4-H

I have been in 4-H for 7 years now. I am involved in many different projects and several judging contests. 4-H is a lot of fun, and it is also a great way to make friends. One of my best friends, Jamie Wildschuetz, is also in 4-H, so we can see each other at 4-H events, and cheer each other one. Learning to balance time and to always to do your best no matter what, even if someone else always seems to win, are some of the lessons 4-H teaches, and there are probably more learning experiences than I've ever imagined, or want to imagine, coming up.

My projects include:

Clothing Construction. In this project, you make clothing articles, or other items that you sew. I have taken a few articles to the state fair. To take items to the state fair, you have to get a purple ribbon at the county fair.

Clothing Buymanship. In this project, you learn about buying clothes, and how to spend money economically. My family keeps a running list of what we buy, and at the end of the year we total how much we spent and how much we saved.

Arts & Crafts. You make items, such as a drawing or painting, some stichery, carving, or just a craft you found in a book.

Foods. This project lets you learn about how to cook and food safety. Entries at the fair include baked items, and posters about food safety. Last year I took one of my baked items, a plate of springerles (a German cookie), to the state fair.

Photography. My family does a lot with this project. It's more than taking pictures, though. You learn about aperatures and shutter speeds and how to take the best pictures you can, instead of just snapping pictures, and hoping they turn out. I have had two pictures at the state fair, and one in the 4-H calendar.

Gardening. I'm not taking this project this year because of the number of other projects I'm involved in, but I did last year. My family keeps track of what we plant and where, and if plants need to be moved, and what seeds didn't sprout very well. We also have several potted plants.

Knitting. This project was more of an experiment than anything. I don't really like knitting, but I've enrolled in it for a second year, and plan to make my grandma a scarf.

and Home Enviroment. In this project you redo a room, trying not to spend any more money than you have too. I'm going to repaint my bedroom, take out some furniture, and add some furniture so that I can have a room that's truly "mine".

Judging Contests:

This year has been a really crazy year for the judging contests because of budget cuts. The contests used to be held on the weekends of the state fair, but this year they have been relocated.

The photography judging contest was held in March. The team of Adam Works, Jamie Wildschuetz, Elizabeth Kreztmeier, and myself placed third in the state in the senior divistion. Last year, the senior photography team of Megan Hopkins, Jamie, Adam, and myself placed second.

I also participate in the FACS (Family And Consumer Science) contests. Before last year, I did the judging contest, but I'm now older than the age limit, so I am a team member on the quiz bowl. Last year, our team of Jamie, Jacque LaRue, Amanda Mentzer, and myself, got a bye in the round and lost in the second. This year, the contest will be in June, but our county won't be sending a team because of conflicts with the team members schedules.