Batesville senior shares what Ripley County 4-H means to her

(OSGOOD, Ind.) – An incoming Batesville High School senior sat down with The 812 on Thursday to discuss what 4-H means to her. 

Macy Young was a third grader when she joined 4-H and fell in love with the program and says she has felt the same in return. 

“I want people to know that 4-H is family. No matter what barn you’re in, no matter what project you’re in, you are backed up by every person in the barn,” Young said. 

She says the best part of 4-H is seeing how each member is supported by other competitors whether they’re showing livestock or any other project. 

“If you’re a first-year member you will know everybody’s name by the end of fair week. The best thing 4-H has given me is another family,” she added. 

Young and the other veteran Ripley County 4-H members have found themselves as the ones who young members now lean on. 

“There’s people like Kayden Weiler, Eva Struewing, Bonnie Hoffrogge and Gabriel Caseltine who are all out here helping younger members out, and they help no matter what. They will be there in a matter of seconds to help those kids out,” she said. 

Young also had a unique experience as she served as an Indiana 4-H Ambassador this past year.

It gave her the opportunity to visit other counties and see how 4-H occurs statewide.

“It was an awesome experience to learn about the state and how every county is different, and how those counties have other activities for 4-H’ers to do,” she said.

Young added a unique fact that Ripley County is one of the biggest 4-H programs in the state. 

“We are booming right now, we are ranked top five in Indiana of people enrolled in 4-H,” she said. 

While Young won’t see it as a 4-H member, she hopes to see a new arena barn built on the fairgrounds. 

“The numbers are up and we are having a great time. But the barns are crowded, if we could get grants to get a new arena barn it would truly improve the fairgrounds,”  Young added.