Emily Douglass and Bailey Farrer took advantage of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Among 35 4-Hers chosen, they spent five days in Washington, D.C., during the Indiana State Fair Achievement Trip.

“It was very shocking,” said Farrer, a junior at Pioneer High School. “I was very proud to be able to go.”

“It was a pretty big surprise for both of us,” Douglass, a Caston High School sophomore, said. “When I found out I could go, I called Bailey and found out she could go too. I was excited because we both knew someone else who was going.”

The trip is offered once a year and each person can only travel once during their participation with 4-H. It’s been several years since a Cass County 4-Her has earned a trip to Washington D.C., according to Lynn Korniak, 4-H youth Extension educator.

The girls knew each other through 4-H fair competition and school sports.

Farrer enjoyed meeting other 4-Hers on the trip.

“That’s what made it neat, talking to other people in Indiana to see what they did to win a spot,” she said.

Korniak said delegates came from across the state and represented areas of achievement in several 4-H groups, including fashion revue, aerospace shoot, bicycle rodeo, dairy goat judging, dairy cattle judging, demonstration contest, public speaking contest, entomology judging, forestry judging, horticulture judging, livestock judging, lawn and garden tractor driving, poultry illustrated talk, poultry judging, rabbit ambassador, rabbit illustrated talk and soils judging.

Douglass and Farrer competed and placed in the fashion revue portion at the state fair. Both girls made outfits for the sewing project and modeled them, which was another part of the competition.

The modeling competition at the Indiana State Fair was judged on how well the garment was made, how well the outfit fit and how well the girls modeled. They were also judged on how the outfit was accessorized, Korniak said.

Once the competition was judged, Farrer finished as first alternate while Douglass was second alternate. Since those who finished better than them could not attend the trip for different reasons, Douglass and Farrer were offered the opportunity.

“I was very excited when they gave me a letter of intent at the state fair,” Farrer said. “I had gone to Washington, D.C., with my family, but didn’t remember much because I was 7 years old.”

Douglass entered the formal category this year and made a zebra-printed, knee-length dress with a hot pink ribbon across the upper bodice of the dress. This was her seventh year competing and first year at state competition.

She worked on the dress for three days straight.

Farrer was in the suits and coats division and completed a winter coat for the competition. It was her eighth year competing and third year traveling to state.

She worked on the project for eight hours a day over a three-day period.

Farrer wanted to do something different this year and felt making the coat would be a good challenge.

“Coats are very complex because you have to line it,” she explained. “I learned a lot of new sewing techniques. It was definitely worth it.”

The trip consisted of stops at several locations in Washington, including a visit to the U.S. Capitol, Supreme Court, Library of Congress, World War II Memorial, White House photo shop, Holocaust Museum, Iwo Jima Marine Corps Memorial, Mount Vernon to explore George Washington’s plantation home, Toby’s Dinner Theater, Pentagon City for shopping and dining and a visit with Congressman Joe Donnelly.

Students on the trip also had the opportunity to choose one of four stops in the Smithsonian Institute. Options included Museum of Natural History, Museum of American History, National Air and Space Museum or National Archives.

During a night view tour of Washington, the group visited the Jefferson Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Korean War Memorial and FDR Memorial.

Farrer said the group also made a stop at Arlington Cemetery.

“That was pretty amazing,” she said. “It was unreal to see how many crosses are there, they go forever.”

Her favorite part of the visit was the FDR Memorial, which was lit up at night.

“It was really pretty,” she said.

Douglass said her favorite part of the entire trip was visiting George Washington’s home at Mount Vernon.

“They had a cool interactive museum there,” she added.

Both Douglass and Farrer were grateful to have the opportunity to travel to Washington.

“It was definitely a great experience,” Farrer said. “4-H opens so many doors for you. You never know what will happen next.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com