HOT PURSUIT

For as long as I can remember I have been involved in some way with the 4-H program.

My parents got me started in 4-H when I was a small child by showing hogs and taking other projects to the county fair and later the state fair. What a thrill of excitement for me in competing against other kids my age.

In my teenage years, I got involved in Minnesota State 4-H Arts-In at a time when there was a communications component to it. I ran around snapping photos and doing stories on the 4-Hers from across the state. Arts-in still exists today, but not with the communications area I once led. Yes, I was even putting out newspapers as a 4-Her at the Minnesota State Fair.

My love for 4-H has continued long after I graduated from the program. My children have been involved in 4-H with my oldest daughter becoming a state 4-H ambassador during her final year.

Ever since I began operating this newspaper 14 years ago this month, I have focused on covering Steele County’s 4-H program, which I consider to be top-notch and one of the best in Minnesota. As you probably can guess, the bulk of the coverage comes along during the summer months when 4-Hers compete in the county and state fairs.

I love to feature 4-H members and the amazing things they do with their projects. To me, it’s no different than the sports teams which absorb pages and pages of coverage in our newspaper every week during the sports seasons. Athletes are highlighted prominently in our sports coverage as they should be.

But just as important is sharing the accomplishments of our youth involved in 4-H. It  is an important part of what we are all about as a community newspaper. I love to spread that good news with our readers. It warms my heart when 4-Hers talk about saving the articles about themselves for scrapbooks and other ways to record life achievements.

Without providing a voice for programs like 4-H, many teenagers would be silenced and never be publicly recognized for their achievements. In Steele County alone, there are about 550 youth involved in 4-H. It’s enough to prompt the state to staff the program with two full-time educators, Tracy Ignaszewski and Kelsey Erf.

On Sunday afternoon, I was honored to be recognized with the Friend of 4-H Award, along with Brad Rugg, a long-time 4-H educator from Owatonna who has worked on both the county and state levels. Being in a roomful of young 4-Hers and their parents and to see their enthusiasm brought back many happy memories of my childhood.

A complete list of the award winners honored at Sunday’s banquet can be found on page 8B. It definitely proved to be a great celebration of some outstanding youth and adult volunteers who are carrying the torch for our younger generation.

Without a doubt, the 4-H program is one of the best programs out there for youth. I attribute many of the skills I have developed over the years to 4-H. From learning photography to writing stories and perhaps most importantly getting up and speaking in front of people they are all a credit to what 4-H has taught me over the years. I hope the teens involved in the local 4-H program will see such a benefit like I have.

I dare you to go in hot pursuit of finding a more well-rounded program that prepares our youth for the future than what 4-H does.