Whitney Van Hook Appreciates Her Time As Richland County 4-H Member

Whitney Van Hook, Brorson Farmhands 4-H Club, has a long history with the program, starting as a Clover Bud when she was just 6 years old. She has been a full-fledged 4-Her since 2013 with various projects over the years including poultry, rabbits, steers, horses and sewing projects. But she has always had a quilt project and a hog. This year, she will show a steer and a hog, and have a beautiful quilt to enter in the Richland County Fair.

The quilt project has been a constant throughout Van Hook's 4-H years, with a more difficult pattern each time. She also took a fiber tech class in school last year where she learned new things. She has participated in the County Quilt Revue each year except this one, where judges are different than the ones at the fair. Winners are then qualified to attend Congress, which she has chosen not to do, but she values the feedback from the judges.

Van Hook said that her favorite part of 4-H is showing her projects at the fair. She has done very well with those projects over the years, winning Reserve Champion with her poultry, Grand Champion several times with her family pen of three hogs, Best of Fair and Judges Choice multiple times in quilting. She has also taken her steer to Jackpot Shows in Glendive and Billings where she learned valuable showmanship information.

Big brothers William III and Wes have provided valuable assistance over the years with William III helping to break the steer and both helping with shots for the hogs. It's preferable to have someone else do the shots so the hog doesn't associate that process with the 4-Her, making it easier to handle in the ring.

The livestock sale at the fair is the culmination of all the hard work put in by the kids raising livestock. Van Hook would like to thank all the buyers for their support of Richland County 4-H and for the purchase of her animals over the years. The money she has raised will go towards her education and she truly appreciates it.

In her club, Van Hook has held leadership positions including historian, club treasurer and vice-president. She has also logged tons of community service hours with projects such as Operation Shoe Box, making benches for the fair, delivering Meals on Wheels, conducting food drives, and participating in multiple events at Crestwood Inn.

Whitney is the daughter of William Jr. and Vonnie Van Hook. She plans to attend NDSU this fall with the goal of becoming a Vet Tech.