The 2021 Iowa State Fair is currently underway in Des Moines.

Greene County 4-H senior Avery Bardole is competing in the static exhibit with food and nutrition and his homemade gooseberry pie. Bardole qualified for the state fair from the Greene County Fair. The Greenbrier 4-H Club member has done several baked items in his eight years of 4-H and says his grandmother inspired his love of baking.

“Every family event she got the desserts that grandma’s bring, and I was a growing boy and really liked eating those. So they showed me kind of how to make them and that really kind of prompted my food and nutrition start in 4-H, and my love for baking in general.”

Another Greenbrier 4-H’er is Elise Badger. She is showing a steer and lambs at the state fair. She has also shown livestock previously at the state fair in her five years with Greene County 4-H. Badger says last year when she showed at the state fair, crowds weren’t allowed, but she is excited to have people back in the audience this year.

“Yeah I definitely show better when there’s lots of people because when there’s not very many people, it doesn’t really feel like a show to you. So when there’s a lot of people then it just really sets the mood and you’re more excited to show.”

Badger garnered quite a bit of recognition at this year’s county fair. She had the Grand Champion Market Animal, Champion Crossbred Market Steer, and Reserve Champion Intermediate Showman in beef. As for her lambs, she had the Champion Heavy Weight Black Faced Market Lamb, Reserve Champion Master Showman, and Reserve Grand Champion Market Lamb.

Raccoon Valley Radio will update results from the Iowa State Fair throughout this week.