UF/IFAS News Release
4-H Fashion Show at State Fair Spotlights Youth Talent
By: Aimee Huskey
Ami Neiberger (352)846-0996 ext. 237

TAMPA--Instead of strutting his stuff down the runway Blinky the clown prefers to shimmy and shake to show off his polka-dotted outfit. Blinky’s outfit was hand-made right down to his knee-length tie by a 9-year-old.

Carsten Vencil, 9, Clay County, is moonlighting as Blinky the Clown during his first 4-H Youth Fashion Show competition in at the Florida State Fair. “It was my mom’s idea to be a clown, I wanted to make a snowboarder outfit,” Vencil said. Vencil said he is competing in the fashion show to “make his brother jealous” because his brother wanted to be the only one in the fashion show. “I want to win third place because younger kids don’t usually win first place, and third place would make my brother really jealous,” said Vencil.

Youth ages 8-18 from all over Florida competed in the 4-H/Youth Fashion Show coordinated by a Joy Jordan, extension 4-H youth development specialist at the University of Florida. Jordan coordinated entries from counties and arranged for judges at the 60-person fashion show. “We traditionally do fair shows so younger 4-H members have an event where they can participate against others,” Jordan said.

 ther participants in the fashion show made and modeled colonial dresses, evening gowns, vests, suits and even pajamas.

Bethany Pate, 10, St. Johns County, said she was inspired to make her colonial dress, that matches her American Girl doll Felicity’s outfit, because she was studying about Colonial Williamsburg.  “I dressed like my doll because I am going to Williamsburg and I wanted a colonial outfit to wear,” Pate said.

Pate said she won best of show in her age division last year and hopes she will do well again this year after spending about two months making her dress. Her royal blue dress with white ruffles and matching cap won first place in the “My Choice” division.

Kim Burris, 18, of Clay County has competed in the fashion show for 10 years and said she thinks its good for the younger kids to get out and do something in 4-H like the fashion show. “The fashion show gives younger kids a chance to be productive and helps them get over their nervousness about being on stage,’ Burris said.

Youth learn time management, patience and not to procrastinate when sewing and modeling their projects, Burris said. “The fashion show gives them a tremendous boost of self-confidence,” Jordan said. “Creativity is a big part of the fashion show, older kids can continue to challenge themselves while younger kids are doing something new.” She hopes to get more teens involved in leadership roles and to increase participation in the fashion show next year.

Carsten Vencil won third place in his competition and said he is looking forward to competing next year and making his brother even more jealous.

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