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4-H and county fair inseparable By Anthony Oliver Shaw M«dio N*w« Svrvic* McHENRY -- An important part of the McHenry County Fair for many years has been the participation in various fields by area youth involved in 4-H. Representative of this type of par­ ticipation is 16-year-old Lee Tomlinson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Tomlinson of McHenry, who has completed 62 projects and entered 11 fairs throughout Illinois during her seven years in 4-H. For six years, Lee bought and raised purebred Hampshire sheep for shows in the McHenry County and other fairs. I>ee started when she was nine, buying two ewes -- the beginning of a flock that would reach 30 in number. "Keeping animals is a great responsibility requiring daily care, proper feeding, breeding and veterinary management," she said. Of the rewards gleaned from the proper rearing of animals, waiting and anticipating the arrival of lambs was the best, she said. Lee said that hours of work and preparation are involved before a sheep is ready for the show ring. "Sheep fleece is normally a bit greasy to touch," she said, "a feeling that is caused by the lanolin in the fleece." Because lanolin readily picks up dirt, each animal must be washed a couple of times before the show. The sheep are washed with a special soap and later groomed. In the show ring, each animal will be judged for body conformation, stance, the type of head, walk and a myriad of other things. "I believe the well-groomed animal still has the best chance of winning," Lee said. The very first lamb born on the Visit us at the Fair Clay & Co. 112 Cass - Woodstock - 338-5411 Pottery & Unique Gifts We'll be demonstrating wheel thrown pottery daily in -Massey Hall. Try your skill and - make a pot. Tomlinson farm was named Caddie, a champion sheep that would win many shows in years to come. Caddie also became a model for Lee's photography and needlepoint exhibits. "One picture caught an expression I particularly liked and I used the photo as a model for one of my needlepoint pictures which rated an outstanding 'Best of Class' at the 1979 Illinois State fair," she said. In needlepoint, as in raising sheep, many hours of preparation are necessary before the finished product is ready for the show. "You have to follow the rules to the letter and strive for perfection," Lee said. "If it does not look right, it has to go." Needlepoint, she explained, is like painting a canvas with yarn rather than. oil paint, each stitch adding texture. "4-H encourages its members to be creative and original/' she said. Originality is one of the requirements for an exhibit to be accepted at the State fair, Lee, added. For this year's fair, Lee witt be en­ tering exhibits in a number el artistic media, oil painting and watercokr competition as well as needlepoint, with this year's entry of a horned ram. In addition to Lee's interest and participation in 4-H and the McHenry County fair, her mother, Ferol, and sister, Lynn, have both been involved with the 4-H. The Calvin Vyduna family, also of the McHenry area, has been vary involved with 4-H. Two daughters, Joy, 22, and Judy, 20, started in 4-H at age 9, in the area of sewing and foods. Judy recalled receiving "A" ratings in the first five years, but then found \ t competition getting a little tougher, realizing that not all her entries would receive- top ratings. Judy's biggest honor, however, came last fall when she was one of very few young people to be named to the National 4-H Congress held at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago. "I was so spoiled" she said as she described the week of dinners and in­ terviews. "At first I thought they were just spending so mud) money on us, it was a shame. But, it was wonderful." The Congress is held each year in order to honor the highest ranking 4-H members for their achievements. From records kept on the county level, a selection of the highest ranking members is sent to a regional center. The top achievers named at the regional center then go on to state. At state, the national delegates are chosen. Judy was particularly active in community service as well as her projects, which weighed heavily in her selection to the National Congress. Last year, she was a state winner in health activities. She made triangular bandages for the Johnsburg and McHenry Area Rescue gonads and collected old eyeglasses for the lions Club, which has ftem reground for a second use. As a student at the University of Iffiriois, Judy records for the blind Judy and her older sister, Joy, were members of the 4-H queen court at the McHenry County Fair. Joy also was named to the National 4- H Congress for her work in health activities. She taught cardiopulmonary resuscitation locally and gave demonstrations which graphically illustrated the harmful effects of smoking. Both girls attained that 10-year limit to membership in 4-H. Judy said she may become a 4-H leader as her mother, Grace, hid done. Mrs. Vyduna was a 10-year member of 4-H in Min­ nesota. fapo 54--Show Madia Group 1991 Mr GvMa snow M«»O IWWI 3*rvic* pnovo oy woyn* uoyiora 4-H HAS BEEN on integral port of the McHenry County Fair of the McHenry area, show off Lee's needlepoint entry for the since its inception. Lee Tomlinson, left, and Judy Vyduna, both 1981 county fair.