2024 marks the 100th year of Manitowoc County’s 4-H Club, and the skills and experience of its members are on full display at the County Fair.
Every year county fairs across the state showcase the accomplishments of hundreds of talented young 4-H members, and this year a century’s worth of history can be found in the Exhibition Building at the Manitowoc County Fair.
The Exhibition Center has scrapbooks for viewing depicting the history of the Manitowoc County 4-H club over the years.
It also displays member projects ranging from Lego robotics to artwork to basketry and everything in between.
Ross Westphalen, a former 4-H member and current dairy cattle judge at the fair, tells Seehafer News,
“I like to go through the Exhibitors Building at least once or twice. I just like to go see what the kids do.”
Seehafer News also had the opportunity to speak with Garrett Ullness at the fair, a 4-H Club member studying Dairy Science and Agricultural Business at UW-Madison.
He feels 4-H is extremely valuable to its young members.
With a smile on his face, he said, “I think the lessons we get taught are hard work, dedication, teamwork, and working with animals. My favorite part is being around animals.”
Ullness grew up on a farm, but he stressed that it’s not a requirement to join 4-H as many may assume.
While many 4-H members do grow up on farms, it is open to any child, not putting any barriers on who can join or what projects they can work on in 4-H.
He elaborated on this further, saying, “If you aren’t big into animals there’s also the arts and crafts, or growing plants in your gardens, or cookies and desserts. There’s endless possibilities in 4-H.”
Numerous county 4-H members have their hard work on display via animal shows, baking, and so much more at the Manitowoc County Fair.
This weekend, all their animals and other projects can be seen at the fairgrounds.