Life On The Farm As The Years Fly Bye

We All Learn At a Different Pace

What did I learn about myself through my 4-H participation?

I learned that it is not easy to be 16 and on the edge of adulthood.

Head - to clear thinking, when giving your word to someone, think about how it will affect your heart if you buckle to peer pressure and go against your morals and ethics .

Heart - to greater loyalty; loyalty is something that is given freely and cannot be demanded or forced upon someone.

Hands - to larger service, you can only do what you feel is right and work hard to achieve your goals.

Health - to better living; if your word is your honor, and you stand fast to your morals and ethics; loyalty will come to you freely, your goals will be realized, and you will make a difference in the world around you.


I love 4-H !


Peer pressure is one of the hardest things we face; stay true to yourself no matter how hard it is and make a difference!

4H My Journey

Farmer's Hands Video

2011-2012 Western National Roundup

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

4-H and the Long Distant Runner



Over the years, I have attended many 4-H workshops, seminars, camps, and contests on every level from County to Nationals and I have spent countless hours studying on my own just to complete the different projects and competitions that I had started. Last year one of my fellow 4-H members asked why I work so hard.  My answer at the time was 4-H is what I do. For a few months after last years fair, I dwelt on the question trying to figure it out. Then the new 4-H year rolled around and here I am working just as hard spending more time studying and preparing for County, District, State and National competitions. 
I love to check the mail at this time of the year, why because I am a member of at least three different cattle associations, and this is when they send out all the different cattle production sale magazines. The first thing I like to read is the different ranch histories on what they have been doing for the past year, to improve their ranches and production of their herds. Most of them talk about EPD’s, the different breeds, and their efforts to improve the environment.  
Then I read this Article written by Lindsay Williams in their magazine about their up coming sale and consignors.  I believe that this describes why I do what I do, and why I work so hard.
Here is what she wrote:
“Recently, the superintendent for our Columbus School wrote an article discussing attitudes of marathon runners” Lindsay believes it applies to their consignors, and I believe it also applies to members of 4-H.
            It went like this.
“Every year, major cities like New York and Boston hold marathons and 10,000 or more runners enter these elite races. Why??? The odds of losing are overwhelming. In fact, almost every entrant in these major races knows he/she stands no chance of even placing in the top 1,000. So why do they run? They run because they are doing it for themselves. They have set a personal goal, not only to compete, but also of being part of an elite event in which they are both a competitor and a finisher. They are hoping for a personal best finish time along the way, and the honor of saying I ran the race. That is the attitude and character of our consignors, and they are a credit to the industry.  That is what life and success is all about: Being in the race”.
Many 4-H members start out as Clover Buds at the age of five years old; by the time, they have completed the 4-H program at the age of eighteen they have invested thirteen years of their lives. 4-H members like distance runners train for years just to improve by small increments. Ultimately, they turn the endless hours of training and personal sacrifice into a chance to compete against others just to see how they stack up, and enjoy the comradely of being with other like-minded individuals. The finish line is a place of joy and celebration knowing that through the 4-H program, we will have polished our ability to complete all that we start, knowledge to achieve our goals, and friendships that will last a lifetime. 

After reading Lindsay’s article, I realized we in 4-H are long distant runners in a marathon preparing ourselves to enter our lives as an adult with a personal best finish, and the confidence to say we ran the best race of our life.
                    4-H Motto – “To Make the Best Better”