08/07/2026
Another Achievement Days in the books!
The 2026 Douglas County Achievement Days were held August 3rd & 4th at the 4-H Grounds in Armour, SD. (28) 4-H Members exhibited projects in various categories.
Youth are not required to receive a purple ribbon to advance on to the State Fair. This allows youth a chance to take the judges’ comments received at a local level and attempt to make their project better for the State Fair. This year static items will be displayed in Nordby Hall at the State Fairgrounds in Huron. Ribbon placing results from both static (268) and livestock (58) exhibits from the Douglas County Achievement Days are as follows:
Lila Baier – 16 purple, 4 blue, & 1 red; Tegan Baier – 16 Purple, 2 blue; Ezra Czymbor – 5 Cloverbud; Noah Czymbor - 5 Purple, 2 blue; Micah Czymbor – 5 Cloverbud; Brody Fousek – 3 purple; Tatum Fousek – 3 purple, Alexis Hoffman – 2 Purple; Cade Hoffman – 6 Purple, 5 blue; Emmett Lau – 8 purple; Ottilie Lau – 37 Purple, 3 blue; Theo Lau – 22 Cloverbud; Marissa Leonard – 24 purple, 2 blue; Adrienne Pies - 17 Purple, 7 blue; Everett Pies – 9 purple, 6 blue; Andrew Schelske - 2 purple; Levi Schelske – 2 Purple; Dudley Schroeder III – 1 purple, 1 blue; Tayah Smith – 74 Purple, 13 Blue, 1 Red; Marshall Wilson– 3 purple; Aleah Wright - 7 purple, 4 blue; Aubrianna Wright – 10 purple, 5 blue, 1 red; Berkley Wright – 2 purple; Rylee Wright – 2 purple, 1 blue; Texlee Wright – 4 Cloverbud; and Thane Wright – 4 Cloverbud.
For some youth the highlight of the Achievement Days is the livestock and small animal shows. The small animal show was held Monday August 3rd which consisted of Cat / Kitten Show, Poultry Show and Rabbit Show. Held on Tuesday, August 4th was the large animal show which consisted of Swine, Baby Beef, Breeding & Dairy Goat, Breeding & Market Sheep, Dairy Cattle, Breeding and Market Beef.
Small Animal Show – Monday August 3rd results are as follows:
Rabbit Show: Grand Champion Rabbit –Everett Pies, Senior Rabbit Showmanship– Everett Pies.
Cat/Kitten Show: Grand Champion Cat –Adrienne Pies, Top Junior Cat Showmanship – Adrienne Pies.
Poultry Show: Grand Champion Purebred Poultry – Marissa Leonard, Grand Champion Duck –Aleah Wright, Grand Champion Other Poultry – Brody Fousek; Top Senior Poultry Showmanship –Brody Fousek, and Top Beginner Poultry Showmanship – Tatum Fousek.
Large Animal Show – Tuesday August 4th results are as follows:
Swine Show: Grand Champion Purebred Breeding Gilt - Tayah Smith, Grand Champion Market Swine - Tayah Smith, Top Senior Swine Showmanship – Tayah Smith, Top Junior Swine Showmanship – Aleah Wright, Top Beginner Swine Showmanship – Cheyann Kenyon.
Baby Beef Show: Grand Champion Baby Market Beef – Aleah Wright, Grand Champion Baby Breeding Heifer – Lila Baier.
Goat Show: Grand Champion Breeding Goat –Ottilie Lau; Grand Champion Market Wether – Marissa Leonard, Grand Champion Dairy Goat – Tayah Smith; Top Senior Goat Showmanship – Tayah Smith; Top Beginner Goat Showmanship – Ottilie Lau.
Sheep Show: Grand Champion Market Lamb – Tayah Smith, Grand Champion Breeding Ewe – Ottilie Lau, Top Senior Sheep Showmanship - Tayah Smith, Top Junior Sheep Showmanship – Aleah Wright, Top Beginner Sheep Showmanship – Ottilie Lau.
Dairy Cattle Show: Grand Champion Dairy Cattle - Levi Schelske, Reserve Grand Champion Dairy Cattle - Marissa Leonard, Top Senior Dairy Showmanship – Marissa Leonard; Top Junior Showmanship – Levi Schelske.
Breeding Beef Show: Grand Champion Overall Breeding Heifer – Emmett Lau, Reserve Champion Overall Breeding Heifer – Ottilie Lau.
Market Beef Show: Grand Champion Market Steer –Tayah Smith, Top Senior Beef Showmanship - Tayah Smith, Top Junior Beef Showmanship – Aleah Wright, Top Beginner Beef Showmanship – Lila Baier.
For those not familiar with 4-H, any youth ages 5-18 as of January 1st, living in Douglas County can qualify to be a 4-H member. For more information about 4-H and how you can join, please contact the SDSU Extension Office in Douglas County at (605) 724-2719 or
[email protected].