While traditionally 4-H may stand for Head, Heart, Hand and Health, for Sarah Schriever it represents family, friendships, leadership and, of course, a love of animals.
Photos submitted
Photo submitted
It all began in third grade when, with the encouragement of her family and friends, Schriever began showing her friend’s sheep in the Cloverbud shows at the fair. And once the showmanship bug bit she joined the Carimona Cruisers and she began showing her family’s cows.
Over the years, the Carimona Cruisers, which is based in Preston, and the 4-H program as a whole has given Schriever a fun extended family that she has been able to learn and grow alongside.
“It has helped me create a lot of friendships. I remember when the (Fillmore County) fair would end we’d all leave on Sunday morning. So Saturday night we would stay the night in the barn and play fun activities,” Schriever remembered.
The Harmony native shared her experiences at the Minnesota State Fair were also a great way to build friendships though teamwork.
“I’ve been exhibiting dairy cows at the Minnesota State Fair since I was in seventh grade. Up there it is a lot of teamwork with the feeding and watering of the animals, the bedding of the animals and keeping everything clean,” Schriever shared. “With dairy we all like to keep together and work together because that is the point of 4-H. You are supposed to be helping each other out and teaching new things.”
According to Schriever, being a part of the Carimona Cruisers has given her the confidence in herself as she nears the end of her time as a club member.
“It definitely helped with my people skills and being able to talk in front of people. I wasn’t a very big public speaker when I was younger, but now with the leadership roles I’ve been having to run meetings and voice my opinions more because I’m one of the older people in 4-H.”
While she balances her schooling at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar, Iowa for AgriBusiness and Animal Science, Schriever plans to continue to be a part of 4-H.
“There are many volunteer opportunities in our club where I can take a leadership position, so I could stay involved in our club. My mom is currently our club leader, so that is definitely something I can do to. I can learn from her and use that later on,” Schriever said. “I can connect with the younger kids to be a mentor to them kind of like what I had when I was younger. Someone to encourage them to step into leadership roles. With 4-H the point is to help kids learn. That’s a big reason I’m in it.”
Perhaps one of the most important lessons Schriever learned is how big of a positive impact she can have on someone else’s life and how that can benefit not only them, but her, as well.
“Being able to be a positive role model to kids now when there are a lot of bad things in the world and being able to be part of the reason why a kid looks up to me is something I’m really proud of. I’d rather be a good influence than be somebody’s bad influence,” Schriever concluded.
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