Cakes, cows and kids keep Wasteney running
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Brent and Karie Wasteney of Wasteney Farms.
A family connection to 4-H runs generations deep for Karie Wasteney and her kids, Kash and Keely. Growing up, Karie was a member of the Jolly Jinglers 4-H club, led by Cheryl Whittington and Cindy Schlapia.
“It was the same club my mom and aunt were in,” Karie says.
When she was in 4-H, it was an all girls club, they just didn’t have any boys at the time.
Although animals were a part of her family’s everyday life, Karie enjoyed exploring other project areas when she was active in 4-H. She had a passion for visual arts and explored projects in child development as well as food and nutrition.
“I’m a crafty person,” said Karie, “that was my wheelhouse.”
Karie, like other 4-H leaders, note that one of the greatest things about 4-H is that virtually any topic, hobby or passion can be incorporated into a 4-H project.
“You can do anything and be in 4-H,” says Karie.
However, 4-H is not just about furthering your own personal interests. Members of 4-H clubs also learn how to be a leader, conduct club meetings, use parliamentary procedure and how to give back to their community through community service projects.
The camaraderie of being in a club and learning along side your peers is what 4-H is known for.
This is Karie’s seventh year leading the Ringgold Ranchers club. Karrie helped Jentry Graham start the club in 2017. As the only specialty club in the county, the Ringgold Ranchers focus their time on agricultural learning.
They visit different farming operations each year to explore different styles of farming in addition to learning about the fundamentals of livestock care and land stewardship.
Each year, club members set their own priorities, areas they want to focus learning around and decide on group projects.
“At our annual meeting in September, the kids set their own schedule, and have input into what they want to do,” said Karie, “The kids are the leaders.”
Karie works with them to set goals at the beginning of each year. She has them set one personal goal, and one club goal and report back at the end of the year about what they learned in the process.
“If you put it down on paper it drives you to get there,” says Karie.
She also provides time at the beginning of each meeting for “Brag Tags.” Each club member shares something they are proud of.
Their club has around twenty members currently, and over half of the members are taking a project to the Iowa State Fair this year.
Once they arrive at the state fair, club members Dalton Barnes, Brock Shaha, Birk Willis, Avery Wolf, Makel Jones, Brittlyn Nickle, Kelby Greenland, Maddox England, Kenleigh Fooken, Lane and Tyce Parrish, and her own two kids, Kash and Keeley, will be housing their animals in common areas of the barns set aside for Ringgold County.
“They try to pen you together in the same area by county or 4-H club,” explained Karie.
Animal projects can be entered as either FFA or 4-H at the state fair. The first week of the fair focuses on FFA animal projects, while 4-H projects are shown during the second week of the fair.
Aside from the week-long fair experience, livestock exhibitors have huge time commitments and responsibility to care of their animals.
Between being involved in sports, working and caring for their animals, Kash and Keely start their days around 5 or 6 a.m. and sometimes don’t get home until 9 or 10 p.m. at night.
“It takes a tremendous amount of time,” said Karie, “they put in 15-18 hour days sometimes.”
They still need to feed and care for their animals on top of their respective team sports and jobs.
Keely just finished a rigorous summer softball season, while Kash is working two jobs this summer in addition to being in 4-H and showing animals at the fair.
“It is hard with year-round sports now,” says Karrie, “Many families just don’t have time to do everything they want to do.”
Kids in Kindergarten through grade 12 have an opportunity to learn by doing and build life skills through 4-H’s unique hands-on approach.
Iowa 4-H needs many volunteers who are willing to share creative ideas, time, talent, and skills to support youth at the community, county, and state level.
Whether you are interested in volunteering as a club leader, project leader, Clover Kids leader, judge, mentor, or county volunteer, your contributions can have an immediate impact by giving kids skills that will help them have a competitive edge in their future endeavors.
Each year, 4-H clubs start anew in September, meeting once a month with their club leaders.
Visit with Ringgold County ISU Extension staff about volunteer opportunities if you are you curious about volunteering for 4-H.
