The 2025 Austin County Fair once again showcased the heart, talent, and hometown spirit that make Austin County shine. From October 8–12, the fairgrounds buzzed with excitement as youth and adults proudly displayed their handiwork — each entry a reflection of skill, patience, and a touch of local pride.
From hand-stitched quilts and colorful floral arrangements to show-stopping cakes and perfectly canned jams, the exhibits told stories of tradition, creativity, and community connection. Every project represented hours of effort and generations of knowledge passed down through families, classrooms, and local clubs.
This year’s competitions spanned a wide range of categories — including clothing and needlework, home improvement, photography, baked and canned goods, and more. Local 4-H members, FFA students, and adult exhibitors filled the exhibit hall with talent, making it a challenging but rewarding job for judges to select the winners.
2025 4-H & Junior FFA Department Winners
Clothing & Needlework
• Grand Champion Needlework: Eden Hargrave
• Reserve Champion Needlework: Sara Jafari
Home Improvement
• Grand Champion Home Accessory: Wayne Schovajsa
• Reserve Champion Home Accessory: Paisley Pieper
• Grand Champion Craft: Brooklyn Bettis
• Reserve Champion Craft: Paisley Pieper
• Grand Champion Woodwork: Emmy Kokemor
• Reserve Champion Woodwork: William Luedeker
Flower Show / Specimen
• Grand Champion Container Grouping: Piper Maddox
• Reserve Champion Container Grouping: Tinley Malota
Baked Goods
• Grand Champion Bread: Thorin Grave
• Reserve Champion Bread: Kyntler Supak
• Grand Champion Cake: Paisley Pieper
• Reserve Champion Cake: Piper Maddox
• Grand Champion Cookie: Aimee Duplantis
• Reserve Champion Cookie: Ryan Quinteros
• Grand Champion Candy: Brylee Zapalac
• Reserve Champion Candy: Tinley Malota
• Grand Champion Pie: Thorin Grave
• Reserve Champion Pie: Eden Hargrave
Canned Foods
• Grand Champion Preserve, Jelly or Jam: Katelynne Galle
• Reserve Champion Preserve, Jelly or Jam: Thorin Grave
• Grand Champion Pickle or Relish: Peyton Blezinger
• Reserve Champion Pickle or Relish: Katelynne Galle
Photography
• Grand Champion Single Color Print: Olivia Kennedy
• Reserve Champion Single Color Print: William Luedeker
• Grand Champion Single Black & White Print: Paige Toole
• Reserve Champion Single Black & White Print: Kyntler Supak
2025 4-H Senior, FCCLA & Senior FFA Department Winners
Home Improvement
• Grand Champion Woodwork: Katie Schumann
• Reserve Champion Woodwork: Daphne Bownds
Flower Show / Specimen
• Grand Champion Container Grouping: Levi Malinowski
• Reserve Champion Container Grouping: Ariel Chaney
Baked Goods
• Grand Champion Bread: Isla Grave
• Reserve Champion Bread: Danica Thayne
• Grand Champion Cookie: Katelynne Krenek
• Reserve Champion Cookie: Daphne Bownds
Canned Foods
• Grand Champion Vegetable: Elaina Shupak
• Reserve Champion Vegetable: Elaina Shupak
• Grand Champion Preserve, Jelly or Jam: Elaina Shupak
• Reserve Champion Preserve, Jelly or Jam: Isla Grave
Photography
• Grand Champion Single Color Print: Anabella Kennedy
• Reserve Champion Single Color Print: Anabella Kennedy
• Grand Champion Single Black & White Print: Josiah Keel
• Reserve Champion Single Black & White Print: Kennan Keel
2025 Extension Education Department Winners
Clothing
• Grand Champion Constructed or Decorated Item or Accessory: Veronica Ashorn
• Reserve Champion Constructed or Decorated Item or Accessory: Cindy Slator
Fiber Arts
• Grand Champion Crochet, Tatting & Knitted: Barney Zimmerman
Handicraft
• Grand Champion Cloth or Yarn Item: Veronica Ashorn
• Reserve Champion Cloth or Yarn Item: Veronica Ashorn
