During this year’s Brown County Fair, youth organizations were invited to participate in a new recycling challenge. The challenge, known as The Amazing Recycling Race, began on Monday of the fair and ended on Saturday morning. The goal was for organizations to compete to collect recyclables from the grounds at the fair and see which group could collect the most recyclables during the week. Each group had to follow the rules as laid out in the fair handbook, such as not collecting items from recycling or garbage containers, the items had to be from the fairgrounds. This was the first year of this event and two 4-H clubs decided to participate.

The first place prize of $100 was awarded to the Showtime 4-H Club for collecting over 230 pounds of recyclables during the week. The Showtime 4-H Club was established in 2015 and is located in the Fayetteville area. The 13 4-Hers and their four Cloverbud members took a variety of projects to the fair, but their main focus is teaching life skills such as decision making, public speaking, leadership, and community service. This year, they also participated in the 4-H Aluminum Can Recycling Contest where the members recycled 252 pounds of aluminum cans from April to October.

The second place prize of $50 was awarded to the Brown County K-9 Renegades for collecting 40 pounds of recyclables during the fair. The Brown County K-9 Renegades were founded in 2006 by a group of 4-H members and parents who wanted to see an expansion in dog related projects, beyond traditional obedience and showmanship. Since its founding, the kids in the club have participated in several different events including traditional obedience, showmanship, rally, drill team, team, dog bowl, freestyle, agility, barn hunt, nose work, and dock jumping with their dogs. Several of the members have achieved multiple state fair championships, as well as AKC and UKC titles with their dogs. Several of the dogs are therapy dog certified and visit local nursing homes and schools. They also had the privilege of visiting Pilot Dogs Inc. this year; as one member agreed to raise a puppy which will hopefully be a future guide dog for a blind person.

The K-9 Renegades is a small club focused around the dog, but members also have projects in other areas. Those areas include sewing, photography, rabbits, various horse projects, woodworking, Pet Pals, and baking, to name a few. Youth interested in taking a dog project for the 2016 4H year, between the age of eight and in the third grade and 18 by Jan. 1, 2016, may contact Karen at 937-444-3605 or the Brown County Extension office 937-378-6716 for more information.

Both of these small clubs worked hard to collect over 270 pounds of recyclables throughout the week and made the first year of the event a success. Organizers of the Recycling Race appreciate members and their families and friends for the hard work and dedication to this event.

The Showtime 4-H Club were the winners of the Amazing Recycling Race at the 2015 Brown County Fair.
https://www.newsdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Amazing-Recycling-Race-1st-place-winners-1-.jpgThe Showtime 4-H Club were the winners of the Amazing Recycling Race at the 2015 Brown County Fair. Submitted photo

The second place winners in the Amazing Recycling Race were the Brown County K-9 Renegades.
https://www.newsdemocrat.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/web1_Amazing-Recycyling-Race-2nd-place-winners-2-.jpgThe second place winners in the Amazing Recycling Race were the Brown County K-9 Renegades. Submitted photo

Staff Report