Most of my life I was a wife and mother, but I was also a 4-H leader for 25 years. I enjoyed teaching the 4-H members, mostly kids my own children’s age and then beyond when they graduated and headed off as adults.

I started as a 4-H leader when my children were too young for 4-H. The neighbor girl who had watched our kids for us when we wanted a night out came over and said her leader was quitting and would I become her leader. As a youth, I’d had one year of clothing 4-H and one year of foods 4-H. I knew a bit about the organization and I knew how to cook and sew. I said yes.

That started my 25 years of being a leader. But in 1997, I was asked to help out with the static exhibits during fair. Manage the set up of the building (then in the old fairgrounds where the buildings were like barns), run the fashion show the clothing members were part of during one evening of fair, and make sure the judges had everything they needed for judging.

After that fair I was asked if I wanted the job of 4-H program assistant. It was a part time job that at times required more than 40 hours a week.  Especially during fair. I took on the job as my oldest two were either graduated from high school or about to graduate. I wasn’t needed at home as much and I was looking for a way to make money to allow me to go to more writer’s conferences.

It feels like a lifetime ago, I resigned in 2006 when my writing took off. But every summer when I’m called to judge at county fairs, I can’t say no.

In most counties the 4-H members “interview” with the judge about their exhibits they made in each project area. This is my favorite part of judging. When I get to ask the member about the struggles and triumphs they had while making the garment, the hat, the pot, the painting, or photograph. You can tell the members who really enjoy what they do and the ones who only did it because they were made to participate.

I’m judging today at Wasco County in Tygh Valley, Oregon. Yesterday I judged 4-H. today I’m judging Open Class. This is for the local people, seniors, adults, and youth who entered items in the fair. Judging Open Class is easier than 4-H. You look at the items. Choose the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd items by how well they are made and the rest get participation ribbons. And I don’t have to interview or write down my evaluations like I have to do for 4-H.

The week before at a fair I judged the categories in communication. Educational displays, creative writing, and public speaking.

In the public speaking, I had one young woman who was doing an impromptu speech. Which meant I gave her a topic and she had five minutes to prepare to talk about it. When I was given the list, I picked “haircuts.” And was I surprised at how well she put the topic together and connected it to her mom and grandmother in a way I hadn’t expected. I thought she’d talk about hair styles, but no it was about family.

Then I had a little boy who was so scared, it was painful to watch. His mom said his father couldn’t speak in front of people and she was hoping to help her son not be the same. So we sat, for a bit with her sitting on a chair not far from him, encouraging him and me telling him how scared I was to speak in front of people and how it was just the getting up and doing it over time that it became a bit easier.

When he still shook his head, tears on his cheeks, and staring at the ground, his mom told him to put his notes down and not look at them. And I started asking him questions. What was his speech about. “Fishing,” he said. “Why did you pick this topic?” I asked. He told me because his family liked to fish. “Do you like to fish?” I asked and then he went on to tell me all about a couple of trips they took and how he liked to fish. He was looking at me, talking, smiling, and carrying on a great conversation.

His mom asked him if he felt ready to give his speech now and he turned back into the hunched position, his eyes staring at his hands and shaking his head. I said, you were just talking to me and did you think I’d hurt you? He shook his head. “I’m the same person. Just talk to me like before and tell me everything without me asking you questions.”

He picked up his notes and he froze. His mom took the notes away from him. “Maybe you’d do better without the notes.” He shook his head.

Finally, after about forty-five minutes of coaxing, he gave his speech and after a shaky start did well. I couldn’t give him a blue because we had to work with him to get it out of him, but he walked out of the barn with a more confident air.

And that is what 4-H is about.