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November 20, 2007

4-H continues to influence futures

4-H'er Tom Devine feeds goats
4H participant Tom Devine feeds goats at his family's farm in Newton on Sunday. Devine shows livestock competitively and will enter Catawba Valley Community College in the spring to study science. (Photo by Alan Rogers, Hickory Daily Record)

One student has always known he would have a future with horses. The other started in 4-H at an early age and has developed an interest in poultry science. But both have benefited from their participation in the 4-H Club.

"I've always been interested in animals and wanted to become a vet. Four-H provides opportunities ... that I wouldn't get otherwise," said Ethan Hefner, 16, of Newton.

Lisa Baxter, 17, of Sherills Ford, started out young, participating in a small club and working with sheep. A teen retreat to N.C. State University through 4-H grabbed her interest.

"We did a lot of stuff in a lab," Baxter said, quickly listing activities including dissecting chickens to learn about their reproductive and digestive systems. "We would break eggs at different stages of development. And I went to a hatchery to see how commercial products start."

Read more from the Hickory Daily Record.

Posted by Suzanne at November 20, 2007 09:28 AM