By TAMARA ROBERTSON
Cottonwood Extension District
Beyond developing skills in the barn or on the Shooting Sports range, other 4-H projects provide opportunities to learn responsibility, leadership, and life lessons.
Audrey Yarmer finds joy in raising and showing poultry through the 4-H program. “My favorite part of the poultry project is spending time caring for my chickens and watching them free-range in the yard,” Yarmer said. Showing poultry has helped her birds become calmer and more trusting, strengthening the bond between exhibitor and animal. Yarmer carefully prepares her birds for shows by washing their feet, shanks, and vent areas with water and a toothbrush, along with spot-cleaning feathers as needed. “I also put a little Vaseline on their feet, shanks, and combs to make them shine,” she explained. One fun fact she has learned through the project is simple but memorable: “Chickens love cheese.” Beyond animal care, the poultry project has helped Yarmer grow as a leader. Managing expenses taught her financial responsibility, especially during her time serving as her club’s treasurer.
Cannon Vajnar’s 4-H experience centers around the Entomology project, focusing on honeybees, a project that blends agriculture, science, and community outreach. What began with just two hives has grown to more than ten hives across multiple locations. “The bee project has taught me a lot about hive management, bee health, and honey production,” Vajnar said. He has shared his knowledge by presenting demonstration talks at 4-H Days, creating posters, and educating elementary students about the importance of pollinators. At the end of the year, he records his accomplishments and challenges in his entomology record book. In addition, Vajnar and his father sell and deliver honey to customers throughout the Hays area, teaching him entrepreneurship and customer service.
Kaylee Schumacher has grown significantly through her involvement in the 4-H Foods and Nutrition project, learning that preparation and organization are just as important as the recipe itself. When she first began, she would gather ingredients as she went, but with experience she learned to measure and set everything out before baking to stay efficient and avoid mistakes. “Getting everything ready before I start makes baking less stressful and helps me stay organized,” Schumacher said. One of her most memorable moments came in 2023 when her angel food cake earned Grand Champion Foods at the fair. Recreating the cake for the sale proved challenging due to extreme summer heat, causing the delicate cake to stick and lose its top crust when flipped, an experience she now laughs about and remembers fondly as a bonding moment with her mom. Beyond baking skills, Schumacher says the project helped her become more organized in everyday life, even inspiring her to use a planner for schoolwork and deadlines. She believes this habit will benefit her well beyond 4-H, including in college and future careers.
Each of these project areas highlights how 4-H helps members develop valuable life skills such as patience, responsibility, leadership, and communication in different ways. Whether working in the kitchen to perfect a loaf of bread or in the barn completing a daily hair-care routine for a heifer, 4-H projects encourage youth to learn by doing while making lasting memories and meaningful impacts in their communities. Join these 4-H members and cheer them on at the Ellis County Fair, July 12–17, 2026.
Tamara Robertson is the 4-H Youth Development Agent with Kansas State Extension, in the Cottonwood Extension District. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth Development resources, email Tamara at [email protected] or call Cottonwood Extension District – Ellis County Office at 785-628-9430.
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