4-H Member Spotlight

Ariel loves to learn new things. She is willing to try a new project or learn a new skill, and is involved in 4-H quilting, sewing, baking, and leadership projects. 

Ariel is a Yellowstone County Ambassador. She enjoys engaging with younger members at county events and encouraging them to participate and grow outside of club activities. 

She has lead several community service projects in her club and at the county level. These include baby blankets for the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and isolette covers for the Billings Clinic NICU. 

Walter learns by observing and formulating his own ideas and thoughts. He demonstrates vast knowledge of his interests. 

He will walk up to anyone and ask if they want to see and learn about his beef and swine projects. He is supportive of other members in the barns at fair and willing to lend a hand. He shakes hands, looks others in the eye, and tells all about his projects and what his plans are for them. 

Walter gives to others by making them feel at ease and trying to get them to smile. His quick wit keeps people grinning and on their toes. 

He thinks outside the box. Life isn't always easy or fair, but Walter looks on the bright side of things and comes up with ways to push through life's challenges. One parent at fair this year stated, "We need a happy kid award, because Walter always has a happy demeanor." 

Alyssa is an attentive listener, one who listens not to respond, but to understand. Alyssa uses what she learns by applying her knowledge to creative ideas and solutions. She seeks to expand and improve upon the ideas she absorbs at workshops. 

Alyssa helps as a Photography project junior superintendent, and as one of Lewis and Clark County’s 4-H summer camp counselors. In both roles, she takes the lead in organizing others, finds solutions, and sees those ideas to fruition. Alyssa is reliable and responsible and utilizes her talent to inspire and encourage her peers in a welcoming, non-threatening way that her friends respond well to. 

As a teen camp counselor, Alyssa is empathetic and caring toward younger 4-H campers. They flock to her spirit and the fun that emanates. In the planning stages of camp, it's her ideas and suggestions that other counselors latch on to and develop in to action items. As a junior superintendent, Alyssa planned, organized, and led an interactive photography workshop all on her own when the project leader was out-of-country. Both 4-H members and their parents reported how well she executed her workshop and how much the 4-H members enjoyed it. 

Alyssa is active and engaged, expressive and open, energetic and thoughtful. She presents and shares a wide variety of emotions in her communication and is not afraid to expose her vulnerabilities. She is a well-rounded teen who has self-confidence, balance and vision, but also is aware of both how much there is to learn, and to "check in" with themselves.