FULTON COUNTY SENIORS

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Henry Hardy Farmers 4-H Club 

Favorite project(s) : Swine

Favorite 4-H Activities: Watching the amphitheater shows, pig wrestling

What has 4-H meant to you: It has been a great guide on becoming the person I am today. From the early morning feedings to the late-night washings. It has taught me responsibility and commitment like nothing else could. It is also a great place to make friends and memories that you will hold for a lifetime. Everyone should join 4-H. 

 Future plans: Enter into the workforce

Parents/Guardians: Darla Beck, Deric Beck 

Years in 4-H: 10 years in Burton's Busy Bees 4-H Club, Fulton County Bullseyes 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Cat, Wildlife, Geology, Jr. Leaders, Collections, Forestry, Shooting Sports and Scrapbook

Favorite 4-H activities: Jr. Leaders, 4-H Camps, 4-H Academy, Showcasing projects at the state fair. Being a Jr. Leader Ambassador. 

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has allowed me to expand my passion for the outdoors by doing community-building projects over the last 10 years. I have also made many friends through Jr. Leaders at 4-H camps and at Purdue 4-H Academy. My favorite memories are winning the 2016 Grand Champion Cat and being a 2023 Jr. Leader Ambassador. 

Future plans: Attend Ivy Tech for Biology with plans to transfer to Purdue University to study Natural Resources and Ecology. 

Parents/Guardians: Amanda DeSonia, Daniel DeSonia 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Burton Busy Bees 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Sheep 

Favorite 4-H activities: The Farmer Olympics, and spending time with my friends. 

What has 4-H meant to you: Learning responsibility, forming new friendships, and making memories that will last a lifetime.

Future plans: Attend Purdue University to study to become a Pharmacist. 

Parents/Guardians: Matthew and Renell Finke 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Richland Clodhoppers 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Beef

Favorite 4-H activities: Showing at the Indiana State Fair and being in the Grand Drive.

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has meant hard work and dedication. I have learned many lifelong lessons throughout my career. 4-H has allowed me to spend time with my family and gain friendships as well. 

Future Plans: To gain employment or education in an Agricultural-related field.

Parents/Guardians: Chris and Betsy Gardner 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Cat's Meow 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Rabbits

Favorite 4-H activities: Rabbits. Arts & Crafts

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has given me many learning experiences. It has come with a lot of memories. The friends that I made along the way would be unforgettable. I would be able to talk about it later in life. It has great opportunities and has helped me a lot with buying my first vehicle. As a 10-year 4-H member, I greatly appreciate all the opportunities that I gained along the way. 

Future plans: Attend either a cosmetology/aesthetician school or accept an apprenticeship for tattooing. 

Parents/Guardians: Amy & Jay Mast, Reginald Gibbs & Janice Ditton 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with the Henry Hardy Farmers 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Beef

Favorite 4-H activities: Farmers Olympics

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H means many things to me. It has taught me responsibility and helped me mature. I also have been able to make many friends along the way.

Future plans: Pursuing a career in custom butchering

Parents/Guardians: Kyle and McKenna Grossman 

Years in 4-H:  10 years with Wayne Wide Awake 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Swine

Favorite 4-H activities: Pig wrestling, mini tractor pull

What has 4-H meant to you: My 4-H experience has meant so many things to me. 4-H has meant hard work, excitement, disappointment, sadness, friendship, family, and opportunities. 4-H allowed me to develop my love and passion for animals and is the reason I want to be a veterinary nurse. I have been able to share all of my memories in 4-H with my family from my cousins to my sisters to the one who has helped me do it all, my dad. I am so thankful for the memories and experiences 4-H has given me. 

Future plans: Attend Purdue University to study Veterinary Nursing. 

Parents/Guardians: Mike and Theresa Harsh 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Wayne Wide Awake 4-H club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Photography

Favorite 4-H activities: Farmer Olympics

What has 4-H meant to you: It has helped me gain new friends, and memories, and build relationships with everyone. 4-H has taught me how important leadership and dedication can help you succeed in life. 4-H has given me so many opportunities throughout the years. 

Future plans: Attend Purdue University and study Animal Science

Parents/Guardians: Leah & Brock Hinderlider

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Newcastle Nifties 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): My favorite projects have been sheep, swine, beef, and food.

Favorite 4-H activities: My favorite 4-H activities have been showing livestock animals. I have enjoyed showing animals at the county fair, at the Indiana State Fair, and at the national level as well. I have met lots of great people and developed lifelong friends along the way. 

What has 4-H meant to me: I am thankful for the opportunities that 4-H has given me. 4-H has taught me a lot of important lessons. I am thankful for all the people who have helped me be successful in 4-H. 

Future plans: Attend Purdue University to obtain a degree in Elementary Education. 

Parents/Guardians: Mike and Lacey Jones

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Burton Busy Bees 4-H Club 

Favorite 4-H project(s): My favorite 4-H projects are Beef, Photography, and Swine.

Favorite 4-H Activities: My favorite 4-H activity is the Beef Show

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has meant a lot to me. Through 4-H, I have had the opportunity to meet new people, learn new things, and gain lifelong skills. 

