SHOW AND TELL WITH THE STATE
Evan Melby, left, shares information about the poultry exhibit to state 4-H officials that came to the Steele County Fair on Aug. 19. Shown with Melby are Tracy Ignaszewski, local 4-H coordinator, Lexi Steckelberg, Sharon Davis, state animal science coordinator and Jennifer Skuza, state 4-H director. Staff photo by Rick Bussler
As members of the Steele County 4-H Green Team, Evan Melby and Lexi Steckelberg got a rare opportunity to show and tell with Minnesota 4-H officials during the recent Steele County Fair.
On the tour with the local 4-Hers were Jennifer Skuza, Minnesota 4-H director and Sharon Davis, Minnesota animal science coordinator.
Their first stop was the poultry barn, which was familiar territory for Melby. His family has shown multiple champions in the poultry division.
Melby and Steckelberg took the state officials through every barn and the 4-H Building before ending up at the 4-H Food Stand. Skuza found it interesting how both Melby and Steckelberg commented that working with younger children is one of their favorite parts of being in 4-H.
“What a treat,” said Skuza of her tour with Melby and Steckelberg as well as local 4-H coordinator Tracy Ignaszewski. “It’s fun to listen to the youth. It’s all about the young person and their experiences.”
Skuza was also impressed with the 4-H Food Stand where she found young 8 and 9 year olds taking food orders. “They are getting customer service skills,” she said. “That’s what makes 4-H sustainable—youth, parents and volunteers working together. It’s the recipe for a strong and sustainable 4-H program.”
She also attended a State Fair meeting with 4-Hers and their parents that was held in the Swine Barn on the afternoon she came to the fair. “That was most impressive seeing all of them right there getting behind their children and supporting them,” Skuza said.
The 4-H program across Minnesota, Skuza said, is very strong at this time. While Wright County has the largest 4-H program in the state, Steele County is among the top programs, according to Skuza. There are 800 chartered clubs in all 87 counties.
Skuza made her first trip to Steele County as part of a fair circuit around the state. Over the next few years she will be going to a handful of fairs each summer. She hopes to hit at least a half dozen counties each year.
She found herself in awe of what she saw in Steele County.
“It was like a mini-State Fair,” said Skuza, who has worked in the University of Minnesota Extension for 25 years with the past four years in 4-H.
Skuza grew up in Benton County where she was in 4-H for 10 years.
“4-H reflects the community and the personality of the community,” she said.