Whether you are 9 years old, or 18 years old in college, there are so many ways to get and stay involved. Even as a freshman at the University of Illinois, Tanner Klockenga still finds time to stay active with his hometown 4-H club. Although he has stepped back from holding leadership positions within the club, he still does what he can to encourage the younger members to get involved early on.
“You got to get them started at a young age,” said Tanner. “Livestock judging wasn’t necessarily something I picked up really young, and looking back on it I think I missed out on a lot. Not just on the knowledge side but the experience side. It was one thing that being an older kid in the club, and doing the livestock judging team, it was something I pushed for the younger kids to get started on earlier.”
Tanner is a member of the Willing Workers 4-H Club. On top of helping younger members get involved in 4-H activities, he has helped them learn the ins and outs of showing livestock.
Through the encouragement of older members such as Tanner, Rhykerd Greer, a younger member of the club. Rykerd said that he hopes to one day be a leader and learn from the older members.
“Just like with showing, I do that and shadow the older people above me,” said Rhykerd.
Encouragement from older members such as Tanner has helped Rhykerd become active in the local 4-H judging team.
