LAWRENCE COUNTY – Lawrence County 4-H fair has a graduating class of 32 seniors for 2023, and we have taken the time to collect some of their thoughts and experiences in their time at 4-H. The first group of 8 are:
- Ava Jahn
- Braxton Brown
- Brooklyn Peterson
- Carson Kelley
- Cydnee Rayhill-Wright
- Dustin Burton
- Ellie Bartlett
- Emily Phillips
Ava Jahn
Ava attended BNL and has shown goats, rabbits, and horses in her 10 years with 4-H. She has big plans coming! She aims to attend Purdue University, where she will study developmental and family science with the goal of becoming an occupational therapist.
Braxton Brown
Braxton attended BNL, and in his 10 years showed both swine and sheep. Braxton is moving to Georgia for a Lineman school this coming August. When asked about advice for future 4-H’ers, he said “The little things that are vital in your project is what makes the big things happen.”
Brooklyn Peterson
Brooklyn attended Mitchell High School, and she is grateful for the 4-H experience because “4-H has taught me the true meaning of hard work and dedication.” She reminisces that her favorite times at the fair were those when she and her sisters showed together.
Carson Kelley
Carson attended BNL and participated in the Aerospace and Recycling sectors of 4-H. He plans to take those skills into his interest and pursue Aerospace Engineering at Purdue University. As he says to new 4-H’ers, “stick with it!”
Cydnee Rayhill-Wright
Cydnee attended BNL, and despite the wide array of her 4-H interests (goats, weather, recycling, geology, cupcakes, and collections), is looking forward to Nursing School as she attends Ivy Tech Community College. Cydnee advises new 4-H members to “Get involved! No matter if you are interested in a certain thing or not! Getting involved will help you create friendships that will last a lifetime!”
Dustin Burton
Dustin is a former BNL student who showed rabbits in his time at the Lawrence County 4-H Fair, and plans to attend USI in pursuit of a Business degree. Dustin is glad that “4-H has taught me to be respectful to people that have been there for me for everything, and to be kind to others when they need it.”
Ellie Bartlett
Ellie, a 4-her interested in photography, was educated at home, and in her gap year between high school graduation and college, plans to define her 5 future goals and career ideals. Ellie encourages new 4-H’ers “Don’t do it for the ribbon or the trophy; in a few years, they’ll just seem like a piece of cloth or plastic. Do it for the memories, which last beyond what any material ever could.”
Emily Phillips
Emily is graduating from BNL, and with the title of Miss Congeniality under her belt from the Lawrence County Queen contest, she’s moving forward with her life and her interests, planning to attend Indiana University for Animal Science and Environmental Affairs. Emily looks back fondly at the fun she had with her cousins in the horse arena at night.
Don’t see your senior? Check back tomorrow for the next installment of our 2023 4-H Senior Highlights!
