All in for 4-H with Schultz family

Editor’s Note: This is a continuing series of stories partnering with Steele County 4-H to provide details about what 4-H means to area teenagers and their families. The series will continue over the next few weeks.

It’s a family affair for Julie and Grant Schultz and their four children when it comes to 4-H.

Isabella, Lowell, Colin and Elizabeth are all members of the Pratt Commandoes 4-H Club. Julie Schultz was a member of the Janesville Jacks and Jills growing up in Waseca County, and her father also was a 4-H member. She is now one of the leaders of the Pratt Commandoes.

Grant Schultz said his mother was active in 4-H, but he was only a member for one year.

Isabella is currently a college freshman, her last year of 4-H eligibility. Lowell is a high school junior, Colin’s a freshman, and Elizabeth is in the sixth grade, so the family still has several more years of 4-H activity ahead.

4-H provides kids an opportunity to learn life skills, public speaking, planning and discipline, Julie Schultz said, and all four kids have been involved in a variety of 4-H projects. They are not a farm family, she said. The Schultzes own Costas’ Candies in downtown Owatonna. They have participated in the dairy projects by leasing cows.

“I love there is an interest for everyone,” she said.

4-H offers a variety of projects, including showing farm animals but also veterinary science, pet projects, food, metal working, woodworking and many more. Isabella participated in the veterinary science projects, although she is now studying occupational therapy in college. She also has participated in national dairy conferences, her mother said.

Colin has concentrated on the dairy aspect of 4-H, including participating in the Dairy Bowl. Similar to high school Knowledge Bowls, the competitions test participants, but on dairy information and trivia. He also likes to do woodworking projects.

Lowell has been active in photography projects and also on the Green Team, a group of high school aged 4-H members who help with the set-up and operation of the programs during the county fair. Isabella has also been active with the Green Team.

Everyone has done photography and food, Julie Schultz said.

Elizabeth said she is excited for this year because she will be old enough to compete at the State Fair. She also said plants, needle work and the arts are among her interests.

“There are fine arts, creative arts,” Schultz said, “some are in it for 4-H softball and some for the project bowls.

“Everyone (in the Schultz family) found their niche and place,” she said.

Isabella, Lowell and Colin have all been part of the ambassador program. The three oldest have served as county officers, and all have been club officers.

There is also a solution if a 4-H member cannot find a project that fits their interests, as members can create their own projects.

Lowell found this helpful, his mother said, as he has a “creative mind” and came up with his own fashion design project.

Isabella said she really enjoyed the opportunity to show dairy. She also learned leadership skills and the importance of agriculture.

She said she valued “the incredible friendships that will last a lifetime.”

Her mother echoed that comment, saying one of her best friends when she was in 4-H is now the 4-H educator in Waseca County, and their sons have shown animals together.

Isabella added that this summer, she has applied to work as an intern for the 4-H program in Waseca County.

Steele County has done a great job with the 4-H program, Julie Schultz said. There are 10 clubs in the county. The Pratt Commandoes is one of the largest with 40 to 50 members. She likes that clubs include members of all ages from the youngest Cloverbuds to the members in their final year. Although each club has members of all ages interacting with each other, Steele County has also had activities just for Cloverbuds and has now started having specific activities for different age groups along with the club activities.

Schultz also praised the state 4-H organization for its work when the COVID pandemic disrupted in-person meetings, as well as county and state competitions. It was hard, she said, but the program continued with members even able to do things like science projects on Zoom.