Local youths earned recognition during the 2026 Chester County 4-H Fair, held from Aug. 1 and Aug. 3 to 8 at the Romano 4-H Center in West Brandywine Township. Among the activities were swine and dairy shows, as well as the presentation of the Spirit of 4-H Awards.

Chester County 4-H Swine Club members participated in showmanship and market classes at the annual Market Swine Round-Up on Aug. 4. Event judge Adam Zurin of Mount Joy praised exhibitors for their preparation and professionalism, and the quality of their animals.

The event began with the senior showmanship competition, where exhibitors demonstrated advanced animals handling skills and extensive knowledge of the swine industry. Sawyer Lease was recognized as the honorary judge. The winners were Amaris Kerner, champion senior showman, and Mallory Howe, reserve champion senior showman.

In the junior division, Ruby Rohrer captured champion junior showman, and Tyler Mahoney earned reserve champion junior showman. In the first-year showmanship competition - featuring members new to the swine project - Eliana Teran and Georgia Beam were named champion first-year showmen.

At the conclusion of the showmanship competition, champions from each division returned to the ring to compete for overall showmanship honors. Amaris Kerner was named the overall grand champion swine showman, and Ruby Rohrer earned the title of reserve overall grand champion swine showman.

The market hog competition featured livestock in four weight divisions. The divisions and their winners were as follows: Lightweight Market Hog - Ruby Rohrer, champion, and Henry Rohrer, reserve champion; Mediumweight Market Hog - Sawyer Lease, champion, and Braden Howe, reserve champion; Light Heavyweight Market Hog - Tyler Mahoney, champion, and Joe Osbeck, reserve champion; Heavyweight Market Hog - Mallory Howe, champion, and Amaris Kerner, reserve champion.

After the division championships, the top market hogs returned to the ring for the overall drive. Sawyer Lease was awarded overall grand champion, and Bradon Howe earned overall reserve grand champion.

The Chester County 4-H swine program provides youths with opportunities to develop responsibility, leadership, decision-making, and communication skills while raising and exhibiting livestock. Through their projects, members gain experience in animal care, record-keeping, sportsmanship, and agricultural stewardship.

The Chester County 4-H Dairy Show was held on Aug. 7, featuring 56 dairy animals exhibited by 40 youths. The judge was Belle Dallam.

The event started with the showmanship and fitting contests. The age groups and their top performing were as follows: senior division, for those age 15 and older - Heidi Bramm of East Coventry Township, showmanship, and Maximilliano Teran of West Bradford Township, fitting; intermediate, for those ages 12 to 14 - Emma Walker of East Vincent Township, showmanship, and Chris Schweitzer of East Coventry Township, fitting; junior, for 9- to 11-year-olds - Karly Snyder of Westtown Township, showmanship, and Eliana Teran of West Bradford Township, fitting; first-year members over age 15 - Sarah Pate of East Nottingham Township, showmanship and fitting; and first-year members ages 8 to 14 - Gwen Malchione of New Garden Township, showmanship, and Olivia Taney of Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County, fitting.

The dairy show also included eight breed divisions. In the Brown Swiss breed, Karly Snyder was named junior champion with her spring calf, Piper, and Lily Troop of Pocopson Township was the reserve junior champion with Lavandula Desperado Nola. Lily Troop's junior 2-year-old cow, Lavandula Rampage Noa, was the grand champion, and Harleigh Ellingsworth of West Fallowfield Township was reserve champion with her junior 3-year-old, Lavandula Jukebox Nicoti.

In the Guernsey breed, Bobby Pinciotti of Honey Brook was both junior champion and grand champion with his spring calf, Warwick Manor Springhill Jingle. Annsley Frazier of Westtown Township was reserve champion with her fall calf, Peaches.

In the Holstein show, Naomi Hostetter of Lower Oxford was the junior champion with Pazzle B-Mine, a spring calf, and Sarah Pate was the reserve junior champion with Troika Captivating Brows, a winter calf. Bobby Pinciotti was the senior champion and grand champion with his 5-year-old cow, Windor-Manor Harlow, and Sarah Pate was reserve champion with DB and J Handshake Volcano, a senior 2-year-old cow.

In the Jersey breed, Scott Sollenbeger of East Coventry Township was the junior champion with his winter calf, French Creek Kamikazi Tina, and Chris Schweitzer was reserve junior champion with his spring calf, Chaos Springs Casino Sandy. Tyler Taney of Upper Frederick Township, Montgomery County, was the senior and grand champion Jersey with French Creek Chrome Trisket. Scott Sollenberger was named reserve grand champion.

