MARC JACOBS
Hutch Post
As the Reno County Fair gets underway, two Reno County 4-H ambassadors are encouraging the community to take a closer look at everything 4-H has to offer, saying there's truly "something for everyone."
Ella Gillespie of the Thomadora 4-H Club and Tagan Metzger of the Western Reno County 4-H Club appeared on the BW Morning Show to talk about their experiences in 4-H, the upcoming fair and new opportunities for the public to get involved.
The two are among six Reno County 4-H ambassadors who help promote the organization throughout the year.
"Ambassadors plan different things around the year that 4-H'ers and non-4-H'ers can do," Gillespie said. "We also spread the word about 4-H to get others involved."
Both teens said their 4-H journeys began at age seven, although younger children can participate as Clover Buds before becoming full members.
Metzger, who will be a junior at Fairfield High School this fall, said her interests have evolved from photography and baking to exhibiting cattle across Kansas.
"I started with photography and baking, and I've moved up to showing cattle all across the state of Kansas," Metzger said.
Gillespie, who will be a sophomore at Buhler High School, has focused on fashion, cooking, leadership, demonstrations and photography. She said the demonstrations project has been especially valuable because it builds confidence in public speaking.
Participants prepare speeches or demonstrations for judges, who provide feedback and rankings.
"It helps my public speaking skills in front of others," Gillespie said.
The ambassadors stressed that modern 4-H extends far beyond traditional agriculture.
"I would tell families to actively enroll their child in whatever they see their child wanting," Metzger said. "Whether that's Legos, rockets or even the bug project, there's a place in 4-H for everybody and every kid."
The public will have numerous opportunities to experience those projects during this year's Reno County Fair.
Gillespie recommends visiting on Saturday, when local businesses will offer hands-on educational classes tied to 4-H projects, including smoothie making, candle making, gardening and photography.
Metzger recommends Thursday, July 23, when static exhibits—including photography, foods, crafts and other projects—will be on display throughout the fairgrounds.
Fair Board President Bailey Born worked with local businesses to create the educational workshops as a way to introduce more community members to 4-H and encourage participation in future fairs. You can sign up for those classes on the Reno County Fair website at renocountyfair.com.
Those classes also connect with the fair's open class competitions, allowing community members who are not in 4-H to exhibit many of the same types of projects.
Another new addition this year is the Saturday evening benefit dinner and silent auction, with proceeds supporting Reno County 4-H programs and helping offset the costs of operating the county fair.
Monday evening remains one of the fair's signature events with the annual livestock premium auction.
For Metzger, who raises cattle, it's the culmination of a year's work.
She plans to sell a heifer named Dolly that she bred and raised herself.
"All the proceeds go back to the kid to help them fund their animals for the next year," she said.
Even Gillespie, who doesn't exhibit livestock, said the sale is one of her favorite events to attend.
"I always attend the livestock sale, and it is very fun, even just to watch," she said.
The ambassadors hope residents will take time to explore every corner of the fairgrounds, from the exhibit buildings to the livestock barns.
The barns and exhibit areas will be open daily from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m.
Their message to the community is simple.
"I would say just come out and see what you would like to see, and just enjoy the county fair with all of us kids," Gillespie said.
Metzger echoed that invitation in just a few words:
"There's something for everyone."