Last week I was asked to judge in the Morgan County Fair Queen contest. Things won’t work out for me to do so, but it still brought back a lot of really great memories.
I still remember making the promise to my Mom to run for Morgan County Fair Queen, and honestly thought I would really really regret that promise. I wasn’t so sure I really wanted to be “Morgan: the fair queen from Morgan County”. Can you imagine what fun they had with me?
I would not consider myself fair queen material, not in the least. I had no clue how to walk, how to smile continuously for a long amount of time, and do not consider myself to have anywhere close to a “fair queen” body. But, the one thing I knew I had going for me was my passion for the 4-H program and the ability to give a dang good interview.
I spent 9 years of my life dedicated to the 4-H program. That’s a long time to stay dedicated to one organization and I feel that those nine years continued to build a foundation for my future as an adult. And it wasn’t just creating a knowledge base for agriculture so I could be a farmer’s wife…It was so much more.
I had nine years to experience being a leader, a team player, an animal caretaker, an announcer, a speech giver, a parliamentarian, a council member, an organizer, a fair queen, and I really could go on and on.
4-H taught me so many great qualities and morals it’s crazy. The program teaches children to become individuals, to find out what they believe in. Not to mention creating relationships that will last a lifetime.
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| Battle of The Barns. My last and final victory with the Horse and Pony Team. |
At the time 4-H was just fun. But now looking back on the nine years I spent becoming who I am today I realize how important and vital those years will be through out my entire life.
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| Two very important people in my 4-H experience. Any 4-H program would be lucky to have them. |
Being the fair queen my last year in 4-H really just summed up the ending to nine years of the perfect experience in agriculture. Looking back I realize how relieved I am that I was the fair queen my last year of 4-H because I was so busy with my duties I forgot to cry when it was all over. I remember sitting in the sheep barn after I sold my last lamb in the auction and really reflecting over what 4-H meant to me. It helped me become who I am today, it made me fall in love with agriculture, and most definitely helped me become a better person.
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| Darby Elliot. A time for me to face the harsh realities of life. The hardest thing I have ever done in my life is say hello to a little girl that was dying. But also the most rewarding because all she wanted was to meet me. |
Every year that I have been in South Dakota I get very emotional around the week I know fair time is hitting Morgan County. It played such a vital role in who I am it’s sad to miss, but knowing the things 4-H has taught me I realize that I may be missing the fair, but I still have a part of it with me as I work around our farm.
The benefits of any strong youth organization can be rewarding. 4-H is listed as the world’s largest youth organization and I really feel that what I learned within it helped set my focus on the world of agriculture and the importance it can play in every day life.
So in the end I will never regret my decision to run for Morgan County Fair Queen. It was the perfect ending to a perfect beginning.
Morgan
I agree, I was in 4-H for 9 years to! It is a great program that hones in on leadership in a way that involves agriculture. My greatest times growing up were showing at the Sioux Empire Fair in Minnehaha County! Great Story!