Twenty year old Nicole Macy of Pine Bluffs is no stranger to competition -- she began learning the art of sewing at the early age of seven. On Jan. 23, all her hard work paid off, as she took home the coveted title of "Exemplary Construction" at the National Make-It-With-Wool competition held in Nashville, TN.
The $500 cash award sponsored by "Sew News Magazine" is given to the top entry from both the Senior and Junior categories combined, in which 60 outfits were considered for the award. She also placed in the overall top 13 seniors in the country, receiving sewing software from "Wild Ginger," thread from "Coats & Clark," a sewing book from Palmer Pletsch Publishing and a 2 1/2 yard length of Pendleton wool, from the Pendleton Woolen Mills.
Senior category contestants range in age from 17 through 24 and are judged on presentation, marketability and construction. This is Macy’s second consecutive trip to the national contest. Last year she also placed in the top 13 seniors, held in San Diego.
In order to compete at the national level, she won first place at the district contest held at LCCC in Cheyenne, Nov. 8, 2009. For her efforts she received $75 cash, a gift certificate from Ewe Count in Cheyenne and a 2 1/2 yard length of Pendleton wool, as well as the honor of competing at the state contest held Dec. 6 and 7, 2009 in Casper.
As the Grand Champion winner in Casper, she was awarded the all expense paid trip to the national contest paid by the Wyoming Wool Growers Women’s Auxiliary.
In addition, she received another 2 1/2 yard piece of Pendleton Wool. Over her career Macy has received numerous Grand Champion awards at the MIWW contests, Laramie County Fair, Wyoming State Fair and the Western Round-up held in Denver during the National Western Stock Show. Last year the outfit that won her a trip to the national contest in San Diego also added the honors of Grand Champion at the Wyoming State Fair in Construction and Fashion Revue, as well as the top award of the Overall Grand Champion Family Consumer Sciences project.
Macy is currently a senior at the University of Wyoming where she is attaining a double major in Ag Business and Family Consumer Sciences, emphasizing in textiles and merchandising.
Eligible children, men and women can compete in a local MIWW contest with no age limits. State qualifying contestants must have met their 13th birthday by the date of the contest. If you would like information on entering you can contact the Wyoming State Director, Roxana Johnson at 307-327-5558 or wyomiww@union-tel.com <mailto:wyomiww@union-tel.com>; National Director, Marie Lehfeldt, by sending a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Make It With Wool Competition, Marie Lehfeldt, Box 175, Lavina, MT 59046 or Laramie County District Director, Angela Macy at 307-245-3335 or kamacy@rtconnect.net.
4-H questions may be directed to Jenna Evans at the Laramie County Extension Office in Cheyenne at 307-633-4383 or jevans23@uwyo.edu
