4-H Helps Pike Youth Follow Their Dreams.

“You can’t stuff a great life into a small dream.”-H. Jackson Brown.

    The Pike County 4-H Council gave fourteens 4-H Teens an opportunity to explore a place where dreams are made through Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference.    4-H Teen Leaders from all of the Pike County and Pikeville High Schools made up this group of aspiring leaders, six high schools all together. 

Of this delegation, one was black, one was Asian and twelve were white.  Seven hundred teens gathered at the University of Kentucky for this youth leadership program.  The theme for the conference was “Leadership & Citizenship #redefineky4h”.  Dynamic speakers, career oriented workshops and fun activities made for a great week of learning during this annual conference.

     One of the big dream for 4-H youth is to reach the “Gold” in the Kentucky 4-H Achievement Record and Pike County’s very own, Kiersten Dotson won the 4-H Gold Award.   Winning this earned her $250.00 for the 4-H Teen Conference and a trip to National 4-H Club Congress in Atlanta, Georgia!  Kiersten will be traveling to this conference with 4-H members from all over the country in November.  She stated, “My life will never be the same because of the many wonderful things that I got to experience through 4-H.  I’ll give back to my community and 4-H by taking the team building skills and all the incredible life skills that I gain…”  This Belfry High School 4-H member has attained a lot of championships through 4-H participation.  She was a county champion in woodworking, photography, and upcycling projects.  At the Kentucky State Fair, Kiersten competed in the 4-H State poultry Contest for four years and represented our commonwealth during the National Livestock Show in Louisville.  She also won the State 4-H Avian Bowl scoring 2^nd place.  She summarized her 4-H experience in these words, “Winning the State (4-H) Poultry Judging Contest, it made me realize that I can achieve my dreams.”

     Two Pike County youth achieved recognition by being selected to represent District One on the Kentucky 4-H State Teen Council!  At this event, Emily Musick of Shelby Valley and Evan Ratliff of Pikeville High were named to this state leadership council.  Both had to go through interviews and realized a dream when they obtained this positions starting this fall.  Both Emily and Evan were recognized at this event as incoming leaders.   Emily, is a seven year 4-H member as well as President of the Pike County 4-H Teen Club.   She won the 4-H Silver Achievement Award and stated, “My most outstanding 4-H experience has been my trip to the Kentucky State Fair.   …the experience is amazing.  I got to travel and room with people of the same interest, since they compete in the same categories.  I got to explore the fairgrounds with friends in my 4-H and get closer to them.  I made memories that will last a lifetime.”  Evan, a six year 4-H member and a Bronze 4-H Achievement Winner, commented, “Don’t be scared to give your input in life.   My goal in life is to become a pediatrician and go to the University of Kentucky.”

     Three of the Pike 4-H leaders attending received recognition for their Bronze Achievement Award.   Four other Pike County 4-H Teens received the Clover Level 4 Award.  Two other teens attending the conference had this to say, “Don’t live to other expectations of you just be you.  The personality things we do (at 4-H Teen Conference) there taught me that I can accept me for me.   My goal are to be a lawyer.-Cassie Roberts.  “Attendance at the 4-H Teen Conference helped me network with other teens with similar interests and cultural backgrounds. Both of which can be hard in East KY”.  – Maya Stiles.

        Pike County 4-H is helping our teens learn life skills and leadership by help them put their goals into a big dream.  We are making the best, better!