4-H Builds Confidence, Teaches Life Skills

Karla Rickett’s family was not rich by any means. Her parents taught her to work for anything she wanted.

So when she was given a Holstein steer, that opened a new world of opportunity for her.

Rickett began showing the steer in 4H, then later acquired a heifer so there would be future stock.

Rickett showed the steer, then her heifer, and then transitioned into showing rabbits. Those experiences, in addition to social opportunities in 4H, built Rickett’s self-esteem.

“I was a shy person. It really helped me to be there with the 4-H kids,” she said.

Rickett also learned patience along the way. Her parents did not help her with her animals, or take the lead. She credits them with making her do the work herself, steadily plodding along.

“Showing animals wasn’t that difficult, but getting the heifer to break to lead was hard,” she said.

She also learned that slowly working with the animals — and being patient — would pay off.

“I learned that a cow won’t work for you if your parents do it for you,” she said.

Rickett’s parents always encouraged her to work to achieve her dreams.

“You want it, you strive for it, you work for it,” she said.

Rickett lived out that motto wholeheartedly in 4-H. Because she applied herself and jumped in with both feet, she gained more confidence, more patience and bettered her people skills.

After she married, she and her husband encouraged her stepson to join 4-H. Rickett then became a rabbit project leader and helped pass along her knowledge to other youngsters eager to learn.

Rickett already believed in the program, but witnessed a second success story after she saw her stepson involved in 4-H.

Her stepson was shy, but after about a year in the program, his self-esteem grew and he became vice president of the group.

Rickett believes that the 4-H program helps youth in many ways, preparing them for the future.

“There’s definitely a lot of opportunities,” she said.

As a young country girl, Donna Hobbs quickly learned that 4H afforded all kinds of learning experiences, from picking up valuable skills to having the chance to have fun with others.

“We lived way out in the country, so 4-H was a good social opportunity,” she said.

Hobbs participated in 4-H from about age 8 to her teenage years, and honed in on learning more about cooking and sewing. Members learned a great deal from sewing projects, as they had to create the entire project, model and explain it at fashion shows.

The work was displayed at the shows, as well as the McDonald County Fair.

Members would meet at someone’s home to work on projects. Hobbs gained cooking and sewing skills, “things that you use in everyday life,” she said.

4-H became a lifelong interest for Hobbs, as well as her family. Hobbs went on to serve as a 4-H leader and a judge.

Her husband worked as an agriculture teacher, and their children were involved in 4-H, showing swine.

In later years, her husband became an extension agent so they’ve all followed that line of work and interest, Hobbs said.

Today, their daughter works for Kansas State as an extension agent.

Those who were involved at an early age believe that 4-H can be valuable and rewarding. From learning patience, to gaining social skills, those traits can help young adults in their daily lives and future careers.

“You want it, you strive for it, you work for it.”

Karla Rickett

Former 4-H member