2026 Fair, 4-H & Festival Contest Winners

Contest Winner - Maria Swendsen

Pictured is 7-year-old Levi Gross, shown during his first year exhibiting his Jersey calf, Coco, at the Greene Dreher Sterling (GDS) Fair in Newfoundland, Pennsylvania. Levi earned Champion in his division and proudly wore his ribbons and lanyard for the rest of the day.

If Levi wins the photo contest, he plans to share it with family and friends and use the prize money to buy more animals to show at the fair.

Honorable Mention - Susan Condlin

My dad closes his coffee shop business every Monday and spends time with my brother and I painting. We’d go to the craft store and get our supplies. We accidentally bought the wrong base coat, and the result was the painting crackled. My Mom liked it, so I decided to submit it to the Lee Regional Fair and won Best-In-Show for Youth Artwork. Pictured with me are my siblings Asher, Shiloh, Micah, Hezekiah, Uriah and Abel (who is too young to participate in the competitions). All are happy to show off their ribbons.

With the money I earned from the Lee Regional Fair, the State Fair and this contest I will use a little over half of it for Christmas gifts for my 6 siblings and save the rest for a car.

This recognition makes me feel accomplished. It also makes me believe in my art skills because before I didn’t think I was that great.

This is the third year for Lee Regional Fair's youth participate to receive the Honorable Mention Award from the Hodges Badge Company’s photo contest. We enjoy capturing the joy and sharing the talent of our fair winners. The Sanford Lions Club, sponsor of the Fair, is thrilled Benaiah’s artistic talent is being recognized and look forward to seeing him in the "Fair, 4-H & Festivals Awards Catalog".

Honorable Mention - Beverly Newton

Hannah, age 16, has been honing her sewing skills through her 4-H club for several years. Her dedication paid off when she earned Best of Show at the 2025 Saginaw County Fair, then went on to the State Fair, where she proudly took First Place.

Beyond competition, Hannah uses her sewing talents to give back. She creates handmade projects for those in need and distributes them throughout the county. In support of her generosity, the prize money will be awarded to Hannah to help continue these charitable efforts. Her commitment means so much to her and to our Fair as she makes a real difference through youth involvement. We are proud to support her work and confident she will be a remarkable leader in the years ahead.

Honorable Mention - Kim Jones

We are passionate about promoting our local art community, and the ability to present high-quality awards plays an important role in recognizing creativity and dedication. Prize money will be used to support our Summer Kids Art Camp and our Seniors Art Camp in late winter, helping provide awards and the supplies needed for participants to fully engage in each workshop.

This support is a meaningful boost to our members, who work hard to make art accessible and inclusive for people of all ages in our community. We are truly grateful for the opportunity to share our community and its creativity through Hodges Badge.

Honorable Mention - Amy Caldwell

2025 Guest River Rally Art & Photo Show People's Choice Art winner - painting by Cynthia Collins. She also won awards for some of her other artwork and even had an entry that one of the judges wanted to take home with him.

The Art & Photo Show occurs Labor Day weekend in downtown Coeburn, VA and is open to all ages. The People's Choice voting occurs over 2 days with awards for both Art & Photography. Photo by host Amy Caldwell.

Honorable Mention - Susan Condlin

Rich has been painting all his life and enjoys working with oils and pastels. He is a versatile painter and is well known for his coastlines, sea and landscapes, and sky paintings. New to the Sanford Brush & Palette Club, this is Rich’s first Best in Show Award. Rich will put his winnings in his painting supply cookie jar and will purchase canvases and paints to complete additional projects.

“This was such a surprise for me. I had no idea that my photo would be selected and included in a national catalog. How exciting! I do have to say that the Best in Show Ribbon, designed by one of the club members and ordered through Hodges Badge Company was the most beautiful ribbon I have ever been awarded. It is one of the "best of the best”.”

Honorable Mention - Naamah North

You could often find me staring out a window, completely lost in thought. Sometimes it felt like my dream would never come true. Every time I thought I’d finally found the one, the door was slammed in my face. So while all my friends were getting their dreams answered, my four-legged friend never walked off a trailer. But prayers have a funny way of being answered right in front of your face, without you knowing.

After finding out that my friends had just purchased their first horse, I felt a twinge of jealousy, but I couldn’t help but be excited for them. The wait seemed to last forever, but after seeing new pictures and hearing the same stories of him almost every day, my excitement grew and I couldn’t wait to pet his soft grey muzzle. When the day finally arrived, I saw him for the first time that Monday morning, galloping in his pasture, his silhouette dancing in front of that foggy mountain. Watching in awe, I could see his young and brave soul coming out in every buck, while his playful youth dared to race the wind. Some might have said it was love at first sight, and I agree. There was something special about that Quarter Horse.

