New options let 4-Hers be ‘wild and free’ in Butler County

Kristen Sindelar
Jul 11, 2023
Jul 11, 2023

Butler County 1.jpg — Butler County 4-H members know how to work hard and work together.
Submitted photo

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

When you go to the Butler County Fair July 11-16, you may notice a few changes in the 4-H department. More 4-H projects line the static exhibit building. New livestock families are exhibiting animals. Even the 4-H show schedule has been tweaked.

kAmp== E96D6 492?86D C6G62= 9@H E96 c\w AC@8C2> :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ 92D 366? 6IA2?5:?8]k^Am

kAm“%96 A6@A=6 2?5 A2DD:@? @7 qFE=6C r@F?EJ >2<6 E96 AC@8C2> 6I46=] (6 92G6 8C@H? DF3DE2?E:2==J E9:D =2DE J62C[” D2:5 p=:6D92 |6FD49[ c\w 2DD:DE2?E 2E }63C2D<2 tIE6?D:@? :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ] $96 3C:?8D 96C @H? A2DD:@? E@ E96 c\w AC@8C2> 2D 2 7@C>6C `_\J62C c\w >6>36C @7 {:?4@=? r@F?EJ]k^Am

k2D:56 4=2DDlQE?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E E?4>D\:?=:?6\C6=4@?E6?E\:?7@ E?4>D\:?=:?6\2=:8?>6?E\=67E E?4>D\:?=:?6\H:5E9\92=7Qmk9cmq:@ q@Ik^9cmkAmkDEC@?8mp3@FE $E6A92?:6 q6==[ ?6H c\w *@FE9 s6G6=@A>6?E t5F42E@C :? r@=72I 2?5 qFE=6C r@F?E:6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am kAmq6== 8C6H FA @? 96C 72>:=J’D 72C> ?@CE962DE @7 }@CE9 q6?5[ }63] pD 2 J@FE9[ D96 H2D 24E:G6 2D 2 s@586 r@F?EJ c\w >6>36C] q6== 2?5 96C 9FD32?5 p52> =:G6 @? 2? 24C6286 ?@CE9 @7 #:49=2?5] %96:C EH@ 3@JD 2C6 c\w >6>36CD :? r@=72I r@F?EJ]k^Am kAm%9:D :D q6==’D 7:CDE 6IA6C:6?46 2D 2? 6>A=@J66 @7 6IE6?D:@?] !C6G:@FD=J[ D96 E2F89E ADJ49@=@8J 7@C `d J62CD 2E qC:2C r=:77 &?:G6CD:EJ :? $:@FI r:EJ[ x@H2] $96 2=D@ D6CG65 2D E96 }pxp u24F=EJ pE9=6E:4 #6AC6D6?E2E:G6D 7@C E96 &?:G6CD:EJ] q6== D2:5 E92E E96C6 2C6 “=@ED @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ 8C@H 2?5 36 :?G@=G65 :? >2?J 5:776C6?E 2DA64ED @7 6IE6?D:@? 2?5 c\w]” u@C 96C[ E96 >@DE 6I4:E:?8 A2CE @7 DE2CE:?8 96C ;@3 92D 366? >66E:?8 E96 A6@A=6 2?5 H@C<:?8 H:E9 E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Amk^2D:56m

kAm}63C2D<2 tIE6?D:@? :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ 2=D@ 92D 2 ?6H 7246] $E6A92?:6 q6== :D E96 ?6H c\w J@FE9 56G6=@A>6?E 65F42E@C 7@C 3@E9 qFE=6C 2?5 r@=72I 4@F?E:6D] $96 @C:8:?2E6D 7C@> }@CE9 q6?5[ }63C2D<2[ 3FE =:G6D ?62C #:49=2?5 H:E9 96C 9FD32?5 2?5 EH@ 3@JD]k^Am

