The Showin' & Growin' 4-H Club
By Paisley McCarroll
The new 4-H year kicked off on October 1, 2025, in Miami County. The Showin' & Growin' 4-H Club started off the year with an educational opportunity and a community service project.
Our educational encounter was on November 26th at Select Sires in Plain City, OH. Select Sires is a major beef and dairy genetics supplier across all 50 states, along with 90 other countries. We learned about how the process of collecting and packaging semen works. Our club members even made semen slides to view under microscopes.
Then on November 30, the club asked family, friends, and the community to come together to stock food pantry shelves at the Troy First Food Pantry. The club collected needed items and monetary donations, bringing in over 1,118 pounds of donations. Members gathered at the pantry to unload, weigh, and sort the products onto shelves.
The Miami County Parks offered a fundraiser opportunity in December. We took tickets and worked the holiday lights display at Lost Creek Reserve. We appreciated the opportunity to raise funds for our club, which helps us with our yearly needs as well as give back to the community.
In January 2026, we started our 3rd year as a club. Members include: Hayden and Hailey Clark, Landon, Braxton and Easton Marchal, Paisley and Lola McCarroll, Lincoln Moran, Silas, Jerid and Ty Raines, Mason, Makayla and Maria Weikert, and Cash Wheelock.
In January, we began having formal business meetings. Officers for the new year were elected.
President: Lola McCarroll, Vice President: Silas Raines, Secretary: Jerid Raines, Treasurer: Mason Weikert, Health & Safety Officer: Landon Marchal, Recreation Officer: Cash Wheelock, News Reporter: Paisley McCarroll, and Snack Coordinator: Lincoln Moran.
So far this year, we have mapped out our upcoming year and discussed future community service and club projects. We look to hold a bouquet flower sale at the Patrice Link Dance Recital in May and set up a show ring in the Poultry Barn the week of the Miami County Fair.
We learned about livestock ear tagging and herd management practices using this system. We practiced by tagging a cardboard ear.
In March we tied fleece blankets to giveaway to those who can use them most. We work as a team to better ourselves and our community. We are looking forward to the rest of the year.
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