Successful Farming staff share favorite 4-H memories

To celebrate National 4-H Week, members of the Successful Farming team are sharing their favorite memories of being in 4-H.

Karen Jones, Executive Editor, Machinery

I was a 10-year member of the Roanoke Happy Hustlers in Illinois. I took nearly every project available except for showing livestock. My favorites were public speaking, child care (the picture is of a state fair champion child care project from 1994), and foods. I also made a table lamp out of an old trumpet for electricity one year that I still use!

I’m now the leader of the same club where my daughter is starting her third year in 4-H, and I also volunteer on the food stand committee and sit on the county 4-H Foundation board. I credit my public speaking and leadership skills to my time in 4-H and enjoy watching the next generation “making the best better!”

Lauren Quinlan, Content Manager

As a member of the B&G Hustlers 4-H Club, my creative side truly began to thrive. I tried every project from foods and cake decorating to arts and crafts, scrapbooking and photography. I also loved exhibiting all kinds of projects, including my show steers, at the fair each summer. One of my favorite memories is serving as my county's fair queen. I got to interact with members, pass out awards at the livestock shows and eat all the fair food my heart desired while sporting a crown and sash. 

Jodi Henke, Retired National Radio Editor/Host

I was in 4-H for nine years. My most favorite memories include going to the Iowa State Fair with our "Share the Fun" skit and showing steers and heifers at various cattle shows throughout the years.

My least favorite memory is doing the record books. I'm sure I'm not alone in that one!

The photo above is me with my Charolais calf somewhere back in the 1970s. My very first two calves were a Charolais named Mindy and a Hereford named Taffy. Taffy was so short and fat, and she let me sit on her.

Diana Weesner, Editorial Production Manager

I was in 4-H in Indiana, but before I was old enough to be in 4-H, I was the Tipton County 4-H Princess. I think I was in first grade, maybe 1978.

When I was old enough to join a club I didn't live on a farm to raise or show animals. I did really fun, but basic home ec type projects which I look back on now as life-skills. I made entries like gift wrapping and macrame. It was the 80's after all and macrame was big! I'll have you know I got a grand champion ribbon on my white plant hanger with blue beads and I can still wrap a present better than about anyone in my family.

Dave Mowitz, Retired Executive Editor, Machinery & Technology

I started with 4-H at the age of 8 (you were allowed to enter that early in those days), continuing a proud tradition in the family, as my sister and four brothers were all in 4-H.

I showed cattle (my father's cattle out of the feedlot ... not club calves like kids show today) and hogs and I participated in public speaking and demonstrations. One year my family brought a total of 25 cattle to the county fair and six cattle to the state fair.

One lesson I learned in 4-H was to never allow a stubborn steer to prevent you from teaching it to lead with a halter, even if that meant being drug across the feedlot, repeatedly, for days on end.