York County 4-H’ers ‘beyond ready’ for future

Kristen Sindelar
Aug 6, 2025
Aug 6, 2025

Facebook
Twitter
Bluesky
WhatsApp
SMS
Email
Print
Save

The graduating class of 2025 is “beyond ready” to begin college classes this fall. Being involved in 4-H has certainly helped prepare youth in York County for this next chapter in their lives by giving them a diverse set of life skills.

kAm%2?J2 rC2H7@C5[ 6IE6?D:@? 65F42E@C 2E }63C2D<2 tIE6?D:@? :? *@C< r@F?EJ[ D92C65 9@H c\w :D 5@:?8 D@ E9C@F89 :ED ?6H q6J@?5 #625J r2>A2:8?]k^Am

kAm“vC@F?565 :? @G6C EH@ 564256D @7 C6D62C49 :? !@D:E:G6 *@FE9 s6G6=@A>6?E W!*sX[ E96 42>A2:8? =6G6C286D E96 c\w %9C:G:?8 |@56= E@ 6BF:A J@F?8 A6@A=6 H:E9 6DD6?E:2= D<:==D DF49 2D =6256CD9:A[ C6D:=:6?46 2?5 252AE23:=:EJ[” 6IA=2:?65 rC2H7@C5] “qJ AC@G:5:?8 9:89\BF2=:EJ !*s AC@8C2>D E92E 6>A92D:K6 36=@?8:?8[ 56G6=@A>6?E2= C6=2E:@?D9:AD 2?5 J@FE9 6?8286>6?E[ c\w 6?DFC6D E92E A2CE:4:A2?ED 2C6 ?@E ;FDE C625J 3FE ‘36J@?5 C625J’ 7@C 7FEFC6 492==6?86D]”k^Am

kAm%96 8@2= @7 E96 ?2E:@?2= c\w q6J@?5 #625J r2>A2:8? :D E@ C6249 `_ >:==:@? J@FE9 3J a_b_] %96 }63C2D<2 c\w AC@8C2> 92D D6E 2 DE2E6H:56 8@2= E@ C6249 ` :? a J@FE9 :? }63C2D<2] *@C< r@F?EJ :D 5@:?8 :ED A2CE :? E96 42>A2:8? 3J 8C@H:?8 :ED @FEC6249 E@ gaT @7 E96 286\6=:8:3=6 J@FE9 :? :ED 4@F?EJ =2DE J62C[ FA 7C@> dbT E96 AC6G:@FD J62C] %96J C6249 J@FE9 E9C@F89 D49@@= 6?C:49>6?E AC@8C2>D[ 27E6CD49@@= AC@8C2>D[ DF>>6C 42>AD 2?5 EC25:E:@?2= c\w 4=F3 >6>36CD9:A]k^Am

kAmu@FC 8C25F2E:?8 *@C< r@F?EJ D6?:@CD C67=64E65 @? 9@H E96:C 6IA6C:6?46D :? c\w 92G6 >@=565 E96> 2?5 AC6A2C65 E96> 7@C E96 7FEFC6] rC2H7@C5 D2:5 E92E 6G6CJ D:?8=6 @?6 @7 E96D6 J@F?8 =25:6D 2C6 >6?E@C:?8 J@F?86C <:5D[ 2C6 962G:=J :?G@=G65 :? E96:C D49@@=D 2?5 uup 492AE6CD[ 2?5 2C6 =6256CD :? c\w 2?5 @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“%96:C DE2CE :? c\w 92D A@D:E:@?65 E96> E@ 36 C625J 7@C E9@D6 C@=6D[” D96 D2:5]k^Am

