When it comes to serving as a judge for the Cloverbuds portion of the Freeborn County Fair, Dennis Johnson and Peggy Davis know it’s all about creating a good first experience.

The two are longtime Cloverbud judges and were on hand Monday in the 4-H Building on the fairgrounds to judge projects by the 72 youngsters enrolled in the program.

Cloverbuds, who must have completed kindergarten through second grade, take part in a simple show-and-tell at the fair.

First-level Cloverbuds may exhibit items in any of the following areas: exploring nature, exploring the plant world, exploring your home and exploring pets.

Level two Cloverbuds may take projects from any of these areas: vegetable gardening, indoor gardening, aerospace, safety, health, photography or foods.

Level three Cloverbuds may take projects from the level two areas as well as sewing, clothing, shop, self-determined and natural resources.

Bringing a project to the fair gives these youngest 4-H’ers an idea of how to confer with a judge as well as an air of self-confidence and the pride of taking something to the fair, said Jeanie Opdahl, Cloverbud adviser. The Cloverbud program has been around for about 25 years, she added.

The Cloverbud judges ask the youngsters about their projects, then have the honor of presenting them with their green participation ribbons.

After that, the kids get their photos taken with their projects. Their projects are then on exhibit in the 4-H Building for the duration of the fair.

Johnson estimates he’s been a Cloverbud judge for at least 20 years, having only missed judging at last year’s Freeborn County Fair. It’s a program he loves.

“It’s fun,” Johnson, the Worth County, Iowa, Extension director, said. “These young kids are our future 4-H’ers. We want them to be comfortable in front of a judge.”

And kids of this age are looking for things to do, Johnson said. This is the perfect time to steer them toward 4-H.

Davis, of New Richland, estimates she has been a Cloverbud judge for 10 years. She works as a para-educator in the New Richland-Hartland-Ellendale-Geneva School District, and said she loves to talk with kids.

“There’s no pressure here,” Davis said. “Their first experience in 4-H should be a good one.”

She said Cloverbuds are so proud of their projects and love to talk about them.

The judges ask the kids everything from why they did a particular project to how they did it, what they did first, what they did next, what was the most enjoyable part of the project and anything else they wish to share.

“I like to ask them about their project from start to finish,” Johnson said.

Austen Kelley, 8, of the Twin Lakes 4-H Club, brought Legos and photography as this year’s Cloverbud projects.

He has now brought photography for all three years that he’s been in the program.

“I like it when everybody comes and looks at my project,” Austen said.

He added that he was a little nervous about being judged, but liked it when Johnson told him he had some of the best pictures he’s seen.

Thor Routh, 6, of the Hartland 4-H Club, brought a zucchini to show Johnson as his first Cloverbuds project.

“I was in 4-H growing up,” said his mom, Lisa. “We think it’s a lot of fun.”

She said she sees a lot of value in the Cloverbuds program.

“He (Johnson) asks really good questions — ones they can answer. That gives them confidence,” Routh said.