By Catherine Ellerton

Moapa Valley Progress

The winners of the inaugural 4-H Cupcake War are: Cloverbuds – Kash and Kody Burris, Shelbee and Weston Munns, Aurelie and Avery Stratton; 4-H members – 1-Anna Stratton, 2-Odin Lyman, 3-Hayden Munns and 4-Cameron Grady; Adults – 1-Shari Lyman, 2-Kessa Stratton, 3-Amber Munns, 4-Evonne and Brian Burris and 5-Teri Grady. Photo by Catherine Ellerton.

Local 4-H members joined together at the Logandale Fairgrounds on Tuesday, October 25, to kick off the new 4-H year. Lori Leas, the 4-H Coordinator at the East Clark County office of UNCE, took a moment to explain the many booths that were in operation.

The Quiz Bowl, with its blinking lights, proved to be very popular. Last year at the Fair, members were asked questions about livestock and the names of the pieces of meat, and if they were answered correctly, lights would wildly blink. First place went to Senior 4-H members from the Roadrunners Club from Las Vegas and second place went to the MV Rogue Livestock Club from Moapa. That club is composed of 4th, 5th and 6th graders.

Next was a gardening demonstration booth kicking off the Garden Club. In the same area, I found young Iain McMurray who was checking out the many events that take place at the Clark County Fair. He is a Cloverbud with the Kids-N-Ewe Club.

The popular, new Shooting Club Project attracted many of the young 4-H members in attendance. Natasha Ortiz (a certified Jr. Leader in Archery) and Jeremy Brandon (a certified Jr. Leader in Rifle) advised the curious about the rules and techniques that would be used in Archery and then they were given the chance to try it out.

While all this was going on, plus a wonderful barbeque being served, a group of folks were quietly working over in a corner on a table stacked with wildly decorated cupcakes.

The Cupcake War was in full swing! Taste, texture and appeal were the three criteria that the three age groupings – Cloverbuds, 9 and over and Adults – had to meet.

Soon the attendees were called over and the awards were given. The judges quietly moved away, but one could hear them comment as they passed, “Ah! That was a rough one!” and “It was a good job and we just kept eating!”

It seems that the war had been won.