For a 4-H kid, Minnesota State Fair is culmination of months of work
Henry Lemke, holding a sheep, and Jennifer Skuza with Cathy Wurzer at the MPR stage. Lemke is a student state ambassador for 4-H, and Skuza is the state director for 4-H.
Alanna Elder / MPR News
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There are hundreds of young people with their animals at the state fair. It is a big deal.
They come with their families, their 4-H clubs or FFA chapters. But it is no easy feat to make it to the fair.
MPR News host Cathy Wurzer spoke with Minnesota 4-H State Ambassador Henry Lemke and Minnesota State 4-H director, Jennifer Skuza.
Lemke also brought his sheep, Gladiola.
Use the audio player above to listen to the full conversation.
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Audio transcript
CATHY WURZER: I love the animals at the fair. Who doesn't love the animals at the State Fair, right? Of course, that's why some of us are here. Yes, I know. Some animals even love being at the fair. Hundreds of young people are here at the fair showing their animals. This is a big, big deal. They come with their families, their 4-H clubs, their FFA chapters. But it's really tough to make the State Fair to show your animal. We have a 4-H student with us here who has worked hard to get himself and his sheep here. He's also the Minnesota 4-H state ambassador, Henry Lemke. Congratulations, Henry. How are you?
HENRY LEMKE: Thank you. I'm doing great today.
CATHY WURZER: Great. I want to ask you about your friend, your four-legged friend here, in just a moment. I want to first also welcome Jennifer Skuza. She is the Minnesota State 4-H director. Jennifer, welcome.
JENNIFER SKUZA: Thank you. I appreciate it.
CATHY WURZER: I have to say to you all, I was a city 4-Her. Yeah, I know. I showed my dog.
HENRY LEMKE: Cool. It's a good project area.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah, I know. It didn't really do very well, though. So, Henry-- she bit the judge. So that didn't work.
JENNIFER SKUZA: You're out.
CATHY WURZER: Didn't work, no. But, Henry, your friend there looks like it's supposed to be a lamb, but he or she looks a little older to me.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, so this is Gladiola. She was born in January. And she is a Rambouillet is the breed of the sheep. So she is a wool breed. So as you can see, she has some wool on her, which, along with Merinos, they have the best wool quality out of all the sheeps that are available.
CATHY WURZER: I see she's got her little blankie on to keep her from maybe getting dirty.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, so as part of showing sheep, we do what's called fitting them. So you're working on making the wool coat look uniformed and level. So this is just to preserve that job where you cart it out with a cutter and then just use a little scissors clipper to cut off any strands that may be loose. And then for market lambs, showing them, where those are the slick shorn sheep or the sheep with no wool, if you've seen those when you're walking through the barns.
CATHY WURZER: Gladiola looks like she's enjoying this.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Pretty happy. She's got a little smile on her face. She was talking earlier. Say, Jennifer, how many 4-Hers are here for the fair?
JENNIFER SKUZA: We have nearly 5,000 4-Hers here within the State Fair and over 41,000 across the state who participate in the program. It's actually the largest youth-serving organization in the state of Minnesota.
CATHY WURZER: Really? I did not know that. And it's, of course, across the state of Minnesota. And I mentioned there are projects. I had the dog project. And Henry's obviously into the sheep project, right?
HENRY LEMKE: Yep.
CATHY WURZER: How many projects can kids have or get into?
JENNIFER SKUZA: We have over 150 project areas. And actually, it ranges from aerospace to computer science to zoology. It's an amazing choice of projects for youth of any interest.
CATHY WURZER: And I'm wondering how you got into 4-H. Usually, people who are in 4-H were 4-Hers themselves.
JENNIFER SKUZA: I happen to be a 4-Her as well when I was a kid in Benton County, in the central part of the state.
CATHY WURZER: Nice. Now, Henry, where is your home county?
HENRY LEMKE: Meeker County.
CATHY WURZER: You're Meeker County. OK. How did you get into sheep?
HENRY LEMKE: So I grew up on a hobby farm, and our family had sheep. So my brother had bought this breed specifically, the Rambouillet breed. So I've been showing it ever since and promoting the wool industry through this, along with 4-H.
