By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Cecilia, Anthony, and Daniel Rziha of rural Lincolnville are among the many 4-H members county-wide who are preparing to exhibit homemade items July 24-29 at the Marion County Fair in Hillsboro.

They have been members of the Tampa Triple T’s 4-H club for three years.

“You can do fun stuff in 4-H that you don’t usually do,” 12-year-old Anthony said, explaining why he likes 4-H.

The children lost their mother to cancer 6½ years ago. Cecilia was 7; Anthony, 5; and Daniel, 3. They moved with their father, Wayne, from Oklahoma to this area three years ago.

Fortunately for them, their father likes to cook. He took a class in international cooking in college and would be a chef if he quit teaching.

The children’s grandmother, Jeanne Rziha of Tampa, is a 4-H veteran. She was a leader 29 years and still helps members develop cooking and sewing skills.

“I’m good at sewing and art,” 14-year-old Cecilia said. “I like to show off my artwork and get ribbons.”

She is spending time sewing a skirt and jacket at her grandmother’s farm north of Tampa.

Anthony is playing around with Legos for a display at the fair. Daniel, 10, will submit four paintings he created during art classes at Centre Elementary.

All three plan to submit a food entry. Cecilia likes to make scones, Anthony likes pumpkin bread, and Daniel likes biscotti. They will prepare the items a day before the items are submitted for judging and sale July 25.

Cecilia’s clothing ensemble also will be submitted and judged that day. She will model it at a public style show that evening at Hillsboro United Methodist Church.

Art and photography entries will be on display July 27 and 28. The Rziha children will be on hand July 28 to present their art to a judge. They hope to win purple ribbons, which means entries qualify for the state fair.

They said their highest goal was to win grand champion or reserve grand champion ribbons.

Cecilia won a grand champion clothing award last year, and her art received reserve champion two years.

Daniel won grand champion in cooking for his peanut butter coffee cake. A quilt he made from some of his mother’s T-shirts won a reserve champion ribbon.

“I like everything about 4-H,” Daniel said.

Anthony is still looking for his first championship ribbon, but he said he has learned how to prepare speeches and present them to a judge, something that will help him in the future.

They are looking forward to the fair.