4-H Clover Kid enjoys life and the county fair

         Elsie Bayer, 9, the daughter of Luke and Amber Bayer of rural Guernsey, shows off a pie she made with the help of her grandma for the Poweshiek County Fair. Elsie, a BGM Clover Kid, affectionally calls it "Grammy's Apple Crumb Pie." The Clover Kid entry won Elsie a purple ribbon.

J.O. Parker
 
          Elsie Bayer loves everything 4-H Clover Kids.
        Always wearing a big smile and larger than life earrings, the 9-year-old daughter of Luke and Amber Bayer isn’t afraid to try new things.
           At the 2024 Poweshiek County Fair, Elsie and her friend, Ella Manatt, teamed up for a tap routine to the song, “Raspberry Beret” in the Bill Riley Talent Show Sprout Division. The duo’s performance won first place and a trip to the perform at the Iowa State Fair.
            It was a tap routine that Elsie and Ella worked on at Studio Six in Brooklyn and performed in the Spring dance recital.
            She also showed her dog, Arlo, did a tornado safety project, did an art project with Legos,  made a skirt with her grandma Sheryl, participated in the piglet show, had the winning entry in the youth division of the Tallest Corn Contest, showed her bottle calf, Joy, and participated in the animal costume contest dressed as Dorothy with her calf dressed liked Toto.
            She also baked and entered an apple pie she affectionally labeled “Grammy’s Apple Crumb Pie.”
            “I made it with the help of my grandma Rose Bayer,” she said.
Her entry won a purple ribbon in the Clover Kids Division.
         In past years, Elsie has submitted photography and in 2021, she was a Poweshiek County Fair Little Misses.
             “I love showing my animals and taking care of them,” said Elsie. “I enjoy doing projects in Clover Kids.”
            Elsie is going into the fourth grade at HLV this fall. She is a member of the BGM Clover Kids program and will enter the 4-H program in the fall.
            At Clover Kids, Elsie has made a Ginger Bread House, completed art projects and made a chair.
            “She does a lot of STEM Projects,” said her mom, Amber. 
            Elsie comes from a strong background of 4-H and farming. Her mom, Amber, was involved in 4-H and her parents were 4-H leaders. As a 4-H’er, Amber was involved in completing projects on the county and state level. Her dad’s family raises cattle and row crops.
             “Both sides of her grandparents help her with her projects,” said Amber.
Elsie has a brother, Egan, age 7.
             Elsie says she plans to bring Joy back to the Poweshiek County Fair next year to show as a second year bottle calf.
            “I’m already looking forward to next year’s fair,” she said.

       Elsie Bayer and friend, Ella Manatt, perform a Tap routine during the Bill Riley Talent Show at the Poweshiek County Fair on Thursday, July 18. The duo won first place in the Sprout Division and advanced to perform at the Iowa State Fair.