(Photos by Kris Todd) Riverton Rebels 4-H member Jacy Meyer, 15, earned five blue ribbons during the 2008 4-H Achievement Day held Tuesday. Meyer listened intently as Karen Schwaller, who judged intermediate- and senior-level photographs, encouraged her to enter these five flower photos in the district's upcoming juried 4-H photography contest. [Order this photo]

The 2008 Clay County Fair grew by hundreds of exhibits Tuesday as members of 15 Clay County 4-H clubs entered potential projects which were evaluated and critiqued during the annual 4-H Achievement Day. The daylong event, which was hosted in the 4-H auditorium on the Clay County fairgrounds, allowed youth to showcase what they've learned in their respective project areas.

"Achievement Day is a chance for kids to show the judge what they've learned and skills that they've gained throughout the year," explained Marcia Langner, Clay County ISU Extension education director. "Ideally, the youth will pick a project area and they'll learn about that project area. From that, with what they've learned, they'll create an exhibit. So an exhibit is an outgrowth of their project work. They bring it to Achievement Day and the judge will sit down with them, talk about their exhibit and the youth will be able to then tell the judge what they've learned."

In order for area youth to receive the respective ribbons and premiums earned yesterday, they're required to bring their judged projects back for display during the 2008 Clay County Fair, scheduled for Sept. 6 - 14.

Morgan Schomaker, a Lincoln Lions 4-H member, animatedly answered a question posed by food and nutrition judge Phyllis Postma surrounding the fudge brownies she entered in Tuesday's 4-H Achievement Day event. During her conversation with Postma, the 10-year-old daughter of Casey and Lisa Schomaker of Greenville learned that eggs used for cooking should be cleaned, as well as how to check for blood in an egg with a butter knife. Schomaker, who arrived at the event with her grandmother, Marilyn Pickhinke of Schaller, earned blue ribbons on the brownies and Twix bars she entered. [Order this photo]

* July, which has been designated as 4-H Month in Clay County, has been filled with a myriad of local 4-H activities, ranging from junior day camps to 4-H Achievement Day to the monthlong Clay County 4-H Endowment Fund fund-raising effort. Beginning at 5 p.m., the Clay County Cattlemen will be grilling burgers during Thursday's Mainstreet Market celebration in the Spencer Courthouse square. Proceeds raised will benefit the 4-H endowment fund.