kAmq6==’D AC6G:@FD 6IA6C:6?46 2D 2 4@==686 AC@76DD@C 7@C `d J62CD 2E qC:2C r=:77 &?:G6CD:EJ :? $:@FI r:EJ[ x@H2[ H:== 36 2? 2DD6E E@ E96 6IE6?D:@? AC@8C2> 2?5 :ED 6>A92D:D @? 4@==686 C625:?6DD] $96 :D 4FCC6?E=J :? E96 “@3D6CG:?8” DE286 3FE :D 6I4:E65 E@ 36 :?G@=G65 E96 >2?J 5:776C6?E 2DA64ED @7 6IE6?D:@? 2?5 c\w]k^Am

kAm“x 2> 6I4:E65 E@ >66E 6G6CJ3@5J 2?5 H@C< E@86E96C E@ >2<6 2 36EE6C 6?G:C@?>6?E 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ 7@C @FC J@FE9[” q6== D2:5]k^Am

Butler County 2.jpg — Becca Podolak, left, Lucy Podolak, Joshua Palik and Mara Yindrick take a break during the 2022 Butler County Fair.
Submitted photo

kAm|@C6 E92? a__ J@FE9 ;@:?65 c\w :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ E9:D J62C] (9:=6 E96 6?C@==>6?E 5625=:?6 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 72:C H2D yF?6 `d[ E96 >:DD:@? E@ :?4C62D6 2H2C6?6DD 23@FE c\w 925 2=C625J :?E6?D:7:65 :? y2?F2CJ] u@C 6I2>A=6[ E9@D6 H9@ 6?C@==65 :? c\w 3642>6 6=:8:3=6 7@C 5C2H:?8Dj AC:K6D H6C6 5@?2E65 3J =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D[ E96 qFE=6C r@F?EJ c\w r@F?4:= 2?5 E96 qFE=6C r@F?EJ u2:C q@2C5] |6FD49 2=D@ 96=5 2 c\w C64CF:E>6?E ?:89E 2E #F?K2] q642FD6 @7 E96D6 6IEC2 C64CF:E:?8 677@CED[ qFE=6C r@F?EJ 92D >2?J ?6H c\w 72>:=:6D]k^Am

kAmx? 255:E:@?[ 2 ?6H c\w 4=F3 7@C>65 :? y2?F2CJ] %96 {:EE=6 #2D42=D c\w r=F3 >66ED :? s2G:5 r:EJ[ }63C2D<2[ 2?5 7:==D 2 G@:5 7@C E96 >2?J c\w >6>36CD H9@ =:G6 E96C6]k^Am

kAm“}@H A6@A=6 H@?’E 92G6 E@ EC2G6= @FED:56 @7 E@H? E@ 8@ E@ 4=F3 >66E:?8D[” D2:5 |6FD49]k^Am

kAm~7 E96 ?:?6 c\w 4=F3D :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ[ EH@ 2C6 AC@;64E\7@4FD65] %96:C 2C62D @7 DA64:2= :?E6C6DE 2C6 D9@@E:?8 DA@CED 2?5 9@CD6]k^Am

Butler County 3.jpg — Ann Dobesh, right, teaches how to properly cut with a rotary blade at a Butler County 4-H workshop.
Submitted photo

kAm|2?J @7 E96 c\w 4=F3D 2C6 =:G6DE@4<\@C:6?E65[ H9:49 C67=64ED 324< @? E96 24E:G:E:6D 92AA6?:?8 :? E96 qFE=6C r@F?EJ c\w AC@8C2>] ~? yF?6 a`\aa[ qFE=6C r@F?EJ H2D C6AC6D6?E65 3J >F=E:A=6 E62>D 2E E96 !C6>:6C p?:>2= $4:6?46 tG6?E W!p$tX 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=? 42>AFD] !p$t :D 2 DE2E6H:56 c\w =:G6DE@4< ;F58:?8 4@?E6DE]k^Am

