Final 4-H demonstrations showcased in Plains

Finalists in the Sanders County 4-H competition presented their projects before a panel of three judges at Plains High School on Sunday. Using multimedia, PowerPoint presentations, signs and live animals, students demonstrated their projects in 15 minute increments followed by a question and answer period from the judges and members of the audience.
Projects ranged from a lesson on how to water-ski to a tutorial on the proper technique for tattooing the ear of a rabbit. Participants stood before the panel of judges and gave speeches, supplemented with various methods of visual aid. Topics are usually chosen due to an interest in the subject matter. For two competitors, Josh Wulfekuhle and Tanna Cole, the subjects were as varied as the methods of demonstration.
Josh Wulfekuhle channeled a love for waterskiing into his demonstration. Utilizing a sophisticated PowerPoint presentation along with a full range of equipment including skis, ropes and a wetsuit, Josh began his demonstration with a brief safety lesson.
“Everyone should use a life jacket. Regardless of your level of experience in water sports, you should always wear one of these,” said Wulfekuhle.
He then proceeded to instruct the judges on the proper way to start whether in the water or on dock and then how to get up on the skis. He took the audience through some advanced techniques before fielding an array of questions from the judges. When asked if he had ever been dragged behind the boat, Josh responded, “Yeah I have. It’s not fun.”
Wulfekuhle has been waterskiing for two years and said he picked it up fairly quick.
“It’s fun. When you are out there with the wind blowing past you, it’s just a breath of fresh air,” said Wulfekuhle.
Tanna Cole may not have had a PowerPoint presentation but she did bring along a friend as a visual aid: her rabbit, Magic. Cole has been raising rabbits for about five years and brought along Magic as a willing participant for her demonstration on the best technique for tattooing the inner ear of the animal. Rabbit ears are tattooed for identification purposes.
As Cole put it, ”when you go to competition there are lots of rabbits that look just like yours so tattooing helps you keep track of them.”
As Magic sat calmly in Cole’s lap, wrapped tightly in a blanket, she went on to demonstrate the safe and proper way to use the tattoo pen and how to ensure the affected area of the ear would heal without infection. While she didn’t actually tattoo Magic’s ear, she did demonstrate the procedure on a piece of leather and displayed the results for the judges.
When asked why she chose rabbits to care for, Cole responded, “It’s an animal I can have in town. And they’re cute and cuddly. They’re little cuddly fluff balls.”
Montana State University 4-H extension agents Megan Phillippi and Jon Halpop where on hand to check students in and to generally coordinate the event. The MSU extension system serves as the community outreach and education portion of the university. According to Phillippi, finalists from this event will go on to compete in the state 4-H Congress in Bozeman in July.