4-H youth develop ‘Opportunity for All’ livestock show
4-H’s focus on youth leadership was put into action when Emma Germscheid and Ellen Hartman attended the Lead to Change conference in Washington, D.C., and returned with an innovative idea: Understanding that traditional livestock shows could present challenges for peers with disabilities, they developed the “Opportunity for All” livestock show.
The event in Le Center featured dairy goats, meat goats and sheep, providing participants with hands-on experience in a supportive environment. Twenty 4-H youth leaders, equipped with disability etiquette training, served as mentors.
A dedicated sensory area allowed participants to take breaks and refocus when needed. Trace Van Erp, a current 4-H’er and volunteer, mentored Gretchen McConnell (pictured).
For one participant, the event held special significance. She had previously shown livestock before a disability limited her participation at county fairs, and this inclusive environment was an opportunity to reconnect. “The most rewarding part of this experience was making the participants smile,” said Ava Mullerleile, a Le Sueur County 4-H’er who volunteered at the event.
Highlights
- People don’t have to be mental health professionals to support friends, neighbors and colleagues in times of need. But they may not know how. Extension helped bridge this gap by providing in-person Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET) training in Le Sueur.
- Master Gardeners of Le Sueur County partnered with Le Sueur-Henderson Community Education and raised funds to create a Ready, Set, Grow! Children’s Garden in Residence program at a former armory site.
- U of M Farm Family of the Year: The Ponwith family: Ryan and Emily use a mix of strip-till, no-till and cover crops to keep their soils healthy and productive. They grow corn and soybeans, custom plant and harvest, raise cattle for local beef sales and actively involve their kids in much of their farming business to build a legacy that will long outlive them.
- The Svoboda-Hoefs family farm in Le Center, led by Ruth Hoefs, collaborates with Extension on small grains research and hosts field days on their farm to help share research findings and best management practices with farmers from across the region.
- 4-H in Le Sueur County prepared youth for 4-H officer roles, whether they were new to the roles or wanted more advanced training. Hands-on activities helped them train and practice various leadership roles.
- The Cleveland Pioneers 4-H Club of Le Sueur County provided healthy snack foods for their elementary school as part of the 4-H Food Partner Challenge, working with the food service manager to help those unable to afford a snack during the school day.
Le Sueur County office
Extension has 14 regional offices supporting all 87 counties in Minnesota.
Le Sueur County partners with Extension to deliver practical education and research you can use at home, at work and in your community. More about Extension in our county.
About the Minnesota 87 project
Spend time in any Minnesota county, and you will almost certainly encounter University of Minnesota Extension. Our faculty and staff, volunteers, participants, alumni and partners are woven into the fabric of rural, urban and suburban Minnesota life. This project showcases Extension in action through photos, stories and a sampling of the many ways Extension has touched the lives of people in every county.