People are also reading…

Propagating the prairie: Couple creates business out of raising native plants
Cattle-station cookbook helps disaster
Wisconsin popular destination for turkeys
Back to grass: Focused on conservation, Midwest farmers return cropland to prairie state
How Mitchell-based Trail King powers heavy haul across North America
Iowa pork producer grows with focus on efficiency
From the ground up: Jade Jandel builds his cattle herd on functionality, longevity
Missouri legislature extends ag tax credits
Buyer beware: Problem cows, accessories sold separately
Speaking for agriculture: College student finds her calling an ag advocacy
2026 Wisconsin Dairy Breakfasts
Breakfast offers ‘majestic’ chance to talk dairy
Cook shares classic chicken and cookie recipes with a twist
Fickle weather creates field challenges
100-year-old veteran recalls battles of World War II

kAm!C:@C E@ E96 4@F?EJ 72:C[ qFE=6C r@F?EJ 96=5 2 @?6\52J D9@H>2?D9:A 4=:?:4 7@C 6249 =:G6DE@4< DA64:6D[ 6I46AE 4@>A2?:@? 2?:>2=D] t249 9@FC[ 2 ?6H DA64:6D D6DD:@? 3682? D@ E92E J@FE9 4@F=5 =62C? 9@H E@ AC@A6C=J D9@H DH:?6[ A@F=ECJ[ 3667[ D966A[ 8@2ED[ C233:E 2?5 9@CD6D]k^Am

kAmqFE qFE=6C r@F?EJ @776CD D@ >F49 >@C6 E92? 2?:>2= D4:6?46 AC@;64ED] pD |6FD49 D2:5[ “p =@E @7 A6@A=6 E9:?< 23@FE 4@F?EJ 72:C 2?5 2DD@4:2E6 :E H:E9 =:G6DE@4<] %96C6’D 2 H9@=6 5:776C6?E D:56 E@ c\w]”k^Am

Butler County 4.jpg — Bailey Topil and Atley Topil use shaving cream for their marble painting creations at a 4-H workshop in Butler County.
Submitted photo

kAm%96 DF>>6C H@C<D9@AD 2E }63C2D<2 tIE6?D:@? :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ :?EC@5F465 J@FE9 E@ E9:D @E96C D:56 @7 c\w 2?5 7@==@H65 qFE=6C r@F?EJ’D c\w E96>6 E@ =6E <:5D 36 “H:=5 2?5 7C66 :? ’ab]”k^Am

kAm|6FD49 D2:5 E92E >@C6 H@C<D9@AD H6C6 9@DE65 E9:D J62C E92? :? E96 A2DE[ 6DA64:2==J 7@C 4=@G6C <:5D 286D d\f] u:G6 5:776C6?E H@C<D9@AD H6C6 C6D6CG65 ;FDE 7@C 4=@G6C <:5Di r=@G6C z:5 s2J r2>A[ p?:>2= $4:6?46i !2CED @7 2 u2C> p?:>2=[ u:CDE p:5 2?5 $276EJ[ s2:CJ %2DE:?8 2?5 '688:6 pCE !C:?E:?8]k^Am

kAm%96 2??F2= c\w uF? s2J E@@< fd J@FE9 286D e\`_ “pC@F?5 E96 (@C=5]” u:G6 4@?E:?6?ED—tFC@A6[ p7C:42[ pD:2[ pFDEC2=:2 2?5 $@FE9 p>6C:42—H6C6 6IA=@C65 2E D6A2C2E6 24E:G:EJ DE2E:@?D] {F?49 H2D 7C@> }@CE9 p>6C:42[ H:E9 2? p?E2C4E:4 3C2:? 3C62< 762EFC:?8 2 }2E:@?2= v6@8C2A9:4 G:56@]k^Am

kAm“(6 2C6 ECJ:?8 E@ 3C:?8 :? >@C6 5:G6CD6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C @FC J@FE9[” |6FD49 D2:5]k^Am

kAm%96 !:ñ2E2 (@C<D9@A 2=D@ 925 >F=E:\4F=EFC2= :?7=F6?46D] |6I:4@ ?2E:G6 |2C:2 r2?EF w:?6D[ CFC2= AC@DA6C:EJ }63C2D<2 6IE6?D:@? 65F42E@C[ E2F89E J@FE9 9@H E@ >2<6 2 A2A6C >â49é A:ñ2E2] $96 2=D@ 6IA=2:?65 E96 9:DE@CJ 2?5 >62?:?8 369:?5 E96 A2CEJ EC25:E:@?]k^Am

