Holy cow: Hy-Lo 4-H Club turns 60

For more than 100 years, with an endless amount of enthusiasm and excitement, fairground barns and arenas across the country have been filled with young 4-Hers living up to the motto to "make the best better.GÇ¥ Among these youth were members of the local dairy cattle program, Hy-Lo 4-H Club, now celebrating its 60th year.

"I think that the success of agriculture in the U.S. and around the world can be attributed to its roots of most of its people coming from 4-H and FFA (Future Farmers of America),GÇ¥ said Hy-Lo leader Brock Ricci. "I think 4-H is one of the greatest youth organizations in America.GÇ¥

With 18 current members, Hy-Lo 4-H Club continues strong as a presence at the Evergreen State Fair, as it has for more than a half century. Hy-Lo members put hours of time into their project heifer or cow in preparation for fairs throughout the summer, but most importantly for the Evergreen State Fair and the Puyallup Fair.

Hy-Lo member RJ Rupard has been showing in 4-H for seven years, and credits his time in 4-H with helping him gain valuable life skills like responsibility and financial and time management.

"It taught me good things come with time,GÇ¥ he said. "Showing cows takes a while to get them to cooperate in the ring; the more you work with them, the better you'll be.GÇ¥-á

As it has been through the decades, Hy-Lo members look forward to the fairs; to showing their animals, answering questions from the public and spending time with fellow members who share their same love for dairy cows.

"The friendships I've made in 4-H are great. They are like my family,GÇ¥ 11-year-old Noah Berry told his mother, Mikaela. "Showing my cows at the Evergreen State Fair is one of the funnest weeks of my entire year.GÇ¥

Hy-Lo was chartered in 1956 as a dairy club, led by Tony Meier with five members. Hy-Lo got its name as a way to represent its first five members who came from the High Bridge area to the lower Tualco valley, the high and the low. The club soon grew into many different projects including economics, electricity, forestry, poultry, rabbits, and beyond. By the 1970s Hy-Lo had returned to its roots in dairy and has continued since then as a dairy club.

One of the former leaders of Hy-Lo was local dairyman Don Steffen. The Evergreen State Fair dairy barn was named after Steffen in 2010, for his love for 4-H youth.

Steffen participated and remained active in both 4-H and FFA his entire life. He was a leader of Hy-Lo in the 1960s, and part of the Evergreen State Fair since 1937. He made a lasting impression on 4-H and FFA members, many in the dairy industry and the very fair he was a part of for more than 70 years.-á He passed away in January 2010.

According to the Snohomish County Council motion summary in March 2009, a petition with 105 signatures was submitted to the recreation department in favor of naming the barn "The Don Steffen Dairy Barn.GÇ¥

Current leaders of Hy-Lo are Ricci, Cathy Eppinga Anderson, Colleen DeJong and Lena Magnochi.

"4-H to me was a way of forming friendships,Gǥ Magnochi said. "Being a leader is a fun way to help kids develop, and learn more about dairy cattleGǪ It is fun to be able to pass that knowledge on to the next generation.Gǥ

Arguably the most important ideal of 4-H is that members learn the value of hard work at a young age, which will serve them throughout life. Magnochi sees firsthand the fruits of 4-H and how it benefits youth into their futures.

"It helps you come out of your shell, it helps you get comfortable in front of people and a crowd,GÇ¥ she said.

As dairy clubs and farms in Washington State decrease, Ricci sees the importance of keeping the program alive. He is passionate about volunteering and helping out in any way he can.

Hy-Lo, along with thousands of clubs across the nation, strives for the same goals 4-H was founded on since its creation in 1902. As membership increased in the 1960s, 4-H broadened its horizons to better serve those involved, but the core of 4-H remained the same.

"It's a model that started out on a good foundationGÇ¥ Ricci said of the 4-H program.

From sewing and electronics to rural agriculture projects, 4-H focuses on creating a learning environment where youth grow and develop skills that benefit them for the rest of their lives. Many clubs require public speaking and keeping record books of members' projects, and sometimes simply the experience of showing helps 4-H youth develop self-confidence.

Adison Tubbs, 9, said she likes meeting new people and learning about cows.

"Being in the show ring has boosted her confidenceGÇ¥ said her mother, Annette Johannsen-Tubbs.

WSU Snohomish County 4-H Extension Program Coordinator Phoebe Bachleda said the essential elements of 4-H are highlighted in each and every club across the country.

"Generosity is the focus of every club, along with mastery of life skills, fostering independence and to make sure there is a sense of belonging,GÇ¥ Bachleda said. "4-Hers are working with real-life issues and giving back to the community.GÇ¥

For more than ten years, Tufts University has been conducting studies to measure the success of the 4-H program. The study found that those involved in 4-H are four times more likely to give back to their community, two times more likely to make better health choices and are about two times more likely to be involved in science, engineering and computer-related programs outside of school.

4-H is the nation's largest youth development organization. There are nearly six million youth involved in 4-H today. The name represents the four areas of focus at the core of the organization: head, heart, hands and health.

Unique to many organizations, 4-H reaches a wide range of youth with varying backgrounds in almost every corner of the U.S. It is estimated that there are 1.8 million urban, 1.6 million suburban and 2.6 million rural participants in 4-H.-á

"The best relationships in my life ' that I just cherish ' and the longest relationships, are those that started with my fellow 4-Hers and the 4-H families,GÇ¥ Ricci said "It is a really important network.GÇ¥

To learn more about the 4-H program or clubs in the area, visit www.4-h.org.