Lawrence County 4-H Seniors Honored During Challenging Year

(BEDFORD) – High school seniors have faced a challenging year amidst the COVID-19 pandemic with several senior-related activities being altered or canceled altogether.

4-H teaches life lessons, especially how to be able to adapt in a changing world. Agriculture itself has evolved over the years. Things that used to be done a certain way in the past look totally different in the 21st century.

These set of 4-H seniors are ready to face challenges head on and believe that what they have learned in 4-H programs has prepared them for their future.

This year, a number senior photos are lined up against the fence at the entrance to the 4-H Fairgrounds. Today, we will look at all of these seniors.

Bryeclyn Yost

Brycelyn Yost

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals exhibited at the fair include Swine
  • Has been apart of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Ball State University to major in Economics and on to Law School
  • 4-H has taught her responsibility and leadership
  • Her favorite memory includes hanging out with a friend on Fridays at the fair
  • “It’s not about the color of the ribbon, it’s about having fun,” said Yost.
Corey Martin

Corey Martin

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed include dairy steers
  • Has been apart of 4-H for ten years
  • Intends to become a lineman
  • 4-H has taught him the responsibility to see challenges as opportunities, and to help others when needed.
  • His favorite memory includes the water games at the end of the week with other 4-Hers.
  • “Strive towards your goals and never give up,” said Martin.
Thomas Carroll

Thomas Carroll

  • Homeschooled
  • Projects or animals showed include Exhibiting foods and sewing this year. A few posters as well
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Purdue in Fort Wayne to study construction management
  • Says 4-H has taught him many life skills he would not have received from anywhere else
  • His favorite 4-H memory would be having fun with his friends from all around the state during trips
  • “Keep working on what you are into. If you take 10 or more projects every year, you may not be giving each project the attention it needs to do well in the more advanced years,” said Carroll.
Abby Leatherbury

Abby Leatherbury

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed include sheep for 13 years, Gardening and Floriculture for 13 years, sewing, foods, fashion review, consumer clothing, scrapbooking, photography
  • She has been in 4-H for 10 years
  • Plans to attend Ivy Tech for two years, then transferring to IU for a nursing degree
  • 4-H has taught her many things. “It teaches you to be able to manage your time and follow deadlines. This past year has helped to teach me patience and flexibility.”
  • Her favorite memory was winning showmanship and then competing in the round-robin
  • ” To stick with it, sometimes it gets hard but it is well worth in the end,” said Leatherbury.
Callison Blias

Callison Blias

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals showed include horses\
  • Has been in 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to become a nurse and eventually get a doctorate to become an OBGYN
  • 4-H has taught her responsibility and persistence
  • Her memories include horse camp with her best friends
  • “Persistence is key when working with animals,” said Blias
Molly Lambrecht

Molly Lambrecht

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals shown include dairy females, dairy beef, sewing, ag tractor, junior leaders, and floriculture
  • Has been a part of 4-H for 10 years
  • Plans to attend Indiana State University to study elementary education
  • “4-H has taught me the leadership skills that I will carry with me for the rest of my life”
  • Her favorite memory is showing dairy females at the state fair
  • “It is more than ribbons and banners. It’s the life lessons you carry with you for the rest of your life,” said Lambrecht.
Jackson Gore

Jackson Gore

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals shown include photography and woodworking
  • Has been part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Ivy Tech for computer science
  • 4-H has taught him responsibility and organization
  • His favorite memory is when he was selected for the Indiana State Fair
  • “If something is important enough, you do it, even if the odds are not in your favor,” which is an Elon Musk quote according to Gore.
Garrett Beirbaum

Garrett Bierbaum

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals shown include Dairy steer
  • Has been a part of 4-H for over 10 years
  • Plans to be a heavy-equipment operator
  • 4-H has taught him to become a leader and responsibility
  • His favorite memory is the 4-H experience with family
  • “Enjoy your projects, because it will all come to an end eventually,” said Bierbaum.
Sarah Boaz

Sarah Boaz

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals showed include dairy steers
  • Has been a part of 4-H for 10 years
  • Plans to attend Ivy Tech and then move to Purdue to pursue veterinary medicine
  • 4-H has taught her the value of hard work and perseverance. “It has also taught me about friendship and has helped me to make life long connections”
  • Her favorite memory in 4-H has been the water and shaving cream fights on 4-Her night every year
  • “I tell younger 4-Hers that they won’t always succeed, especially when trying something new. Watch the older kids or ask alumni for tips, and tricks. Learn from your mistakes, and learn to admit when you are wrong,” said Boaz
Jacob Werley

Jacob Werley

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals shown include pets poster and cake decorating
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Purdue and study Electrical Engineering
  • 4-H has taught him how to be a leader
  • His favorite memory includes walking around the fair and seeing people he knows and interacting with others
  • “Enjoy the years because they go extremely quick,” said Werley.
Katherine Banks

Katherine Banks

  • Attended Bloomington High School South
  • Projects or animals shown include gardening and oil painting
  • Has been apart of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Indiana University
  • Has learned how important it is to pay attention to detail. “I have also learned how much fun it is to learn about many different subjects like engines, ignitions, circuits, food preservation, and cake decorating.”
  • Her favorite memory attending the fair with family and friends
  • “Start early and have fun,” said Banks.
Luke Hoffman