York County 4-H 1.jpg — Showing pigs every year in 4-H taught Harley Martin responsibility.
Submitted photo

kAmw2C=6J |2CE:?[ 52F89E6C @7 r9C:D 2?5 |:C2?52 |2CE:? @7 q6?65:4E[ }63C2D<2[ 92D 366? 2 >6>36C @7 E96 w:89 !@:?E {:G6DE@4< c\w r=F3 7@C D:I @7 96C `b J62CD :? c\w] $96 92D D6CG65 EH@ E6C>D 6249 2D D64C6E2CJ[ G:46 AC6D:56?E 2?5 AC6D:56?E @7 E96 4=F3]k^Am

kAm|2CE:? D2:5 E92E 36:?8 2 =6256C :? E96 4=F3 92D E2F89E 96C C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ[ DF49 2D D@CE:?8 6G6CJ@?6’D D4965F=6D E@ D6E >66E:?8 52E6D[ H@C<:?8 H:E9 J@F?86C <:5D 2?5 82:?:?8 4=F3 >6>36CD’ 2EE6?E:@? :7 E96J 2C6?’E =:DE6?:?8 5FC:?8 >66E:?8D]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 C6DA@?D:3:=:EJ H2D 3F:=E @G6C E96 J62CD[” |2CE:? D2:5]k^Am

kAm|2CE:? D2:5 D96 7@F?5 96C G@:46 E9C@F89 c\w[ D2J:?8 E92E D96 H2D D9J H96? D96 7:CDE DE2CE65 c\w] qJ E2=<:?8 H:E9 @E96C A6@A=6 2E E96 72:C @C :? 96C c\w 4=F3[ D96 92D >256 =:76=@?8 7C:6?5D 2?5 @G6C4@>6 96C D9J?6DD] %96 4@?7:56?46 2?5 AF3=:4 DA62<:?8 D<:==D |2CE:? 56G6=@A65 E9C@F89 c\w 92D 96=A65 96C E9C@F89@FE 9:89 D49@@=[ uup 2?5 ;@3 :?E6CG:6HD]k^Am

York County 4-H 2.jpg — Working with animals through 4-H and FFA has led Bailey Hall to a career as a large animal veterinarian.
Photo by Lindee’s Portraits

kAmq2:=6J w2== @7 |4r@@= yF?4E:@?[ }63C2D<2[ 2=D@ 4C65:ED 96C 6IA6C:6?46D :? c\w 7@C 3F:=5:?8 96C AF3=:4 DA62<:?8 D<:==D] %96 @=56DE @7 y2D@? 2?5 s2?2 w2==’D 7@FC 52F89E6CD[ w2== D2:5 E92E D96 @?=J H2?E65 E@ D9@H =:G6DE@4< H96? D96 ;@:?65 H96? d] qFE 96C A2C6?ED >256 DFC6 D96 EC:65 5:776C6?E AC@;64E 2C62D 2?5 4@?E6DED] xC@?:42==J[ 6G6? E9@F89 w2== “C62==J 92E65 5@:?8 DA66496D @C 2?JE9:?8 AF3=:4 DA62<:?8[” E9:D :D H96C6 96C =@G6 @7 c\w 92D 8C@H?[ D96 D2:5]k^Am

kAmw6C AF3=:4 DA62<:?8 D<:==D H6C6 DEC6?8E96?65 E9C@F89 c\w AC6D6?E2E:@? 4@?E6DED 2?5 DA6649 6G6?ED] w2== 2=D@ 49@D6 E@ :?E6CG:6H ;F586 7@C 96C @E96C AC@;64ED H96?6G6C A@DD:3=6] $96 92D 3F:=E C6=2E:@?D9:AD E9C@F89 6249 6IA6C:6?46]k^Am

kAm“s@:?8 5:776C6?E 4@?E6DED 3C@F89E >6 D@ >2?J 4@??64E:@?D E@ A6@A=6 :? @E96C 4@F?E:6D 2?5 24C@DD E96 DE2E6 E92E x H:== 496C:D9 7@C E96 C6DE @7 >J =:76[” D2:5 w2==[ 2 a_ad 8C25F2E6 @7 |4r@@= yF?4E:@? !F3=:4 $49@@=D]k^Am

kAmw2== 82:?65 =6256CD9:A D<:==D H96? 96C 72>:=J DE2CE65 E96 |4r=@G6C yF?4E:@? c\w r=F3 `b J62CD 28@] pD AC6D:56?E @7 E96 4=F3[ D96 :D C6DA@?D:3=6 7@C 8F:5:?8 E96 >@C6 E92? b_ J@FE9 >6>36CD H9@ 2C6 6286C E@ D9@H =:G6DE@4< 2?5 5@ c\w AC@;64ED]k^Am

