Metcalfe County High School sophomore has found herself on stage all over the area, performing for a variety of organizations. That ever-growing list has included the Kentucky 4-H Performing Arts Troupe and Leadership Board for the past two years. It’s perhaps an unusual departure for a national organization with its roots steeped for decades in agriculture, but it is part of a new generation of 4-H activities designed to draw more youth to the organization.  “When people think of 4-H, they think of livestock and boots and jeans – stuff like that,” says. “That’s a big part of 4-H, but I also think it has expanded so much with the Performing Arts Troupe and some of the other activities that go on like 4-H Camp. I think 4-H is a leadership-based program, so it’s not all about livestock. It’s about practicing your leadership skills and being able to go out and be a leader and work on team work and having a strong work ethic. The Performing Arts Troupe is a statewide part of Kentucky 4-H that culminates each year with performances at the Kentucky State Fair, 4-H Summit, 4-H Teen Conference, the Kentucky Volunteer Forum among others. She has been involved in 4-H as long as she can recall.  In the eighth grade she made the Performing Troupe roster for her freshman year of high school. Before that, her 4-H activities had been more traditional. The family has long had show goats and have been involved in the statewide country-ham competition, a country ham curing contest.  She has competed in communication, 4-H Country Ham, Middle School 4-H Club, High School 4-H Club and Livestock Club at the county level. She has also represented 4-H in the homecoming court. “It’s a really great experience, and I just love sharing my talent with all those other people that have the same talent and passion as me,” said the young lady. 4-H has helped me so much! I have made life long friends and learned a lot of different skills that I can use the rest of my life.