Youth to show their style in 4-H Fashion Review

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Youngsters in 4-H participate in a wide variety of activities including the 4-H Fashion Revue scheduled May 16 at the Bethel Lutheran Home. Judging takes place at 4:30 p.m., and the public revue begins at 7 p.m.

Williams County Extension Agent Samantha Roth said the Fashion Revue is designed to teach life-long lessons.

Its to help the kids build their self confidence and poise, and give them skills to carry on beyond 4-H, she noted. They will have the knowledge of the process of making or purchasing clothing and what to look for, she added.

There are three competitions taking place at the Fashion Revue. They include Buy and Show, Decorate your Duds and Sew and Show.

Buy and Show is designed to teach the value of money.

“It is to understand the cost of purchasing an outfit,” Roth said. “For the Buy and Show, we would like them to think about what garment they would like to get and how they would use it.”

Decorate your Duds gives the kids a chance to express themselves.

“They decorate and model a garment that reflects their creativity and a sense of their individual style,” Roth said. “They can use any method they want as long as they decorate the garment so that it fits them.”

Sew and Show teaches the valuable life skill of making your own clothes.

“They are to construct a garment themselves that is needed in their wardrobe,” she said. “The teens and the pre-teens are to construct half or more of their garment or clothing.”

Brook Alton is on of the 4-H members taking part in the Buy and Show.

“I am wearing a yellow shirt and some jeans,” the 11-year-old said. “The shirt is from Kohl's and the jeans are from JC Penny.”

She took part in the Sew and Show last year.

“I made a skirt,” Alton said.

Alton said she enjoyed the shopping.

“Probably picking out the clothes,” she said. “My mom buys them for me, and I can pick out any outfit that has a good price that I like.”

Last year, she qualified to go to the State Fair.

“It was so much fun, because the judges were so nice and they'll help you with anything,” Alton said. “Last year, I had brown gauchos and a blue tank top with sequins on it. Then I had a white jacket and some brown sandals.”

Mallory Nygard, 13, is participating in the Buy and Show and Decorate your Duds.

“For the Buy and Show I bought a red dress that was half off, and I have a black tank top from my closet,” she said. “You buy something that's cheap that you can wear lots of times. It helps you look for good deals when you get older. You shop for something that's easy to care for that you don't have to dry clean it every time you wear it.”

She is using her creativity in the Decorate your Duds competition.

“This year I'm taking one of my old pairs of jeans and a bleach pen and putting designs on them,” Nygard said. “I have a great time every year. It's a blast.”

“You face with the judges wearing the outfit,” Nygard said. “Then you do a fashion show at Bethel Home, and somebody talks about what you did while you walk. Then they do the awards ceremony and they announce who's going to state.”

She said taking part in the Fashion revue is a good experience.

“I like the judging part the best,” Nygard said. “I think it's a really good experience to talk to the judges. To have the confidence to talk to the judges face to face and not be afraid.”

She said 4-H has a lot to offer.

“(I like) Having the ability and the option to do all sorts of different things like the fashion review and communication arts,” Nygard said. “And meeting new people at the state fair, 4-H camp is a blast.”

Morgan Fetchfield is taking part in the Sew and Show.

“I'm making navy blue gauchos,” the 10-year-old said. “It's something to wear, and it's not necessarily summer or winter clothing.”

She said her favorite part of 4-H is the crafts.

“I like painting and making everything,” Fetchfield said.

It is her first time competing in the Sew and Show.

“I'm kind of nervous,” she said. “I just had a lot of fun making this and I want to show it off.”

Roth said she also took part in the Fashion Revue as a kid.

“I did the sew and show and I actually got to go to state with it,” she said. “It was quite the experience.”

Roth said the Fashion Revue is open to the public.

“I would encourage everyone to come out and see the hard work the youth have put in, and see the knowledge they gained and possess about their project. They can tell you how they made their project or they can tell you why they decorated it that way.”

William Highley can be reached by e-mail at whighley@willistonherald.com.

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