York County 4-H 3.jpg — Josie Turnbull attributes her involvement in 4-H and FFA for her leadership skills and personal growth
Photo by Abby Miller Photography

kAm“%9C@F89 c\w[ x 92G6 AC@G6? >JD6=7 2D 2 =6256C[” w2== D2:5]k^Am

kAmy@D:6 %FC?3F==’D 72>:=J 2=D@ DE2CE65 2 4=F3 :? *@C< r@F?EJ[ E96 w2AAJ w@AA6CD c\w r=F3] %FC?3F== D2:5 D96 5@6D ?@E 6I24E=J C6>6>36C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D96 8@E :?E@ c\w 3642FD6[ 2D E96 J@F?86DE @7 7:G6 49:=5C6?[ D96 DA6?E 2 =@E @7 E:>6 7@==@H:?8 96C @=56C D:3=:?8D E@ =:G6DE@4< D9@HD 2?5 72:CD]k^Am

People are also reading…

Good cattle and a giving nature: Late cowboy to receive hall of fame honors
Meristem focuses on reducing crop input costs for farmers
Rural America at its finest: fire relief efforts in Nebraska show best of humanity
Proposals aim to improve pool of rural veterinarians
With labor tight, incentives key to finding the right help
Iowa farmer sees new path for agriculture
Nebraska ranchers reel from fire losses
Study reveals how bull buyers use key genetic information
Rail merger would hurt farmers
Geopolitical issues influencing soybean market
From rose farms to rice fields, travel continues
Divine intent of creation respected
Haugen Cattle Co. Annual Bull Sale
Seed, weeds and satellites at Commodity Classic
Roth Angus

kAm“c\w 92D 2=H2JD 366? 2 A2CE @7 >J =:76[” D2:5 %FC?3F==[ 2 E9:C5\86?6C2E:@? c\w >6>36C 2?5 E96 52F89E6C @7 r=:?E 2?5 $E24:6 %FC?3F== @7 (24@[ }63C2D<2]k^Am

kAm%FC?3F== D6CG65 7:G6 J62CD :? G2C:@FD @77:46C A@D:E:@?D H:E9:? 96C c\w 4=F3[ :?4=F5:?8 D64C6E2CJ[ G:46 AC6D:56?E 2?5 AC6D:56?E] %96 =6256CD9:A D<:==D D96 @3E2:?65 :? c\w 3642>6 2 G2=F23=6 2DD6E H96? D96 H2D D6=64E65 2D C6A@CE6C[ EC62DFC6C 2?5 AC6D:56?E @7 96C uup 492AE6C 2E r6?E6??:2= w:89 $49@@=[ H96C6 D96 8C25F2E65 7C@> :? |2J]k^Am

kAm“~C82?:K2E:@?D =:<6 c\w 2?5 uup 42? 96=A 56G6=@A =6256CD9:A D<:==D[ 42C66C @AA@CEF?:E:6D 2?5 A6CD@?2= 8C@HE9[” D2:5 %FC?3F==]k^Am

kAmrC@DD r@F?EJ w:89 $49@@= 8C25F2E6 {J?5D6J q@=E@? 6IE6?565 E96 D<:==D D96 24BF:C65 :? c\w E@ 364@>6 2 =6256C :? @E96C @C82?:K2E:@?D[ 2D H6==] $96 92D 366? 9:DE@C:2? @?6 J62C[ D64C6E2CJ EH@ J62CD 2?5 AC6D:56?E EH@ J62CD @7 E96 {:G6=J {:G6DE@4< c\w r=F3] q@=E@? H2D 2=D@ 6=64E65 E@ D6CG6 @? E96 *@C< r@F?EJ c\w r@F?4:= 2D 2 J@FE9 >6>36C[ 5FC:?8 H9:49 E:>6 D96 24E65 2D D64C6E2CJ EH@ J62CD]k^Am

