michigan State Fair. Tory, of Clarkston, used two different yarns, a soft eyelash-like ‘fun fur? and a heavier fabric for warmth in her pink, red and white scarf.
‘I didn’t believe it when I won. (The judges) said they liked it, but I did not think it would win best in show,? said Salvador.
Salvador’s mother, Patti, echoed her daughter’s sentiments
?(The judges) had been looking for us in the exhibit hall. When we found out she had won, we were like ‘You’re kidding us.? I was really proud of her,? said Patti Salvador.
Salvador’s grandmother, Mary Ann Dufrin, introduced her to knitting, taking her shopping for supplies for her birthday two years ago. According to Salvador, her blue ribbon scarf is a testament to how far she has progressed with her knitting needles, especially compared to her first project, which was a blanket.
Aside from knitting, Salvador also competed in the western walk trot class at this year’s 4-H fair.
‘It’s not really that hard to do the two things together,? said Salvador.
Renee Knight, of Davisburg, and her mount Real Mighty Skip’s victory in the Western Bareback class at this year’s 4-H fair amped up the decibel level at the horse arena.
‘I took everybody’s eardrums out sitting next to me when she won,? said Doris Knight, Renee’s mother. ‘She has worked so hard to partner with her horse.?
This was the second year that Renee and Skip competed together at the 4-H fair.
‘The Oakland County 4-H is really competitive. To do good in this circuit is a great accomplishment,? said Renee Knight, who rides with the Rein’em Riders out of Davisburg. She is a sophomore at Holly and will again ride for her school’s equestrian team.
The 4-H fair seems to be in the Knight family’s blood as Renee and her brother Thomas are third generation participants in the 101-year-old festivities.
Renee’s grandmother entered the fair in her youth with a dress made from burlap sacks, which were worked over extensively to transform them into suitable evening wear. Doris also participated in the fair as a youth.
The 4-H gene is also evident in Renee’s brother Thomas whose raised a champion bantam chicken for this year’s poultry barn.