CATHY WURZER: OK, so when we come to see you and Gladiola and you're showing, what is the judge going to look for specifically?
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, definitely. So with this breed, as I mentioned earlier, it is a wool breed of sheep. So they look at the quality of the wool. So wool has what's called crimp or little coils that go up. And you want a very tight crimp. So when you pull it apart, it bounces right back. So that's very important. And uniformity throughout the coat, to making sure it has a good grading of wool, as well as an overall good body structure and having a level back that goes all the way across the whole back, and a good front and good set of legs as well.
CATHY WURZER: She's got a good set of legs, I have to say, from what I see, yes. And she's standing really very nicely. And you obviously work with her on this.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah. So another competition that I participate in through 4-H is called Lamb Lead, which is where it's a lot about how you train your sheep as well as promoting the wool industry. So for Lamb Lead, you get to dress up your sheep and yourself in a wool outfit.
CATHY WURZER: Perfect.
HENRY LEMKE: So I usually enjoy sewing with wool. So I've sewn some wool suits. This year, I'll have a wool suit for both me and Gladiola. And that's tonight at 7:00 PM in the swine barn. So if you're free, stop on by.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. That is too good. That is so cute. I mean, by the way, will she look like you? I mean, will you have the same matching outfit?
HENRY LEMKE: So I have a wool sports jacket I sewed. And she has a little wool vest that's out of the same fabric that I also sewed for her, so.
CATHY WURZER: Jennifer, what are you hoping the 4-H kids get out of an experience here at the State Fair?
JENNIFER SKUZA: Oh, it's an opportunity to showcase their learning as well as their leadership. And also, it's an opportunity for them to mix with the public, but also mix with experts in the industry where they're interested in their project areas. And many of our youth as well connect this to their careers as well as higher education in the future.
CATHY WURZER: So if folks want more information, they go up to the state 4-H building up the road here?
JENNIFER SKUZA: We do. We have that big, white, beautiful building over on Snelling. Feel free to stop by, get more information. But also, in the 4-H barns, you can get more information as well.
CATHY WURZER: Henry, we wish you and Gladiola all the best. Good luck showing.
[SHEEP BLEATING]
Yes, Gladiola, good work. Thanks for joining us. And the radio audience got to hear Gladiola. So, Henry Lemke, thank you. Best of luck.
HENRY LEMKE: Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Henry is the Minnesota 4-H state ambassador, along with Gladiola, the sheep that you hear in the background. And Jennifer Skuza. Thank you for being here, Jennifer.
JENNIFER SKUZA: Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Jennifer is the Minnesota 4-H director.
HENRY LEMKE: Thank you. I'm doing great today.
CATHY WURZER: Great. I want to ask you about your friend, your four-legged friend here, in just a moment. I want to first also welcome Jennifer Skuza. She is the Minnesota State 4-H director. Jennifer, welcome.
JENNIFER SKUZA: Thank you. I appreciate it.
CATHY WURZER: I have to say to you all, I was a city 4-Her. Yeah, I know. I showed my dog.
HENRY LEMKE: Cool. It's a good project area.
CATHY WURZER: Yeah, I know. It didn't really do very well, though. So, Henry-- she bit the judge. So that didn't work.
JENNIFER SKUZA: You're out.
CATHY WURZER: Didn't work, no. But, Henry, your friend there looks like it's supposed to be a lamb, but he or she looks a little older to me.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, so this is Gladiola. She was born in January. And she is a Rambouillet is the breed of the sheep. So she is a wool breed. So as you can see, she has some wool on her, which, along with Merinos, they have the best wool quality out of all the sheeps that are available.
CATHY WURZER: I see she's got her little blankie on to keep her from maybe getting dirty.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, so as part of showing sheep, we do what's called fitting them. So you're working on making the wool coat look uniformed and level. So this is just to preserve that job where you cart it out with a cutter and then just use a little scissors clipper to cut off any strands that may be loose. And then for market lambs, showing them, where those are the slick shorn sheep or the sheep with no wool, if you've seen those when you're walking through the barns.
CATHY WURZER: Gladiola looks like she's enjoying this.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, yeah.
