AMES — Twenty-one Iowa youth received top awards during the 2015 State Fair 4-H Awardrobe Clothing Event Aug. 13-14 at the Memorial Union on the Iowa State University campus in Ames.

4-H event that provides youth participants with opportunities to showcase their apparel design and production knowledge, as well as creativity skills. During the event, youth participated in hands-on educational workshops; learned more about potential career opportunities in the field of apparel, merchandising and design; and engaged in a service learning activity. The youth also completed an interview with a judge and modeled their selected or constructed garments in a public runway show.

“4-H participants in the Awardrobe Clothing Event are evaluated on their oral and written communication skills through a written report and one-on-one interview with a judge,” said Cayla Taylor, youth program coordinator with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach 4-H Youth Development. “The youth are also evaluated on their fashion goals, choice of clothing and knowledge of the garment, as well as their poise and confidence displayed while modeling their outfits,”

The youth participate in three categories. In Clothing Selection, participants select or purchase an outfit for a specific occasion. In Fashion Revue, the garment is constructed, hand-knitted, machine-knitted or crocheted by the participant. In the $15 Challenge, a 4-H’er purchases an outfit for $15 or less from garage sales, consignment shops or clothing resale stores such as Goodwill or the Salvation Army.

“This is my first year participating in the state 4-H Awardrobe Clothing Event,” said Cassie Vrabel, Montgomery County. She has been participating in the Montgomery County clothing event for five years. “I really enjoyed the workshops throughout the day, especially the t-shirt deconstruction workshop. It was neat getting to learn how to take an old t-shirt and turn it into something new and useable. I turned mine into a bag.”

Vrabel also enjoyed meeting other 4-H’ers at the 4-H Awardrobe Clothing Event. “I really had a blast meeting new people throughout the day,” she said. “I was the only participant from my county so it was fun getting to know other 4-H’ers from across the state.”

Top 10 Percent

The following youth earned the Iowa State Fair’s Top 10 Percent Award in the Awardrobe Clothing Event. The recognition includes a certificate and gift card.

Fashion Revue

Recipients

Kyle Holubar, Johnson County

Emilie Burgan, Warren County

Ashley Schwartzhoff, Winneshiek County

Ardis White, Black Hawk County

Clothing Selection Recipients

Kelly Breja, Linn County

Attylissa Bailey, Marion County

Kaitlin Hora, Washington County

Cassie Vrabel, Montgomery County

Hannah Peterson, Webster County

Tess Lord, Woodbury County

Megan Matt, Fayette County

$15 Challenge

Recipients

Darren Rickheim-Hiller, Washington County

Elise Jasper, Scott County

Shane Scull, Scott County

Devyn Alt, Johnson County

Jennifer Wiley, Black Hawk County

Kristen Kassel, Palo Alto County