Tristan Swihart, Goshen, left, was reserve grand champion in the Elkhart County 4-H Performing Arts Contest Thursday. Livviya Haarer, Goshen, right, was the grand champion. (Photo provided)

By STHELE GREYBAR
Extension Educator, Purdue Extension Elkhart County, 4-H Youth Development

The Elkhart County 4-H performing arts contest was held on Thursday, April 23, at Northridge High School, Middlebury.

Livviya Haarer, Goshen, was the grand champion act with her singing performance of “Popular” from the musical “Wicked.”

Haarer was awarded the traveling trophy sponsored by Phillips and Sons Irrigation, Bristol. The reserve grand champion act was a four mallet marimba solo by Tristan Swihart, Goshen. He played a piece called “Strive to be Happy.”

Results of the contest are as follows:

In the Curtain Musical Act Division, Livviya Haarer from the Bentonettes and Cadets 4-H club was the Champion. Earning second place was Tristan Swihart of the 4-H Llovable Llama, Elkhart County Junior Leaders and Elkhart County Shooting Sports 4-H clubs. Emma and Julia Koch from the Crystal Valley Clovers 4-H club earned third place with their violin duet titled “Grand Duo De Salon” by Kalliwoda.

In the Non-Musical Act Division, Reagan Koble of 4-H Dog and Panther Paw clubs was the Champion. In second place was Jessica and Rachel Buckley of Busy Bobcats, Classy Cavies 4-H and Elkhart County Shooting Sports 4-H clubs with their dance performance of “Gonna Make You Sweat.” Bailey and Saloma Kesler of 4-H Dog, Bentonettes and Cadets and Media 4-H clubs earned third place with their humorous baking skit titled “Baking with Betsy!”

Judges for the 4-H Performing Arts Contest were Alexandra Penry and Linda Greybar, both from La Porte.

Livviya Haarer and Tristan Swihart will go on to perform at the Area X 4-H Performing Arts contest in Lake County on Saturday, May 9.

4-H members from Elkhart, Kosciusko, Lake, La Porte, Marshall, Starke and St. Joseph Counties will compete for a chance to perform at the 4-H Youth Round-Up at Purdue University in June and at the Indiana State Fair in August.