A local youth was chosen to represent Rocky View 4-H District at the Key Member Training weekend at Lakeland College in Vermillion, Aug. 20-22.
Jordyn Jamieson, 17, of Bow Valley Beef and Multi Club, joined about 25 elite senior 4-H members from across the province at the event.
“It was an awesome experience,” said Jamieson, who lives on a beef farm west of Dalemead. “We were involved in group activities that helped us and prepared us for putting on workshops when we get home.”
In May, Jamieson was selected as one of two key members within the district, and will serve as a youth resource to the local 4-H community this year. The weekend was part of her training for her upcoming duties.
Attendees took part in several skill- and team-building activities, including a corn maze and a game similar to the Amazing Race.
Jamieson, who is the president of her 4-H club, has been involved in the organization since she was 10 years old.
She is involved in four beef projects each year, including a steer, heifer, and two cow/calf projects. Jamieson has participated in a number of projects for the past four or five years, and says she averages about an hour and a half of chores per day.
“I am very much a farm girl,” said Jamieson. “I grew up that way, so I am very much devoted to it.”
Jamieson said she has developed many skills from her involvement in 4-H including public speaking, presentations, executive skills, recording, judging and team building.
“Everybody my age thinks it (4-H) is kind of corny, but it helps you so much when you get to the future,” said Jamieson, a student at Chestermere’s St. Gabriel School. “It gives you so many skills that you wouldn’t have developed. I definitely love it. I think it is something everyone should be involved in.”
Jamieson is just entering her final year of high school and is hoping to study genetics. She said 4-H has helped her develop skills that will one day make her more attractive to future employers.
Next year, she hopes to become a 4-H ambassador for the Calgary region. She would also like to promote 4-H.
“I am trying to go into a lot of schools in the district for grades 4-7…and promote 4-H,” she said.