CATHY WURZER: Pretty happy. She's got a little smile on her face. She was talking earlier. Say, Jennifer, how many 4-Hers are here for the fair?
JENNIFER SKUZA: We have nearly 5,000 4-Hers here within the State Fair and over 41,000 across the state who participate in the program. It's actually the largest youth-serving organization in the state of Minnesota.
CATHY WURZER: Really? I did not know that. And it's, of course, across the state of Minnesota. And I mentioned there are projects. I had the dog project. And Henry's obviously into the sheep project, right?
HENRY LEMKE: Yep.
CATHY WURZER: How many projects can kids have or get into?
JENNIFER SKUZA: We have over 150 project areas. And actually, it ranges from aerospace to computer science to zoology. It's an amazing choice of projects for youth of any interest.
CATHY WURZER: And I'm wondering how you got into 4-H. Usually, people who are in 4-H were 4-Hers themselves.
JENNIFER SKUZA: I happen to be a 4-Her as well when I was a kid in Benton County, in the central part of the state.
CATHY WURZER: Nice. Now, Henry, where is your home county?
HENRY LEMKE: Meeker County.
CATHY WURZER: You're Meeker County. OK. How did you get into sheep?
HENRY LEMKE: So I grew up on a hobby farm, and our family had sheep. So my brother had bought this breed specifically, the Rambouillet breed. So I've been showing it ever since and promoting the wool industry through this, along with 4-H.
CATHY WURZER: OK, so when we come to see you and Gladiola and you're showing, what is the judge going to look for specifically?
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah, definitely. So with this breed, as I mentioned earlier, it is a wool breed of sheep. So they look at the quality of the wool. So wool has what's called crimp or little coils that go up. And you want a very tight crimp. So when you pull it apart, it bounces right back. So that's very important. And uniformity throughout the coat, to making sure it has a good grading of wool, as well as an overall good body structure and having a level back that goes all the way across the whole back, and a good front and good set of legs as well.
CATHY WURZER: She's got a good set of legs, I have to say, from what I see, yes. And she's standing really very nicely. And you obviously work with her on this.
HENRY LEMKE: Yeah. So another competition that I participate in through 4-H is called Lamb Lead, which is where it's a lot about how you train your sheep as well as promoting the wool industry. So for Lamb Lead, you get to dress up your sheep and yourself in a wool outfit.
CATHY WURZER: Perfect.
HENRY LEMKE: So I usually enjoy sewing with wool. So I've sewn some wool suits. This year, I'll have a wool suit for both me and Gladiola. And that's tonight at 7:00 PM in the swine barn. So if you're free, stop on by.
CATHY WURZER: Oh, my gosh. That is too good. That is so cute. I mean, by the way, will she look like you? I mean, will you have the same matching outfit?
HENRY LEMKE: So I have a wool sports jacket I sewed. And she has a little wool vest that's out of the same fabric that I also sewed for her, so.
CATHY WURZER: Jennifer, what are you hoping the 4-H kids get out of an experience here at the State Fair?
JENNIFER SKUZA: Oh, it's an opportunity to showcase their learning as well as their leadership. And also, it's an opportunity for them to mix with the public, but also mix with experts in the industry where they're interested in their project areas. And many of our youth as well connect this to their careers as well as higher education in the future.
CATHY WURZER: So if folks want more information, they go up to the state 4-H building up the road here?
JENNIFER SKUZA: We do. We have that big, white, beautiful building over on Snelling. Feel free to stop by, get more information. But also, in the 4-H barns, you can get more information as well.
CATHY WURZER: Henry, we wish you and Gladiola all the best. Good luck showing.
[SHEEP BLEATING]
Yes, Gladiola, good work. Thanks for joining us. And the radio audience got to hear Gladiola. So, Henry Lemke, thank you. Best of luck.
HENRY LEMKE: Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Henry is the Minnesota 4-H state ambassador, along with Gladiola, the sheep that you hear in the background. And Jennifer Skuza. Thank you for being here, Jennifer.
JENNIFER SKUZA: Thank you.
CATHY WURZER: Jennifer is the Minnesota 4-H director.
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