Future plans: Attend Purdue University majoring in Mechanical Engineering 

Parents/Guardians: Wayne and Johnie Krom

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Fulton County Horse & Pony 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Horse & Pony

Favorite 4-H activities: Poles, Flags, and Barrels 

What has 4-H meant to me: Just something fun to do, let loose, and hang out with friends

Future plans: To become a Farrier

Parents/Guardians: Jimmy and Emily Martin 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Burton Busy Bees 4-H club 

Favorite 4-H project(s): Goats

Favorite 4-H activity: I have enjoyed caring for and showing animals: Swine, Goats, Rabbits and Cats

What has 4-H meant to me: 4-H has given me the opportunity to learn about not only animals and other projects but also about people. I have a lifetime of fun memories with friends and family during fair week. I created new friendships by attending 4-H camp for several years and then being a camp counselor for a few years 

Future plans: Attend Lincoln Tech in Indianapolis to major in Automotive Service Management Technology. 

Parents/Guardians: Sean and Tanya McKee 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with the Henry Hardy Farmers 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Scarecrow and showing Swine 

Favorite 4-H activities: Running for Miss Fulton County and placing 1st Runner Up. All the fun things we got to do with the Queen. Also, I loved hanging out with my friends and pig wrestling. 

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H meant responsibility but it was a fun responsibility. It meant working towards a goal and then seeing during the fair week what your accomplishments meant. I have truly enjoyed my time in 4-H and will forever cherish the memories I have made. 

Future plans: Attend Manchester University and continue an athletic career in cross country and track. Major is undecided.

Parents/Guardians: Blake and Kim Miller 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with the Newcastle Nifties 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Swine, Goats and Beef

Favorite 4-H activities: Teaching younger 4-Hers about my projects at 4-H Camps. 

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has impacted my life a lot. It has brought out my true self as well as showing what I am capable of when I put in the effort. 

Future plans: Attend the University of Northwestern Ohio to study Agribusiness

Parents/Guardians: Erin Nelson, Brett Nelson 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with the Newcastle Nifties 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Beef and Swine

Favorite 4-H activities: 

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has meant work, frustration, and failure; but has also shaped me into who I am today. I have been given so many people and experiences through 4-h and for that I will forever be grateful. 

Future plans: Attend Lake Michigan College to study Sonography

Parents/Guardians: Jenny Nelson 

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Liberty Leaders 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Photography

Favorite 4-H activities: 

What has 4-H meant to you: Being in 4-H has helped me go out and do things I would not have thought of doing before. It has taught me to work with others & to take charge of things when needed to get something done. 4-H has helped me gain the confidence to step out of my comfort zone to accomplish things. 

Future plans: Enter into the workforce

Parents/Guardians: Troy and Julie Shriver

Years in 4-H: 8 years with Wayne Wide Awake Trophy Finder 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Micro-mini tractors, tractor pulling, crops, farm toy scene, Beef, and Swine

Favorite 4-H activities: 4-H tractor pull, pig wrestling, Battle of the Barns, hanging with friends doing livestock projects

What has 4-H meant to you: In the beginning, it opened my eyes to other people who like to do the same things I do. The 4-H experience has brought me out of my shell and taught me how important having a good work ethic is. Through livestock showing I have gained confidence which has allowed me to try new endeavors like FFA, joining the National Honor Society, and finding jobs in Agriculture. I have made lifelong friendships and learned more than I could have ever imagined from friends and family.

Future plans: Attend either Marion University or Purdue University majoring in Agribusiness

Parents/Guardians: Kevin and Amber Reinhold 

Years in 4-H: 7 years with Fulton County Horse and Pony 4-H Club 

Favorite 4-H project(s): Doing my drawing projects for Fine Arts

Favorite 4-H activities: Riding my horse and doing the Western games

What has 4-H meant to me: I can meet people who are willing to help out and work with each other. Also being able to overcome challenges that you come across. 

Future plans: Undecided

Parents/Guardians: Shawn and Jera Rensberger

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Richland Clodhoppers/Never Give Up 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Dairy Steers, Goats

Favorite 4-H activities: Indiana State Fair 

What has 4-H meant to you: Having fun times with my family and friends at the fair. Putting in the hard work to show my animals. 

Future plans: To work the family business with Dad and Grandpa. 

Parents/Guardians: TJ and Ginger Richard

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Liberty Leaders 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Beef and Swine

Favorite 4-H activities: Farmers Olympics

What has 4-H meant to you: Fair week is a time where you get to see all your hard work pay off. You build relationships with people that will last a lifetime. I enjoyed spending time with my family and friends while hanging out with my animals. 

Future plans: Attend Bethel University to study elementary education and speech-language/pathology while continuing my athletic career in basketball. 

Parents/Guardians: Barry and Julie Scales 

Years in 4-H: 5 years with Woodrow Peppers/Sodbusters 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Beef and Swine

Favorite 4-H activities: Working with my animals and being able to hang out with my friends at fair.

What has 4-H meant to you: It has taught me a lot about responsibility and hard work. It has also taught me that there are things that are out of my control. 4-H has broadened my knowledge of animals and has given me opportunities to make a lot of great friends. 

Future plans: Attend the University of Northwest Ohio to study Diesel Mechanics.

Parents/Guardians: Amy Barkman, Eric Weiand

Years in 4-H: 10 years with Rochester AG 4-H Club

Favorite 4-H project(s): Swine

Favorite 4-H activities: Tractor Pull

What has 4-H meant to you: 4-H has been a way to connect with new people who I would not meet anywhere else. Livestock has been a way for me to get away from all the negative things in the outside world. Taking the livestock industry seriously was the best decision I've ever made.

Future Plans: Attend Lineman school 

Parents/Guardians: Brandy Young, Evan and Ashley Young