Youth leadership program brings young adults home

4-H consists of members ages 8-18 to show off different and unique talents. Although many think 4-H is just about showing animals and sewing, it is much more than that. It involves photography, robotics and many other projects for youth to enjoy. In Kimball, photography is actually one of the largest 4-H groups.

This youth leadership program also offers members the opportunity to travel around the country. Washington D.C. has two different conferences that youth are able to attendCitizenship Washington Focus and Leadership Washington Focus.

Each of these conferences have benefited students for more than 50 years, teaching students leadership skills, communication skills, meeting new people and training children how to make a difference in their community. This also gives them the chance to meet members of Congress.

“It was definitely fun,” past 4-H member and past 4-H assistant Erica Loy said, “I met Adrian Smith when I went back in 2003.”

In addition to learning new talents and perfecting current talents, 4-H members get a chance to show the community what they can do during fun nights, hosted for friends and family.

Some of these nights include family Pinterest night, during which members and their families unite to create projects found on Pinterest, and family movie night, after which families play games to reinforce lessons and values taught during the movie.

Past 4-H members often reminisce about their time in the program and many carry the life lessons learned with them in their future, even passing them on to future generations.

One past member, Bushnell’s Monica Wasielewski, has returned home again this year to help current members, assist in the local Extension office and prepare for the Kimball-Banner County Fair.

Two or three times each week Wasielsewski helps with summer workshops as well.

Monica showed animals for 13 years when she was in 4-H and in that time span she won multiple grand and reserve champion awards for not only showmanship, but marketing as well.

“Kimball is my hometown and I have always been a part of the 4-H program here,” Monica said, “My most memorable reward is receiving grand champion overall market beef in the 2006 Kimball-Banner County Fair.”

Monica is currently attending University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying Agricultural education. She interns at the extension office to gain experience and see everything happen from a different angle to help her to one day become an ag teacher and FFA advisor.

“I see a strong future for the Kimball-Banner 4-H program and for the kids in the program, as well as, those who will be entering the local program.”

Monica added that she has been working with current members all summer. “There are many talented young 4-H members as well as past 4-H members who have great knowledge and experience to pass on to the newer, younger members.”

In 2018 the National 4-H Council began the Raise Your Hand initiative, a nation-wide call to those supporting 4-H, including alumni like Monica. The top state, Ohio, with 17,778 hands raised in support, received $20,000 to use for 4-H programs.

Nebraska placed second, with 14,115 counted and earned $10,000 to use for programs across the state. Kansas came in third with 10,020, earning $5,000. Fourth place was Indiana with 7,113 and fifth was Illinois with 7,017.

“That is very exciting,” Extension Educator Cynthia Gill said. “The only state that beat us is Ohio, and they have so many more people living there,” Extension Educator Cynthia Gill said. “That is very exciting.”

Monica, Gill and the members of the 4-H clubs in Kimball and Banner County invite everyone to attend the 2018 county fair and watch them learn, grow and have fun.