• Grand Champion Silk Flower or Wreath: Veronica Ashorn
• Reserve Champion Silk Flower or Wreath: Veronica Ashorn
• Grand Champion Assembled Item or Miscellaneous: Veronica Ashorn
• Reserve Champion Assembled Item or Miscellaneous: Lois Schubert
• Grand Champion Fine Art Handicraft: Gaye Farr
• Reserve Champion Fine Art Handicraft: Shirley Beum
Baked Goods
• Grand Champion Yeast Bread: Joan Buenger
• Reserve Champion Yeast Bread: Lois Schubert
• Grand Champion Candy: Joan Buenger
• Reserve Champion Candy: Knellen Quinteros
• Grand Champion Quick Bread: Judy Schulz
• Reserve Champion Quick Bread: Knellen Quinteros
• Grand Champion Pie: Shirley Beum
• Reserve Champion Pie: Patricia Allee
• Grand Champion Cake: Judy Schulz
• Reserve Champion Cake: Danita Schovajsa
• Grand Champion Cookie: Judy Schulz
• Reserve Champion Cookie: Francis Plagens
Canned Foods
• Grand Champion Preserve, Jam, Jelly, or Fruit Butter: JoAnn Reichle
• Reserve Champion Preserve, Jam, Jelly, or Fruit Butter: Mary Smentek
• Grand Champion Canned Foods Miscellaneous: Malinda Schramm
• Reserve Champion Canned Foods Miscellaneous: Joan Buenger
• Grand Champion Canned Fruit or Fruit Juice: Lois Schubert
• Reserve Champion Canned Fruit or Fruit Juice: Lois Schubert
• Grand Champion Relish or Pickles: JoAnn Reichle
• Reserve Champion Relish or Pickles: Joan Buenger
Photography
• Grand Champion Single Color Print: Patricia Allee
• Reserve Champion Single Color Print: Jessie Kokemor
• Grand Champion Single Black & White Print: Patricia Allee
• Reserve Champion Single Black & White Print: Patricia Allee
2025 Open Adult Department Winners
Clothing
• Grand Champion Constructed or Decorated Item or Accessory: Tracye Lassus
• Reserve Champion Constructed or Decorated Item or Accessory: Erika Guerrero
Fiber Arts
• Grand Champion Embroidery: Jane Ueckert
• Reserve Champion Embroidery: Jane Ueckert
• Grand Champion Crochet, Tatting & Knitted: Ashley Chavez
• Reserve Champion Crochet, Tatting & Knitted: Ashley Chavez
• Grand Champion Quilt or Quilted Item (Machine Quilted, Double Size or Larger): Miriam Bix
• Reserve Champion Quilt or Quilted Item (Machine Quilted, Double Size or Larger): Debra Burton
• Grand Champion Quilt or Quilted Item (Machine Quilted, Twin Size or Smaller): Lisa Hay
• Reserve Champion Quilt or Quilted Item (Machine Quilted, Twin Size or Smaller): Lisa Hay
Handicraft
• Grand Champion Cloth or Yarn Item: Michelle Benitez
• Reserve Champion Cloth or Yarn Item: Sharon Spiess
• Grand Champion Silk Flower or Wreath: Calvin Makowsky
• Reserve Champion Silk Flower or Wreath: Tennille Lange
• Grand Champion Assembled Item or Miscellaneous: Calvin Makowsky
• Reserve Champion Assembled Item or Miscellaneous: Tennille Lange
Baked Goods
• Grand Champion Candy: Anita Kramer
• Reserve Champion Candy: Amanda Story
• Grand Champion Cookie: Amanda Story
• Reserve Champion Cookie: Kate Buenger
Canned Foods
• Grand Champion Preserve, Jam, Jelly, or Fruit Butter: Sharon Spiess
• Reserve Champion Preserve, Jam, Jelly, or Fruit Butter: Elaine Galle
• Grand Champion Canned Foods Miscellaneous: Elaine Galle
• Reserve Champion Canned Foods Miscellaneous: Elaine Galle
• Grand Champion Canned Fruit or Fruit Juice: Franklin Susen
• Reserve Champion Canned Fruit or Fruit Juice: Sharon Spiess
• Grand Champion Relish or Pickles: Laurie Shupak
• Reserve Champion Relish or Pickles: Franklin Susen
Photography
• Grand Champion Single Color Print: Cherie Burger
• Reserve Champion Single Color Print: Cherie Burger
• Grand Champion Single Black & White Print: Cherie Burger
• Reserve Champion Single Black & White Print: Cherie Burger
