Participants in the show receive an exposure to life skills , ethics , job skills , and community that those who do not participate do not have the luxury of experiencing .
Carolyn Savage , a four-year member of the 4-H club has been involved in almost every project opportunity . This was her third year focusing on the Goat Project and she admits there were many days in the last months when she didn ’ t want to work with her projects .
“ I never understood the strength of ‘ senioritis ,’ and I often had to force myself to go out to the barn ,” she said .
She said she wanted this show to be the pinnacle of her 4-H career and both her rabbits and her market goat qualified for the premium auction .
Many friendships are formed throughout the years between participants that wouldn ’ t have been otherwise . When walking around the show , you see groups of students from different clubs visiting about their animals and life , tossing a football , and playing music together .
Lifelong friendships have been formed , even between the volunteers that help year after year , as they laugh and work together . Charla Farrell , another life-long HCLS volunteer , says she met four ladies 40 years ago while on the Queen and Princess committee and they have been best friends since .
Since 2015 , seniors have been treated to a complimentary dinner which is held to honor and celebrate them and their parents . This event is held on the same evening as the scholarships are given .
Throughout the week , a lot of the older students can be seen helping the younger ones . Senior Asher Calloway gives the following advice to those still competing , “ Go in and have fun because the only real competition is yourself .”
Some seniors are heading off to college , some want to attend a technical school , and some will continue to grow in their respected areas of interest in the livestock industry . Although some may be leaving Henderson County , history has shown that most will return to help in some way at a future Livestock Show or further down the road showing with their own children one day .
Top to bottom : Asher Calloway Macey Crabtree Pressley Douglas Johanna Edwards Hailey Franklin Katelynn Helm Cory Hopson Riley Jackson
Greater Athens Magazine | May 2022 | 10