As the days turned into weeks, Smoke quickly became a part of his new family’s life and adjusted to his new home. As time passed, Smoke began to show his true nature. Beneath his brave exterior was a three-year-old who was timid and scared of what this world would offer him. Smoke would easily become terrified by little things, such as a rope flying over his head or someone reaching to pet his beautiful face. It was painful to see that someone’s tough treatment had frightened this sensitive gelding. His bolting soon began to become faster, and he ran farther when he was frightened. He soon became too much for their family. I jumped on the opportunity to work with him through his bolting—and prayed every night that he would become mine!

Over our long Kodiak winter, I spent countless hours with Smoke, and I grew to love him dearly. Though he gained confidence and trust, he still would bolt. With a heavy heart, they decided to sell him. My world shattered. How could I let him go? Though I enjoyed riding a sweet and sassy mare we were leasing, she wasn’t my Smoke. No horse would ever be able to take that special place in my heart! Crying into his short black mane and staring into his soft eye, I would wonder where his life would lead him. I promised that one day he would be mine but watching him go down the road in that trailer, I realized my fairytale promise would never come true. The summer months went by, and though I was blessed to have Cinnamon, my heart longed for Smoke.

One Sunday afternoon, my mom came into our living room after getting off the phone with Smoke’s owner and announced that we had purchased Smoke. My heart leapt. Could it be true? Oh, but it was!

We all piled into our tiny car and drove the 2-1/2 miles to the fairgrounds, where I watched as my dream came true. There he was my beautiful grey dun gelding stepping off the trailer and into my arms! He must’ve known that his life had changed forever. With what seemed like a prance of excitement in his step and tears in my eyes after three months of being apart, we were back together. My promise really did come true.

Months turned into years while Smoke and I became closer. We had just finished our second year in 4-H and ended with a purple ribbon in English Judge’s Command! Chasing yet another one of my dreams, we traveled up to Palmer for the Alaska State 4-H Horse Show. Though it didn’t go perfectly, I was proud of my now six-year-old gelding! Leaves were starting to fall and winter winds were getting colder. I continued to ride Smoke through it all, and with his curious attitude, I was able to teach him some tricks—and he is always so proud to show them off to anyone.

I was sitting and doing my schooling one morning, thinking of all the progress we had made that summer, when I heard my parents’ footsteps coming up the stairs—it was too early for them to be back from feeding. I panicked. What was wrong? My mom quickly came into my room and told me that Smoke was colicking! This couldn’t be happening!

We quickly arrived at the dark fairgrounds, and I saw my beautiful boy covered in mud, the look of pain in his soft eyes. I whispered into his delicate ears as we slowly walked the pasture. Everything was going to be fine, I kept reassuring myself.

It pained me to leave him, and I don’t know how I survived the hours without him. When I got off work, I went back to Smoke, and my mom said the vet was on her way out. He was getting worse, and there was a chance he wouldn’t make it. I held back the tears for him. How could we have come so far, all for it to end now? I still had dreams of winning a purple in showmanship next year. He couldn’t leave me, not yet!

The next hours were spent in desperate prayer as the vet pumped my horse’s stomach. After what seemed like years, Smoke started to look better—but he was not out of the woods yet. He still had to make it through the night.

Many times, during those dark hours, we checked on him, and each time Smoke began looking brighter. By morning, he was back to his chipper self!

I’m so grateful for all the help and support we received that horrible day. Almost losing my precious boy made me so much more thankful for all the time I get to spend with him!

Over the following months, Smoke and I worked together. He learned new tricks, and together we became closer partners. The summer months were spent together on long, adventurous trail rides, swimming in the ocean, or loping around the outdoor arena. Soon it was time for our 4-H Horse Show. We had spent many hours working on perfecting our maneuvers for the showmanship class. Dreams of a purple ribbon floated around in my head. Now it was time, and it was up to Smoke. He must’ve known my desire, for he performed like an angel! And I walked out of that arena with two of my dreams in my hands. No one could see all the patience, pain, and tears it took for me to get to that point. The smile on my face couldn’t even begin to describe the joy I felt! In my left hand was the purple ribbon I had dreamed of. My prayers had been answered right in front of my face!

While Smoke has taught me patience, trust, and resilience, his bolting isn’t a thing of the past. We continue to build our relationship and confidence stronger each day. Even when life tests us, I know one thing—he will always be my partner, my horse, my best friend.

Winning this contest means so much to me. It’s the little things I can do to help pay Smoke back for everything he’s taught me over the years. I know I will never be able to fully do it, but every little thing helps. All the important lessons I have learned through him over the past four years will always be with me. He is and will always be my best friend!

My prize money will be used to help continue Smoke’s legacy into the future. I plan on starting an equine elementary school for horse-crazy kids. The spark that Smoke lit in me those very first years is incredibly special, and hopefully through my school, others will get the chance to light their spark too. With luck, Smoke can make another kid’s heart fill up with the same grey hugs and laughter that he gave me!