Spring Valley 4-H Club
PLYMOUTH – Matt, Anne, Chris, age 15 and Erin, age 12, Spieth of Plymouth have been active in both the Spring Valley 4-H Club and currently belong to the Scott Pioneers 4-H Club over the past nine years. Chris and Erin have done exceptionally well in the pig, dog, rabbit, horse, goats and poultry projects during that time, not only on the county level, but the state level as well.
The year 2010, however, will long be remembered by them because the months preceding the Sheboygan County Fair have proven to them that 4-H is more than projects, ribbons and trophies. It’s a caring community of people that brought new meaning to them because in April, Chris was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and in June received a heart transplant at Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee.
“County Fair is this week,” Matt said. “We are a longtime 4-H family and this is where the kids get to show their stuff. We will not have as many projects to show off this year, but are really looking forward to seeing friends over the five days of the fair.
“Another goal was to attend the fair and Chris has met that with flying colors,” Matt added.
Maybe the Spieths won’t have as many exhibits this year, but don’t be led astray! They will still be offering plenty of competition with their poultry, rabbits and Erin is showing her horse in Junior Showmanship and Hunt Classes/ English riding.
“You cannot get a project ready the night before the fair,” Matt said. “We have a rule that if you sign up for a project, it’s your responsibility to make that project look the best they can.”
“If their projects become our projects, they don’t have to take them next year,” Anne said.
“I think we do well on our projects because we research them and read,” Chris said. “It takes a lot of work to get our animals where they are.”
“It was a good choice this year not to show pigs,” Matt stated, “because we wouldn’t have been able to do them because of being busy with Chris. The same with the goats. We have always been active in that project, but we’re not taking any to the fair this year.”
“The 4-H community really helped us these past months,” Anne said. “They gave us support, help financially with benefits, and all the cards and food and letters. The whole 4-H community as a whole helped us.”
“They sent gas cards, helped with fostering of the dogs, they trained them while Chris was in the hospital, people came to help with the horses, did spring cleaning of the farm and gave just a lot of caring,” Matt said.
“Some friends of ours even took in Erin while we were in the hospital with Chris,” Anne continued.
“It was a different side of 4-H for us,” Matt added.
“4-H in general should be about the kids,” Matt said. “In order for the kids to excel, they should be doing the work with guidance but not the parents doing the project.
“We see great leadership in the club,” Matt continued. “It’s good if the leaders let the kids run the club; there is also good family leadership, but the kids run the clubs.”
“I like 4-H because you get to meet people, do games, show animals and show what you’ve been working on a lot,” Erin said. “It’s nice to be recognized for the work you do and show quality things. It’s just like show it off and saying, `I can do this!’”
“I like the people you meet, the leadership and the opportunity 4-H provides,” Chris said. “The projects are not limited; there are a lot of interesting projects to try, especially in the self-determined.”
“It hasn’t been about the trophies,” Matt pointed out. “It’s the relationship with friends.
“The kids that I’ve seen excel are those that share information with others and are self-motivated, help others.”
“I like the whole community of 4-H,” Anne said. “It helps the kids to strive for their best.”
“4-H gives the opportunity to bond with your family,” Erin related, “and do things together.” The Spieths would like to thank their entire 4-H family for all that they did this past year, but special thanks is extended to the Ohman family, Linda Gensch, Kay Hau, Debbie Kurth and Tammie Nifenegger.
