The Killarney 4-H Beef Club is being revived, and there are already families who are signing on as members, volunteers and leaders.
Andrea Bertholet and her family raise mainly Simmental beef cattle just east of Killarney, in the Holmfield area. Through many conversations with fellow parents, she's championed the revival of what once was a thriving 4-H Beef Club in the Killarney area. Her two children have been attending the Clearwater 4-H Beef Club, but after much prompting from other parents she thought it was time to bring the program home.
"I don't know how long it's been, but it's been quite a while since there was a 4-H club in Killarney, let alone a beef 4-H club," she explains. "There have been a few families that have been asking for a 4-H club here, and there are quite a few kids who are of the age to be joining a 4-H club, and the Killarney Ag Society is very keen on getting the 4-H club going again to take part in the summer fair and to take advantage of the wonderful facilities that we have at the Ag Grounds."
Bertholet belonged to her own 4-H beef club in the Grand Clarier area for 13 years, between Hartney and Pipestone so she comes by the 4-H passion quite honestly.
"I started in kindergarten with my little bottle-fed calf for my first year. Took a calf for the first few years and then as I got bigger and older I took a steer and a heifer and continued with a heifer until I was 21," she explains.
"There are so many opportunities and values that come from being a part of 4-H," she adds, "and then there are all types of scholarship opportunities and travel opportunities. There are so many lifelong skills that they can learn through different activities and the things they do through 4-H."
The official start will be in November, so an information parent meeting will be taking place this week Wednesday, October 16th at 7:00 pm at the Ag Office in Killarney where Bertholet will be sharing the plan, and answering any questions parents might and volunteers might have.
Please listen to more with Andrea Bertholet below!