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Two Lebanon County students represented both the county and the commonwealth in the 2022 national Make It With Wool contest.

The contest was held Jan. 20 to 23 in San Diego, California.

Jolene Bomgardner and Madison Copenhaver secured their spots at the competition by each placing first in the Pennsylvania contest this past October.

In the statewide contest, Copenhaver, a Cedar Crest student, placed first in the junior division (ages 13-16) and Bomgardner, a New Covenant Christian School student (and senior class president), won the senior division (ages 17-24).

Read More: Two Lebanon County teens advance to national Make It With Wool contest

Each state sends their first-place junior and first-place senior to the national matchup, with Lebanon County taking both Pennsylvania positions for the national contest, which is sponsored by the American Sheep Industry Women and designed to promote the wool industry and wool growers.

Both students performed admirably at the national contest. Copenhaver was named as one of the Top Ten in the junior competition and Bomgardner was named first runner-up in the senior competition, as well as taking second place for her handwork/embroidery.

Copenhaver’s entry to the competition was a knit wool dress and cardigan made with wool bearing her favorite pattern, herringbone. Pennsylvania Make It With Wool director and Lebanon County resident Linda Siegel explained to LebTown in a press release that Copenhaver used a double needle to hem the sleeves on her cardigan and lined her dress to give it the smooth finish you can see in the photo above.

“This outfit features an invisible zipper and was designed so she can wear it in all seasons, as it allows endless options to pair different accessories with it,” said Siegel.

In addition to participating in the Make It With Wool competition, Copenhaver is also vice president of the 4-H Friends Club in Lebanon County.

Bomgardner, participating in her seventh year of 4-H sewing projects, decided to represent her school with a handmade varsity jacket. Taking care to match her school lettering, she hand-stitched “New Covenant Christian” on the back and accented the front with her name and red welt pockets. The jacket is fully lined, and complemented in Bomgardner’s competition ensemble with a lined wool skirt and knit wool top. In addition to being president of her class at New Covenant Christian School, Bomgardner is also president of the 4-H Friends Club.

Find a couple additional pictures of Bomgardner at the competition below.

Bomgardner, second from right, was first runner-up in the Senior Division (age 17-24).
Bomgardner, right also received second place in the Handwork Award competition. She can be seen here showing off her jacket with “New Covenant Christian” on the back.

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