By Leigh Groninger

4-H is a time intensive commitment lasting an entire year and culminating in the Kosciusko County Community Fair. The members of the many 4-H groups around the area work laboriously all year and then compete against each other, in the ring and elsewhere, for top honors.

When asked about their 4-H experience and the challenges that came along with it, here is how some of our local 4-H kids responded:

“My project was showing beef cows,” says Nash Kern, 8-year member of Mentone United 4-H Club. “My biggest challenge was raising my beef cows. It was really hard in the beginning because I had to get in the pen with them and train them so that they would trust me and I could trust them, which takes a long time. Even though I have been working with beef cows for eight years, training them is always the hardest part of the whole experience.”

“My biggest difficulty was getting everything packed up and ready to go to the fair,” says sixth-grader and 3-year member, Katie Juillerat. “ I did a lot of projects this year so I had a lot of things to get packed up. I had a lot of different projects including projects in woodworking, geology, miscellaneous craft, and cake decorating. I also showed some chickens.”

“I have been a member of the Atwood Never Quitters for nine years and my favorite part of 4-H week is show day,” says Taylor Smith. “I raise sheep and I think it is really exciting to get my sheep ready to compete against all the other 4-H groups. I also like show day because it is the day that you have been working toward for months! A lot of hard work went into my project and show day is the day I get to present my hard work to the judges.”

“I’ve been part of 4-H for seven years. I do 4-H because I think it is a really positive program. I think it is cool to see younger kids learning about things they would not usually learn in school at their age. They get to learn about agriculture, business and other things they might need when they get older while they are having fun with their friends,” says Logan Waddel.

Even though the end of fair week can be bittersweet, 4-H members will always walk away with new friends made, lessons learned, and memories that will last a lifetime.