Haverkamp's quilt wins Best of Show at state fair

Every 4-H member dreams of winning a Best of Show ribbon at the Kansas State Fair, and for Denison Builder Danica Haverkamp, that dream became a reality this year. 

Haverkamp’s teal, yellow and black quilt won the top quilting award at the Kansas State Fair held Sept. 11 – 20 in Hutchinson. Haverkamp has been in 4-H for 13 years, and this is her first Best of Show honor at the state fair.

“This is my last year in 4-H, and I was shocked when I found out I won,” Haverkamp said. 

She crafted the quilt in May using a cathedral star pattern created by Bonnie Hunter. 

“I literally put it together in three or four weeks,” she said. “It doesn’t take me long to make one.”

Haverkamp said the color scheme for the quilt was selected to match the décor of her dorm room at Highland Community College where she is sophomore studying to become a physical therapist. 

She didn’t know she won Best of Show until this past weekend when she visited the fair with her family. 

“I had several people tell me or text me recently that they really liked my quilt at the county fair so I had my suspicion,” she said. “Michaela Little (who is a member of the Delia Early Birds and also entered a quilt into the state fair) said she liked my quilt and always had this big smile on her face when she saw me but she wouldn’t tell me anything.”

Haverkamp has been participating in quilting in 4-H for eight years and has made seven quilts. She said she learned how to quilt from her mother, Lisa. 

“I really like seeing everything come together when a quilt is complete,” she said. “I like to pick out color schemes and see which colors work best together.”

In addition to her quilt, Haverkamp also entered a needlework project of a horse at the state fair. At the county level, she also shows pigs and beef. 

While this was her last year in 4-H, Haverkamp, 19, said she plans to enter into the open class divisions at both the county and state fairs in the future.

“I definitely want to participate in open class,” she said. “4-H has been a big part of my life. It’s taught me to stick with things and to communicate with people. I used to be so shy. It’s also helped me be more creative.”

Haverkamp said that she plans to continue to use the championship quilt as her bedspread at college. 

She is the daughter of Lisa and Francis Haverkamp.