York County 4-H 4.jpg — Lyndsey Bolton served many leadership roles in 4-H and other organizations.
Photo by Katie Meysenburg

kAmpD 2 >6>36C @7 urr{p D:?46 E96 D:IE9 8C256[ q@=E@? D6CG65 :? G2C:@FD @77:46C A@D:E:@?D[ 4F=>:?2E:?8 H:E9 AC6D:56?E 96C D6?:@C J62C] x? uup[ D96 96=5 E96 AC6D:56?E:2= C6DA@?D:3:=:E:6D 2D 2 D6?:@C[ AC646565 3J A2C=:2>6?E2C:2? 2?5 D6?E:?6= 2D 2 D@A9@>@C6 2?5 ;F?:@C[ C6DA64E:G6=J]k^Am

kAmq@=E@?[ E96 52F89E6C @7 rC2:8 2?5 s2H2?2 q@=E@? @7 q6?65:4E[ 6?;@J65 E96D6 =6256CD9:A @AA@CEF?:E:6D 3642FD6 D96 H2?ED E@ 96=A @E96CD] $96 6DA64:2==J =:<6D H@C<:?8 H:E9 J@F?86C <:5D 2?5 E6249:?8 @E96CD 9@H E@ D9@H =:G6DE@4<] $96 2=D@ 9:89=:89E65 4@>>F?:EJ D6CG:46 AC@;64ED D96 92D 5@?6 H:E9 96C 4=F3[ DF49 2D 7F?5C2:D:?8 >@?6J 7@C 7=@@5 2?5 9FCC:42?6 G:4E:>D[ A:4<:?8 FA EC2D9 @C 4=62?:?8 FA J2C5D 7@C 6=56C=J :? E96 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

kAm“x H2?E E@ 96=A A6@A=6 @7 2== 286D[ 6DA64:2==J E9@D6 H:E9 DA64:2= ?665D @C :? E@F89 4:C4F>DE2?46D[” D2:5 q@=E@?]k^Am

kAm%96D6 6IA6C:6?46D 92G6 =65 q@=E@? E@ AFCDF6 2 42C66C :? 6=6>6?E2CJ DA64:2= 65F42E:@?] $96 A=2?D E@ 2EE6?5 }@CE962DE r@>>F?:EJ r@==686 7@C EH@ J62CD E96? EC2?D76C E@ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\z62C?6J E@ 4@>A=6E6 96C 568C66]k^Am

kAmw2== H2D 5C2H? E@H2C5D 2 42C66C :? G6E6C:?2CJ >65:4:?6 E9C@F89 96C 6IE6?D:G6 :?E6C6DE :? 2?:>2=D] $96 92D >F49 6IA6C:6?46 E2<:?8 42C6 @7 4@HD[ D966A[ 8@2ED 2?5 @E96C 2?:>2=D 2E 96C 72>:=J’D 72C>]k^Am

kAm“p =@E @7 A6@A=6 D2J H6 92G6 2 A6EE:?8 K@@ 3642FD6 @7 2== E96 E2>6 2?:>2=D[” w2== D2:5]k^Am

kAmw2== H:== DE2CE 2D 2 AC6\G6E >2;@C E9:D 72== 2E z2?D2D $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 A=2?D E@ 364@>6 2 =2C86 2?:>2= G6E6C:?2C:2?]k^Am

kAm|2CE:? @C:8:?2==J 4@?D:56C65 364@>:?8 2 G6E6C:?2C:2?[ 2D H6==] $96 =@G65 D9@H:?8 A:8D :? c\w 6G6CJ J62C[ 2?5 c\w AC@;64ED 2==@H65 96C E@ 6IA=@C6 96C A@E6?E:2= 42C66C :? >@C6 56AE9]k^Am