kAm%92JD $:=G2[ H9@ :D E96 7@@5[ ?FEC:E:@? 2?5 962=E9 65F42E@C 2E }63C2D<2 tIE6?D:@? :? qFE=6C r@F?EJ[ 25565 96C @H? 4F=EFC2= 6IA6C:6?46D 7C@> qC2K:=] $96 E2F89E 2 q2<6 2?5 +@@> H@C<D9@A]k^Am

kAm“z:5D ;@:?65 FD G:2 K@@> D@ E96J 4@F=5 =62C? 2C@F?5 E96:C @H? <:E496?D[” |6FD49 D2:5] %9:D H2D E96 7:CDE E:>6 qFE=6C r@F?EJ 92D EC:65 E96 q2<6 2?5 +@@> >6E9@5 @7 56=:G6CJ]k^Am

kAmp? 2CE H@C<D9@A 6?4@FC2865 J@FE9 E@ 36 “H:=5 2?5 7C66” :? E96:C 4C62E:G:EJ] %96 w@E |6DD r2?G2D 4=2DD 6?4@FC2865 J@FE9 E@ >2<6 2 >6DD H:E9 2 F?:BF6 A2:?E:?8 E649?:BF6] pE 2?@E96C H@C<D9@A[ qFE=6C r@F?EJ A2CE?6C65 H:E9 E96 q@?6 rC66< |FD6F> @7 p8C2C:2? pCE :? s2G:5 r:EJ] !2CE:4:A2?ED AC@5F465 2CEH@C< :?DA:C65 3J E96:C 96C:E286]k^Am

kAmp55:E:@?2= H@C<D9@AD :?4=F565 D6H:?8 A:==@H42D6D[ A6CD@?2=:K:?8 2 |2D@? ;2C =2>A[ E:6 5J:?8 2 E\D9:CE 328 H:E9 DAC2J A2:?E[ H@@5H@C<:?8 2?5 H6=5:?8[ 2D H6== 2D =62C?:?8 23@FE 5C@?6 FD6 :? 28C:4F=EFC6[ v!$[ A9@E@8C2A9J 2?5 >@56=:?8]k^Am

kAm!C@G:5:?8 2 H:56 C2?86 @7 AC@;64E @AE:@?D H2D 6DA64:2==J :>A@CE2?E E@ 6IA@D6 ?6H c\w 72>:=:6D E@ 2== E92E c\w 92D E@ @776C]k^Am

kAm“(6 92G6 2 =@E @7 ?6H >6>36CD 2?5 C6EFC?:?8 >6>36CD[ D@ H6 =@@<65 7@C H2JD 7@C E96> E@ C62==J 86E :?G@=G65 2?5 6>3C246 E96 c\w AC@8C2>[ H96E96C @FE :? E96 =:G6DE@4< 32C? @C :? E96 DE2E:4 6I9:3:E 3F:=5:?8[” |6FD49 D2:5]k^Am

kAm$4965F=6 492?86D H:== >2<6 :E A@DD:3=6 7@C c\w’6CD E@ 6I9:3:E :? >@C6 2C62D 5FC:?8 E96 qFE=6C r@F?EJ u2:C] %96 4F=:?2CJ 492==6?86 2?5 72D9:@? D9@H H6C6 96=5 E96 H66< AC:@C E@ 72:C] %96 9@CD6 D9@H H2D >@G65 E@ yF=J `` D@ :E ?@ =@?86C 4@:?4:565 H:E9 E9C66 @E96C D9@HD] |6FD49 9@A6D E92E E96D6 25;FDE>6?ED H:== 36?67:E E96 J@FE9 2?5 2==@H E96> E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? 2== E96J H2?E E@]k^Am

kAmp3@G6 2==[ |6FD49 H2?ED E96 <:5D E@ C62==J 92G6 2 =@E @7 7F? 2E E96 72:C 2?5 :? c\w 3J 86EE:?8 “H:=5 2?5 7C66 :? ’ab]”k^Am

Reporter Kristen Sindelar has loved agriculture her entire life, coming from a diversified farm with three generations working side-by-side in northeastern Nebraska. Reach her at Kristen.Sindelar@midwestmessenger.com.