LAWRENCE COUNTY – Lawrence County 4-H 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 second group of 8 are:
- Emma Bartlett
- Emma Gabhart
- Gavin Blake
- Graceanne Bierbaum
- Grant Thorne
- Hanna Minton
- Hannah Burcham
- Jaida Blais
Emma Bartlett
Emma is a graduating homeschooler who shows dogs in 4-H, and has grand plans for fiscal wellness with her savings goal and work ethic. She urges new members of 4-H to consider the opportunities it provides them, “It’s taught me to get out of my comfort zone. It’s given me so many opportunities I never would have gotten from anything else, while also giving me the confidence to achieve goals I never would have thought to set for myself. It’s also taught me that hard work will always pay off!”
Emma Gabhart
Emma Gabhart, graduating from BNL, spent time on Photography, Fine Arts, Consumer Clothing, Health, Sewing, and Needlecraft in her 10 4-H years. Her advice to newbies? “Go to all the events, camps and conferences that you can, even if you’re not a “people person”. Enjoy the time that you have in 4-H and all the lessons you learn.”
Gavin Blake
Gavin is also a BNL graduate, and with his entries into collections, he learned to follow his interests and enjoyed displaying his projects for the general public’s enjoyment. In the future, Gavin plans to pursue his interests in digital art at Indiana University Southeast.
Grace Bierbaum
Grace attended BNL, and now that she is graduating, leaving 4-H and the world of dairy steers behind, she plans to work in the trades. Grace enjoyed her time at the fair, and with her favorite memory being “Getting stuck on the pirate ride with my friend Kaylee after our dairy show.” it seems she’s definitely one up for adventure!
Grant Thorne
Grant is another BNL graduate. He was a part of the Horse & Pony Club in 4-H, and now that he’s aged out, he aims to attend Ball State University for Sports Administration and a Business minor. According to Grant, “4-H has taught me leadership, dedication, responsibility, and hard work. These are just a few of the things I have learned from 4-H over the years. I have made several lifelong friends and memories I will always cherish.”
Hanna Minton
Hanna’s 10 years in 4-H involved photography and goat-showing, but this BNL graduate plans to pursue Criminal Justice and Psychology as double majors at Indiana University in Bloomington. She said “Teamwork goes a long way and don’t be afraid to try something new!” and when you look at where she’s been and where she’s going, it seems like she’s taken it to heart.
Jaida Blais
A Mitchell Highschool graduate, Jaida has spent her time in 4-H with horses, as well as a bit of pig-wrestling among her favorite memories. She’s excited to attend college as an Esthetician, and as a bit of encouragement to anyone following in her footsteps, she suggests that you, “Always keep your head up, even on the days where your show just isn’t going as you thought. Don’t give up.”
Hanna Burcham (picture not provided)
Hanna graduates from Mitchell High School and has participated in cooking and photography at the 4-H fair in her ten years as a member. Attending USI in Evansville in the fall with a major in Radiologic Imaging and Sciences, Hanna is sure to use the skills she learned from photography in 4-H.
Don’t see your senior? Check back tomorrow for our next feature!