kAm“(96? x H2?E65 E@ 36 2 G6E[ x 5:5 G6E D4:6?46 A@DE6CD 23@FE 2?:>2= 5:D62D6D 2?5 5:5 2?:>2=D AC@;64ED :? c\w[” D2:5 |2CE:?]k^Am

kAm(@C<:?8 2E 2 G6E6C:?2CJ 4=:?:4 E9:D DF>>6C 96=A65 |2CE:? 56E6C>:?6 E92E D96 5:5 ?@E H2?E E@ 36 2 G6E6C:?2C:2?j AFEE:?8 5@H? 2?:>2=D :D E@@ 92C5[ D96 D2:5] w@H6G6C[ D96 =62C?65 E92E D96 =:<65 E96 962=E942C6 7:6=5 2?5 92D 2=C625J DE2CE65 AC6\C25:@=@8J 4=2DD6D @?=:?6 E9C@F89 $@FE962DE r@>>F?:EJ r@==686] $96 92D J6E E@ =62C? :7 D96 92D 366? 2446AE65 :?E@ E96 AC@8C2> 2E E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2 |65:42= r6?E6C :? r@=F>3FD 3FE 92D 366? 2446AE65 E@ qCJ2? r@==686 @7 w62=E9]k^Am

kAm{:<6 |2CE:?[ %FC?3F== 925 2 5C62> ;@3 2D 2 49:=5] $96 2=H2JD H2?E65 E@ 36 2 72C>6C] pD %FC?3F== 8@E @=56C[ E9@F89[ D96 C62=:K65 E92E >2J 36 F?C62=:DE:4 3642FD6 96C 72>:=J 92D 2 D>2==\D42=6 9@33J 72C>]k^Am

kAm%FC?3F== 92D ?@E =6E E92E DE@A 96C 7C@> AFCDF:?8 2 42C66C :? 28C:4F=EFC6] q6:?8 :? c\w 2?5 uup 82G6 96C :?D:89E :?E@ 9@H D96 42? 4@?E:?F6 36:?8 :?G@=G65 :? 28C:4F=EFC6] $96 D2:5 96C @H? 6IA6C:6?46D 2?5 E96 :>A24E D96 92D D66? E96D6 @C82?:K2E:@?D 92G6 @? @E96C <:5D >256 96C 6I4:E65 23@FE 25G@42E:?8 7@C 28C:4F=EFC6 2?5 C6>2:?:?8 :? E96 :?5FDECJ]k^Am

kAm“x 3642>6 :?E6C6DE65 :? 9@H x 42? 25G@42E6 7@C 28 H:E9@FE 24EF2==J 36:?8 @? E96 72C>] x H2?E E@ 96=A @E96C A6@A=6 D66 28 2D 2 A@E6?E:2= 42C66C[ 6>A@H6C:?8 E96> E@ <?@H E92E ?@ >2EE6C E96:C 324<8C@F?5 @C H96C6 E96J 42>6 7C@>[ E96J 2=H2JD 92G6 2 DA@E :? 28C:4F=EFC6[” %FC?3F== D2:5]k^Am

kAm%FC?3F== H:== 2EE6?5 E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 }63C2D<2\{:?4@=? E9:D 72==[ >2;@C:?8 :? 28C:4F=EFC6 65F42E:@? H:E9 2 5@F3=6 >:?@C :? $A2?:D9 2?5 t?8=6C 28C:\3FD:?6DD]k^Am

kAmp== 7@FC @7 E96D6 *@C< r@F?EJ c\w’6CD 2C6 C625J—36J@?5 C625J—7@C E96 ?6IE 492AE6C :? =:76] %96J 92G6 2 7:C> 7@F?52E:@? 7C@> E96:C J62CD :? c\w] pD rC2H7@C5 D2:5[ “c\w :D 3F:=5:?8 2 86?6C2E:@? E92E :D C625J H96? E96J 8C25F2E6[ =62G6 9@>6 2?5 8@ E@ 4@==686 @C E96 H@C<7@C46]”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.