Shea Whaley is a ninth-year member of the Wright Warriors 4-H Club in Eagle Grove. In that time, she’s says she’s learned a variety of things, but the most benefiial have been basic life skills like communication, leadership, and resume writing.
Yep, that’s right, resume writing. While that’s most likely not the first skill you think about someone learning in 4-H, it’s something Shea learned from taking advantage of the countless opportunities the esteemed club offers. One of those for Shea came over Thanksgiving in 2019. She wrote a resume which earned her an in-person interview, and eventually a trip to the National 4-H Conference held in Atlanta, GA. She was amongst hundreds of delegates from across the nation (about 18 from Iowa) and Portugal who spent time listening to speakers, attending mixers, touring Atlanta, visiting the History Center, and closing the event out with a semi-formal Gala.
“It was so much fun meeting new people and getting to know what other 4-H Clubs do,” said Shea.
While Shea brought back many new and interesting ideas with her from this conference, she was especially inspired by a program she heard about called Samaritan’s Feet, a nonprofit organization that collects gently used shoes to send to impoverished children in South Africa and around the world. Shea had planned to organize her own collection drive for the organization during the annual 4-H Fun Nite held each March in Wright County, but unfortunately, the event was held just after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic so her mission was unable to happen this year.
In April of 2021, she will have another amazing opportunity that came from taking the time to write a resume and show off the communications skills she’s learned from participating in county fair cattle shows, static entries, and working exhibits over the year. She has been selected to attend the National 4-H Conference in Washington, D.C. This trip will provided 4-Hers from all across the United States to learn more about our Nation’s government than 4-H. They will be staying at the National 4-H Conference Center, visiting the Capital, and meeting with the Senators to talk with them about current issues as well as 4-H and the impact it makes on young minds. Shea is highly anticipating this trip despite the fact she has already been to D.C. one other time through 4-H as part of a Citizen Focus trip.
These three are just a few of the possibilities kids have when they join 4-H. Whether you chose to participate in traveling adventures like Shea, or decide to focus your time and talents on things more locally like the Wright County Fair and State Fair entries, there’s a world of opportunities waiting for you, and Shea encourages you to take advantage of them. You never know what you will learn or discover as a new hobby.
One passion Shea discovered through 4-H that she might not have otherwise known she enjoyed was showing cattle. When she was in fifth grade, a family friend said he had a heifer she could show if they wanted. Shea decided to give it a try, and not only has she been showing cattle at the Wright County Fair and earned trips to show them at the Iowa State Fair, but she has also entered numerous other cattle shows not even associated with 4-H. She has competed in Iowa Junior Beef Breeds Association Jackpot Shows, Junior Nationals, and the AKSARBEN show to name just a few of the many she’s competed in over the years. Her brother, Quinn, a sixth year member of the Wright Warriors 4-H Club also shows cattle at these shows.
Other favorite areas of interest Shea has competed in at the county and State level through 4-H include photography, animal science, and vet science – but she has competed in a large majority of other divisions also available through 4-H.
“But what I’ve enjoyed most about being involved in 4-H is the opportunity to meet so many new people,” said Shea. “I wouldn’t have the friends I have today without it.”
The Wright Warriors meet the first Sunday of the month at 4 p.m. They are currently enrolling new members who are in the fourth through 12 grades. If you are interested, please call Allison Whaley, Paige Grandgeorge, or the Wright County Extension Office in Clarion.
