MONROE - Kids still too young to become full fledged 4-H members can get a head start as Cloverbuds.
This year, 67 Cloverbuds, from kindergarten through 2nd grade, had projects entered at the Green County Fair, and some Cloverbuds entered as many as four projects.
"Everybody gets a ribbon for each project," said Paul Heimann, Chairman of the Green County Fair Cloverbuds and Exploring Committee. "There are no premiums (paid); this is for fun and experience."
4-H Junior Leaders and Ambassadors volunteer as the Cloverbuds judges, giving them extra experience too.
"They take the youths around and ask them questions. It gives them experience in the judging process," Heimann said.
Laura Lee Berrey, 18, Monroe, has volunteered for three years as a Cloverbud judge. This is her last year in 4-H, and she plans to major in education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall.
"I like working with kids and hear what they have to say. I ask questions and get them to open up with their projects; some of them are guarded," she said.
Berrey said she sees how the experience helps the children as they return each year.
"They grow up in their projects," she said. "If they didn't do as well last year, they will try again this year. It's nice to see them trying again and succeeding."
Samantha Roth, 13, Albany, came to be a Cloverbud judge for the first time this year, at the coaxing of a friend.
"We ask them about their project and how they liked it. It gives them experience talking. The older ones come out more; it's easier to talk with them. Some of them get pretty into it," she said.
Kaitlyn Fey, 8, is in her last year as a Cloverbud, with four projects including, a ceramic flowerpot she painted as a cat topped with a bird's nest, two stepping stones imprinted by a hand and a foot, and an apple picture made from mixed bird seeds and paint. The flowerpot cat idea came from a pamphlet her sister brought home.
Having been a 4-H mascot for her older brothers and sister, Fey now intends to go on to exploring and rabbits next year.
Cole Makos, 7, Argyle, is a second-year Cloverbud. The judging process did not make him nervous al all, he said.
His projects were a wooden birdhouse, a milk jug pig, a photo album about cats, cows and his brother Kory, and a car made out of Legos.
Painting the birdhouse was his favorite part, hammering the nails was hard, he said.
His best project was the Lego car, which took two days to build. His first one was breaking apart, so he rebuilt it into another one, he added.
Makos intends to go into shooting spots, archery and air rifle, when he becomes a 4-H member.
Kory Makos, 5, following in his big brother's foot steps, will start Cloverbuds in the fall with an album and Lego car of his own.
Bryce Montgomery, 7, Monroe, started Cloverbuds this year and entered a Lego Sponge Bob and a painted T-shirt. The T-shirt was his third attempt at the project. His first two T-shirts frustrated his so much he threw them away. Andrew Hellpap 7/23/09
This year, 67 Cloverbuds, from kindergarten through 2nd grade, had projects entered at the Green County Fair, and some Cloverbuds entered as many as four projects.
"Everybody gets a ribbon for each project," said Paul Heimann, Chairman of the Green County Fair Cloverbuds and Exploring Committee. "There are no premiums (paid); this is for fun and experience."
4-H Junior Leaders and Ambassadors volunteer as the Cloverbuds judges, giving them extra experience too.
"They take the youths around and ask them questions. It gives them experience in the judging process," Heimann said.
Laura Lee Berrey, 18, Monroe, has volunteered for three years as a Cloverbud judge. This is her last year in 4-H, and she plans to major in education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison this fall.
"I like working with kids and hear what they have to say. I ask questions and get them to open up with their projects; some of them are guarded," she said.
Berrey said she sees how the experience helps the children as they return each year.
"They grow up in their projects," she said. "If they didn't do as well last year, they will try again this year. It's nice to see them trying again and succeeding."
Samantha Roth, 13, Albany, came to be a Cloverbud judge for the first time this year, at the coaxing of a friend.
"We ask them about their project and how they liked it. It gives them experience talking. The older ones come out more; it's easier to talk with them. Some of them get pretty into it," she said.
Kaitlyn Fey, 8, is in her last year as a Cloverbud, with four projects including, a ceramic flowerpot she painted as a cat topped with a bird's nest, two stepping stones imprinted by a hand and a foot, and an apple picture made from mixed bird seeds and paint. The flowerpot cat idea came from a pamphlet her sister brought home.
Having been a 4-H mascot for her older brothers and sister, Fey now intends to go on to exploring and rabbits next year.
Cole Makos, 7, Argyle, is a second-year Cloverbud. The judging process did not make him nervous al all, he said.
His projects were a wooden birdhouse, a milk jug pig, a photo album about cats, cows and his brother Kory, and a car made out of Legos.
Painting the birdhouse was his favorite part, hammering the nails was hard, he said.
His best project was the Lego car, which took two days to build. His first one was breaking apart, so he rebuilt it into another one, he added.
Makos intends to go into shooting spots, archery and air rifle, when he becomes a 4-H member.
Kory Makos, 5, following in his big brother's foot steps, will start Cloverbuds in the fall with an album and Lego car of his own.
Bryce Montgomery, 7, Monroe, started Cloverbuds this year and entered a Lego Sponge Bob and a painted T-shirt. The T-shirt was his third attempt at the project. His first two T-shirts frustrated his so much he threw them away. Andrew Hellpap 7/23/09