Alpena Area 4H Students Compete at 150th Alpena County Fair

4H has over 6.5 million participants each year and Alpena represents in a huge way. “All the kids have different opportunities through various programs and situations like the fair. They can test their life skills, things that they learn. 4H encourages kids to be outside of the box yet fit in, it’s about learning responsibility. At the end of every show, watching the kids see their accomplishments after their year project is finished,” Alpena 4H youth coordinator Michelle eagling said. Each club spends time together and pool ideas, resources and support for one another. “So, we have a few 4H clubs in Alpena County and our club is called 24 Carat. We are actually the biggest club in the county but we all we all do a little bit different things. So, we usually have several club meetings during the year and all these club decorations that you see are things that our club puts together throughout the year. And then when we get to fair, we make it all come to life. The time and effort that they put in is just incredible,” 4H parent Rachel Wetherhult said.

Most impressive is the children’s understanding that the majority of these animals are not pets and they are going on someone’s table. “This is my girls first year, it was teaching them a lot of dedication, knowing when to take care of their animals, how to take care of their animals, and knowing the process that their animals are going to be going to another family to feed them,” 4H parent Ashley Simpson said. Catching a glimpse of a horse in the arena doing up to par for tomorrow’s competition was a real treat. “When I was in the arena, I just was warming up our horse so that he didn’t get stiff and just warming him up and getting him a little trained for showmanship tomorrow and then speed racing on Thursday,” 4H competitor Adeline Matuzak said. Parents beam as their children excel and this very competitive extracurricular activity. “You can see the kids grow every single year. Their confidence and their patience, how to handle when things go well, being a good winner, when things don’t go well, keeping calm and patient with the animals,” 4H Parent Amy Matuzak said.