Here comes the judge

MALDEN — For Barb Schlund of rural Malden, participating in and volunteering with 4-H seems to run in the family.

Schlund, who has volunteered as a Bureau County 4-H Fair judge for the past 10 years and has helped with the former Bureau County Green Cavalry 4-H club, said that she began participating in 4-H when she was in fifth and sixth grade.

“My parents were former leaders and my in-laws were leaders for 30 years,” Schlund said. “It’s in the blood, I think.”

Schlund remembers participating in Macon County 4-H while growing up in Decatur.

“Back then it was an all-girl group and it was only cooking and sewing,” she said. “When I was in it, I mostly took cakes and brownies to the fair.”

Schlund remembers that when she participated in 4-H, judging was not done through conference judging, as it is now. Youth now talk with an adult judge about their project and receive immediate verbal feedback and suggestions.

“You just left your food there with a hundred other kids’ food,” she said.

Schlund began volunteering with Bureau County 4-H 10 years ago when three of her children, Cindy, Tommy and Sarah, were participating in the Bureau County Green Cavalry 4-H club. She has judged the foods division at the 4-H fair and has helped with the club throughout the year.

Schlund said that as a foods judge, she tries to demonstrate ways that kids can improve their cooking skills, as well as making positive comments about each child’s project.

“I give them positives, and find things they can improve on,” she said. “I’m always amazed when we get a really advanced kid. They’re really creative with what they do.”

Schlund judges the cake decorating and candies categories. She said the candies are tasted during judging, while the cakes are solely judged by their appearance.

Schlund said she has enjoyed her experiences as a 4-H judge during the past 10 years.

“I like seeing the kids come in and get excited about their projects,” Schlund said. “You can tell who the new ones are because they’re very eager, and they are first in the line. It’s a lot of fun.”