In the Lineback breed, Hannah Barbosa of Concord Township, Delaware County, was the junior champion with her winter yearling, Pocopson Meadows FB Parsley. Chris Schweitzer was the reserve junior champion with his spring calf, Chaos Springs in Red Loretta. Loretta was also the best bred and owned lineback in the show. Additionally, Chris Schcweitzer was selected as the senior and grand champion with his senior 2-year-old cow, Pocopson Meadow Ice Reese. Chris's junior champion calf was selected as the reserve grand champion lineback.

In the Milking Shorthorn breed, the junior champion and grand champion was Max Teran with his fall calf, Pocopson Meadow Hot Magic.

In the Red and White Breed, Blayke Stoltzfus of West Fallowfield Township was the junior champion and grand champion with her winter calf, Colt-Steph Rae-Red. Arjun Reddy of East Nantmeal Township was the reserve junior champion with his spring calf, Birchrun Lucid Arrow Red. Emma Walker's junior 3-year-old, Coffee-Brook Raven-Red was the senior champion and reserve grand champion of the breed.

Wrapping up the breed show were the Ayrshires, with Heidi Bramm's Bramm-Legacy GB Bernadette selected as the junior champion and best bred and owned Ayrshire. Heidi's spring yearling, Simplicity Farm GB Phoebe, was the reserve junior champion. Annabella Smith of East Brandywine Township was the senior champion and grand champion with her 4-year-old, Dreamnol R Special Oaklyn. Heidi Bramm was the reserve senior champion and reserve grand champion with her junior 2-year-old, S&M Magnum's Scarlett.

The judge selected Bobby Pinciotti's Guernsey, Warwick Manor Springhill Jingle, as the supreme champion of the show.

The Chester County 4-H Fair also included the presentation of two Spirit of 4-H Awards and two Certificates of Achievement. The Spirit of 4-H Award was started in 1998 by the Saddle Up 4-H Horse and Pony Club, and it became a countywide accolade in 2007. Each year, 4-H club leaders nominate one member of each club who demonstrated the most spirit, enthusiasm, and willingness to do anything for 4-H or the community. Once nominated, the members are asked to complete and return an application to be reviewed by the 4-H Program Development Committee, which selects the winner. Normally only one winner is selected, but the committee chose two honorees this year. They are Audrey Ibach and Alexis McCafferty.

Audrey is a 10-year member of the Northern Chester County 4-H Horse & Pony Club. She has held various leadership positions, helped with her club's horse show, represented 4-H at community events, and served as a teen leader and mentor to younger club members. Audrey attended the 4-H State Leadership Conference to expand her leadership and communication skills, and she competed in the horse judging and hippology contests to expand her equine skills. At Technical College High School, Audrey demonstrated her animal care and handling skills, and in the community, she uses the leadership skills she learned in 4-H to help her church council and Girl Scout troops. Audrey resides in Upper Providence Township in Montgomery County.

Alexis was nominated by the Golden Fleece 4-H Sheep Club for her leadership, effective communication, and willingness to help others. Her leader, Katie Minacci, also noted that Lexi demonstrates energetic enthusiasm. Lexi has been in 4-H for nine years, is a club officer, and is a standout member in the Chester County 4-H livestock clubs, participating in sheep, beef, swine, and market goat projects. She said that 4-H has impacted her life in many ways, helping to make her the person she is by teaching her the value of hard work and giving back. Lexi resides in West Brandywine Township.

Audrey and Alexis each received a plaque, and their names will be engraved on a plaque displayed at the Romano 4-H Center.

In addition, Cameron Johnson and Brianna Bulfaro received Certificates of Achievement.

Cameron is a 10-year member of the Chester County 4-H Swine Club. His older sister has also participated in 4-H, and their parents were leaders in the program. Cameron credited 4-H with helping him to learn how to care for and act around animals, to be a good sportsman, to maintain good relationships, and to think outside the box. In addition, he used the proceeds of a pig that he raised and sold to help with hospital expenses for a sick friend, and he is a leader in his club and community.

Brianna said that 4-H has given her a safe place to be herself and express her talents. Through the Lucky Clover Rabbit and Cavy Club, she has volunteered more than 135 hours of her time this year to make cards, ornaments, and gifts for seniors, and to serve as a 4-H camp teen leader. She noted that 4-H helped her to come out of her shell and demonstrate her abilities, which has made her a better leader and problem solver.

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a national program offering young people opportunities to gain leadership, citizenship, and life skills. Chester County 4-H is open to youths ages 5 to 18. To learn more, visit http://www.extension.psu.edu/4-H or contact the Penn State Extension Chester County Office at 610-696-3500 or ChesterExt@psu.edu.