Wyatt Starck used to be a shy kid. At age 9, during his first year of 4-H, the thought of speaking in front of a crowd terrified him. Ten years later, with three terms as club president under his belt, Starck loves public speaking so much that he’s considering a career in politics.
He still remembers wondering what he’d gotten himself into that first year. An annual 4-H requirement involved teaching his club members, parents and leaders about one of his projects. Perhaps even scarier was the fair, when he’d have to answer questions in the ring from a livestock judge with an entire audience looking on.
Years of practice in 4-H brought Starck out of his shell. By the time he was a young teen, he decided to take things a step further.
“When I ran for vice president of my club, I had to give a speech, and it turned out I could make the audience laugh,” he says. “Realizing I could engage them boosted my confidence, and now even serious talks aren’t scary anymore.”
Most people associate 4-H with county fairs, blue ribbons and raising livestock. But Kim Eastwood, 4-H youth development specialist for Weld County, says the program’s mission goes deeper.
“The goal of 4-H is to prepare youth for whatever comes next: college, trade school or the workforce,” she says. “We want to equip them with the skills and tools to succeed as adults.”
Wyatt Starck.
Projects for different interests
While 4-H originated in 1902 to teach children farming techniques, the program has expanded to offer nearly 50 projects today. Youth ages 8 to 18 can sign up, and youngsters ages 5 to 7 can join Cloverbuds, an introductory 4-H program offered by some clubs, often with its own meetings and activities.
Those interested in animal projects outside of raising livestock might compete in dog agility or design a poster in the horseless horse project, which lets kids learn about horses without having their own. Consumer science projects let kids try their hand at clothing design, decorate cakes or learn about food and nutrition, while mechanical and STEM projects include model rocketry, woodworking and computer science. Natural resources projects focus on sportfishing and outdoor adventures, while the communication, arts and leisure category includes projects exploring leadership, filmmaking and ceramics.
Kids in non-animal projects typically receive manuals in spring, after which they can work through lessons with an adult helper or attend county workshops led by a project leader. Projects culminate in a final exhibit, often a model or poster on something they learned.
Most kids enter their exhibit at a county fair, though some choose to display their work at a library or science fair. They also have the option to participate in a judging interview, which gives them a chance to practice conversational skills with an adult in a low-pressure setting.
Weld County 4-H members volunteering
with the Weld Food Bank.
Learning adult skills
Sharel Cameron, a 4-H leader and Windsor resident now raising fourth-generation 4-H kids, participated in catch-it calf, pig and sheep contests with her brothers. Sponsors would set livestock loose in an arena, and participants lucky enough to catch an animal could keep it for their projects.
“Catch-it contests were how we were able to afford our animals,” Cameron says.
Today her kids are learning the same sense of responsibility through Larimer County 4-H. Her 15-year-old daughter, Willow, shoots archery, while her son Walker, who aged out of the program two years ago, serves as a shooting sports leader.
“At one point, Walker competed in five different disciplines within shooting sports, so we were attending five practices a week,” Cameron recalls.
Walker had to learn to manage his time, and it paid off. He qualified for the 4-H Shooting Sports National Championship all four years as a senior member.
4-H kids do more than attend meetings and practices. They keep detailed record books, tracking income, expenses, annual goals and plans for achieving them.
“Kids acquire skills in budgeting, communication, goal setting and, sometimes, losing gracefully,” Eastwood says. “All of these things build successful adults.”
Lessons in livestock
Livestock projects demand daily care, rain or shine. Starck, who was raised on farms in Loveland and Mead, shows market steers and breeding heifers born on the family farm.
He’s there every step of the way, from breeding and branding to handling his cattle so they become docile. Then comes the bathing. It turns out cowlicks were so named for a reason: It’s tricky getting cow hair to lie flat. Getting animals comfortable with after-bath blowouts is another essential part of show prep.
“I like being there from the time they’re born to the time they’re sold,” Starck says. “It gives you a sense of appreciation and gratitude.”
At the fair, animals undergo vet checks and weigh-ins before being allowed on the property. Then comes the bathing, clipping and pen cleaning as exhibitors wait for their chance in the show ring. Judging criteria differs by species and whether the animal is destined for breeding or market.
Most market animals head to the livestock sale, where Starck might make a $5,000 profit off a steer in an average year. It’s an emotional event, but saying goodbye is another 4-H lesson.
“You go out there, put on a big smile and show off how proud you are of your animal,” he says. “It’s sad in some ways, but you get to look back at how far you’ve come to get there.”
And for Starck, it also signals the start of gearing up for next year.
“Cattle are my favorite thing,” he says. “I don’t think there’ll ever be a time in my life when I don’t have a herd of cows.”
A 4-H judge helps kids learn proper showing skills. Photo by Flying M Photography.
County fair: the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
Everyone’s hard work pays off when fair rolls around. Kids in Northern Colorado exhibit at the Larimer, Weld or Boulder county fairs, depending on which county their 4-H club belongs to.
When the gates open on day one, kids wrangle livestock into line for vet inspections, make a break for the 4-H building to see what color ribbon adorns their consumer project or sneak off for a ride on the Ferris wheel.
For Starck, gearing up for his last county fair as a 4-H member is bittersweet. It won’t be quite the same attending next year without his own animals. But he says helping his two younger brothers and cheering them on from the stands might be even better. 4-H will always be a part of who he is.
“At the end of the day, it’s not just about the ribbons you win; it’s about the experience you have, the community you build and the friends you make along the way,” he says.
How to Get Involved
Interested families should take the following steps:
Find a club. County extension websites at larimer.gov/extension/larimer-county-4-h and weld4h.org list monthly meeting locations, days and times as well as contact information and whether clubs are accepting new members. Families can reach out to their local extension office for recommendations or contact club leaders to try out a meeting.
Choose a project from the list at co4h.colostate.edu/programs-projects.
Enroll online from early October to Feb. 15 in Larimer County and March 1 in Weld County. Enrollment outside of these dates may be possible, but late enrollees cannot exhibit at that year’s fair.
Pay the enrollment fee of $50 per youth member.
Complete the following requirements each year:
• Attend a minimum number of meetings, designated by each club.
• Give a project demonstration.
• Participate in a community service project.
• Complete and exhibit atleast one project, including a completed record book.