Luke Hoffman

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals shown include beef, chickens, dairy, creative writing and crops
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans on attending Purdue University and becoming a filmmaker
  • Things he learned: if you do not spend money you do not win
  • His favorite memory is hanging out with friends
  • “4-H has taught me to never give up,” said Hoffman.
Hallie Byers

Hallie Byers

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals showed include sheep
  • Has been a part of 4-H for five years
  • Plans on attending USI in the fall for nursing
  • 4-H has taught her that hard work pays off
  • Her favorite memory was the first time she ever showed a pig. “It was crazy and I always got last in all the open shows we went to. But my stepdad Jason and I kept working with it. At the fair that year my pig won its class”
  • ” The harder you work the better the results,” said Byers.
Kalee Butler

Kalee Butler

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals shown include dairy steers, rabbits, photography, and gift wrapping
  • Has been a part of 4-H for five years
  • She plans to attend University of Indianapolis to pursue a degree in nursing.
Trey Speer

Trey Speer

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals showed include dairy steer
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to work in a trade that he has a passion for
  • 4-H has taught him to work hard, the value of a dollar, and not taking anything for granted
  • His favorite memory is showing with his brothers and cousins
  • “Work hard; it pays off,” said Speer.
Elijah Batz

Elijah Batz

  • Attended Indiana Connections Academy
  • Projects or animals showed include photography, and stop-motion animation
  • Has been a part of 4-H for 10 years
  • Plans on attending a trade school
  • Has learned that goal setting and working hard can benefit you and your community
  • His favorite memory was working at the Indiana State Fair
  • “Pick a skill and spend 10,000 hours working to perfect it and you will succeed,” said Batz.
Drew Keith

Drew Keith

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed included goats and swine
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend IUPUI for mechanical engineering
  • 4-H has taught him that anyone can teach you something that can help you later in life
  • His favorite thing was helping his little cousins show as minis
  • “Always be open to learning new information,” said Keith.
Luke LaFevor

Luke LaFevor

  • Attended Mitchell High School
  • Projects or animals showed included dairy steers
  • Has been a part of 4-H for seven years
  • Plans to attend Indiana State University to earn a degree in secondary math education
  • 4-H has taught him to be dedicated and to be a leader to the younger members
  • His favorite memory included 2 year champs in mud volleyball, and hanging out with his family and friends at the fair
  • “Always try to do your best even if things do not go your way and always push to try and work harder,” said LaFevor.
Judson Beaver

Judson (Owen) Beaver

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed include swine
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Knox College in pre-medicine program and play football
  • Overall 4-H has helped him develop a good work ethic and responsibility. This year has taught him adaptability, patience, and acceptance.
  • His favorite memory was showing pigs
  • “Work hard, be kind, and appreciate the experience,” said Beaver.
Sapphire Deckard

Sapphire Deckard

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed include goats
  • Has been a part of 4-H for nine years
  • Plans to attend college for nursing
  • 4-H has taught her how to be a hard worker
  • Her favorite memory is kids night
  • “Never give up on 4-H no matter how hard you think it will be,” said Deckard.
Katrina Gabhart

Katrina Gabhart

  • Homeschooled
  • Projects and animals showed include sewing, fine art, photography, cupcake decorating, and recycling
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend a 4-year college for an art-related degree
  • 4-H has taught her to care about other people and helped her to become a better person, especially through the community service aspect of junior leaders
  • Her favorite memory includes the Junior Leaders food stand and going to Gatlinburg with the Junior Leaders
  • “Join junior leaders as soon as you can,” said Gabhart.
Anna Hayes

Anna Hayes

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Project or animals showed included swine and sheep
  • Has been a part of 4-H for nine years
  • Plans to attend Vincennes University to pursue a nursing degree
  • 4-H has taught her great responsibility that no other sport or club could have
  • Her favorite memory includes doing all the extracurricular activities with her friends like pig wrestling, mud volleyball, color runs, and making memories
  • “Don’t take your time in 4-H for granted, it flies by,” said Hayes.
McKenley Byers

Mckenley Byers

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed include dairy and dairy heifer
  • Has been a part of 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to attend Ivy Tech to study nursing
  • 4-H has taught her responsibility
  • Her favorite memory includes winning supreme heifer
  • “Just do your best and have fun,” said Byers,

Justice Woods

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals showed include one market lamb and one breeding ewe
  • Has been a part of 4-H for nine years
  • Plans to attend Manchester University to play football and study business administration
  • 4-H has taught him the hard work pays off
  • His favorite memory includes winning grand champion breeding ewe
  • “Always keep your head up no matter what happens,” said Woods.
Laney Fish

Laney Fish

  • Attended Bedford North Lawrence High School
  • Projects or animals shown include swine
  • Has been in 4-H for ten years
  • Plans to be a dental Hygienist
  • 4-H has taught her responsibility and commitment, hard work and life skills
  • Her favorite memory is from 2018. “Garrett and I had Grand over all Gil. It’s not about winning, but when you least expect anything like this, it just means that much more. That is one accomplishment I will never forget or take winning for granted.”
  • “Always work hard, and stay humble. Enjoy every minute of 4-H because those years go quick,” said Fish.

1340 AM WBIW, 105.5 WQRK, and Litefm 102.5 would like to congratulate these hard-working individuals and wishes them good luck in their future endeavors.