2025 Open Youth Department Winners
Clothing & Needlework
• Grand Champion Needlework: Bethany Pickering
• Reserve Champion Needlework: Kendra Kotwal
Home Improvement
• Grand Champion Home Accessory: Henry (Hank) Lowe
• Reserve Champion Home Accessory: Kenzie Dean
• Grand Champion Craft: Henry (Hank) Lowe
• Reserve Champion Craft: Wrenlee Wible
Baked Goods
• Grand Champion Bread: Russell Walsh
• Reserve Champion Bread: Russell Walsh
• Grand Champion Cake: Amberlee Semmler
• Reserve Champion Cake: Leela Kotwal
• Grand Champion Cookie: Jack Buenger
• Reserve Champion Cookie: Kenzie Dean
• Grand Champion Candy: Jack Buenger
Canned Foods
• Grand Champion Pickle or Relish: Kynsen Supak
• Reserve Champion Pickle or Relish: Kylah Supak
Photography
• Grand Champion Single Color Print: Heidi Hemphill
• Reserve Champion Single Color Print: Lelia Maddox
• Grand Champion Single Black & White Print: Lelia Maddox
• Reserve Champion Single Black & White Print: Lillian Remmert
2025 4-H Junior & Junior FFA Department — High Point Awards
Division Awards
• High Point Trophy – Clothing & Needlework: Eden Hargrave
• High Point Trophy – Home Improvement Division: Paisley Pieper
• High Point Trophy – Flower Show / Horticulture Division: Piper Maddox
• High Point Trophy – Baked Goods Division: Thorin Grave
• High Point Trophy – Canned Foods Division: Katelynne Galle
• High Point Trophy – Photography Division: Sara Jafari
Overall High Point Winners
• 1st Place Overall High Point – 4-H Jr. / Jr. FFA Department: Paisley Pieper
• 2nd Place Overall High Point – 4-H Jr. / Jr. FFA Department: Thorin Grave
• 3rd Place Overall High Point – 4-H Jr. / Jr. FFA Department: Piper Maddox
2025 4-H Senior, FCCLA & Senior FFA Department — High Point Awards
Division Awards
• High Point Trophy – Home Improvement Division: Katie Schumann
• High Point Trophy – Flower Show / Horticulture Division: Levi Malinowski
• High Point Trophy – Baked Goods Division: Katelynne Krenek
• High Point Trophy – Canned Foods Division: Isla Grave
• High Point Trophy – Photography Division: Josiah Keel
Overall High Point Winner
• Overall High Point – 4-H Sr., FCCLA & Sr. FFA Department: Elaina Shupak
2025 Extension Education Department — High Point Awards
Division Awards
• High Point Trophy – Fiber Arts Division: Francis Plagens
• High Point Trophy – Handicraft Division: Veronica Ashorn
• High Point Trophy – Baked Goods Division: Knellen Quinteros
• High Point Trophy – Canned Foods Division: Mary Smentek
• High Point Trophy – Photography Division: Patricia Allee
Overall High Point Winner
• Overall High Point – Extension Education Department: Veronica Ashorn
2025 Open Adult Department — High Point Awards
Division Awards
• High Point Trophy – Clothing Division: Tracye Lassus
• High Point Trophy – Fiber Arts Division: Lisa Hay
• High Point Trophy – Handicraft Division: Calvin Makowsky
• High Point Trophy – Baked Goods Division: Amanda Story
• High Point Trophy – Canned Foods Division: Franklin Susen
• High Point Trophy – Photography Division: Lorri Porter
Overall High Point Winner
• Overall High Point – Open Adult Department: Cherie Burger
2025 Open Youth Department — High Point Awards
Division Awards
• High Point Trophy – Clothing & Needlework: Bethany Pickering
• High Point Trophy – Home Improvement Division: Henry (Hank) Lowe
• High Point Trophy – Flower Show / Horticulture Division: Austin Barten
• High Point Trophy – Baked Goods Division: Russell Walsh
• High Point Trophy – Canned Foods Division: Kynsen Supak
• High Point Trophy – Photography Division: Heidi Hemphill
Overall High Point Winner
• Overall High Point – Open Youth Department: Bethany Pickering
