Scott County 4-H members compete in National Youth Expo

Jennifer Hall is a University of Missouri Extension 4-H youth development educator.

Summer is a time of relaxation and time off for many young people, but for Scott County 4-H members Ava Asmus, Ella Asmus and Maebry Enderle, the summer sun brings opportunities for them to show off their hard work. These young ladies participated in the Red Angus Youth Expo in Madison, Wis., June 21-26.

Held at the Alliant Energy Center and hosted by the Red Angus Association of America and the Junior Red Angus Association, this expo not only allows youth to compete in a national show but also provides opportunities for education on breeding in the beef industry and networking with peers who do the same.

Ava, Ella and Maebry recently shared their experiences and presented their winnings at the New Hamburg Eager Beavers 4-H Club, of which they are members. Ava took two breeding heifers to the expo. She placed 10th out of 82 participants in Showmanship, first in Ad Design and second in Skill-a-thon. Ella, who says that her dad has been the greatest influence in her love of the competition, placed seventh in a fitting contest and won the Reserve Division Phenotype/Genotype with her heifer, “Peppa.” Maebry’s bull won Reserve Grand Champion Phenotype/Genotype. All three girls were part of the Missouri State Red Angus Team which won the Sweepstakes and Herdsmanship awards.

Each of the girls are thankful for the contributions of their families, their 4-H leaders and the 4-H program for helping them achieve these goals. “I am grateful for the opportunity to go and the people who have helped me get there along the way. It takes a lot to get to this point. Everything I do now started with 4-H,” said Ava.

Under the direction of Pat Moore and Kimberly Kern, the New Hamburg Eager Beavers Club helps kids find their “sparks,” and encourages each one to pursue their interests while emphasizing leadership skills and community service. Parent Mackenzie Enderle stresses the benefits of 4-H: “It is important for our future ranchers of America to be involved in 4-H, because without the beginnings of 4-H, these girls would not be able to be where they are at the young ages of eleven through fourteen.”

The Red Angus Youth Expo is just one event in which the girls are participating this year. They are also showing in the SEMO District fair and participating in other local events as well as showing in other states. Maebry speaks of her experiences: “I am thankful for my parents because they have supported me through a lot and gotten me to a lot of places I never thought I would have been able to do on my own. I am thankful for my experience in 4-H and the opportunity to show and sell steers. I am truly grateful for the purchasers donating them back to the cause so I can continue to do what I love.”

4-H is a national youth development organization that is available in each county in Missouri. Not only does 4-H encourage youth to participate in activities involving showing animals at fairs, but we teach life skills and pursue many other types of interests. Among our activities are sewing, fishing, community involvement, crocheting, knitting, cooking, and shooting sports, just to name a few. For more information about 4-H in Scott County, contact youth program associate Clara Riley at the MU Extension Center in Scott County at 573-545-3516, or visit the Scott County 4-H Facebook page.

Photo: From left, Maebry Enderle, Ella Asmus and Ava Asmus.