An epiphenomenon is a side effect caused by something else. Several of the 4-H Corn Queen candidates and the solitary King candidate say they were made to join the youth program. All said it has paid dividends for them to this point and will well into the future. Of those side effects through being made to join 4-H, friendships, opportunities, and skills were all mentioned as what they’ve gained through the experience. Each was given further experience in public speaking Thursday as Kiwanis welcomed Corn King Eli Bryant, Corn Queen Katelyn Davis, along with the eight other queen candidates.
It was a special year for the winners as they’re both generational royalty. Eli Bryant’s mother Sandra (Gates) Bryant is a former Corn Queen as is the mother of Davis, Holly (Lamp) Davis. Katelyn didn’t have to be made to join 4-H…it was simply understood.
When I was in kindergarten, I decided I wanted to be in Girl Scouts. They’d come to school and told us all about it. I went home that day and told my parents I wanted to join. My mom and dad quickly told me no. They said they didn’t have anything against Girl Scouts, but we’re a 4-H family. As a 5-year-old, I didn’t really understand that, but as I got older, it all made sense. My parents were both in 4-H. They actually met at 4-H camp. One of my great grandmothers was a 4-H leader as were my four grandparents. So later that year, my mom signed me up for Cloverbuds and for 3 years, I participated in the county Cloverbud program and showed my project each year at the 4-H Fair. When I was in 3rd grade, it became time to become a regular 4-H member and I joined the Mad Hatters.
That lineage provided a strong foundation for Davis who says her mother told her there were three things she would always do in 4-H.
Things I wanted to do…things that are good for others…and things that are good for me. I’ve always enjoyed the things I wanted to do from going to 4-H camp, lobbying for 4-H at the state capitol through 4-H Legislative Connection, and taking all my fair projects. These activities will always be some of my favorite memories from my childhood.
She says even the things she didn’t love doing, she understood the value because it was making an impact on and for her community. And even some of the projects she didn’t know she’d end up participating in have and will serve her into the future.
I’ve gained confidence and skills that will serve me the rest of my life. Some of these things like public speaking contests and radio PSAs have become some of my favorite things to do in 4-H.
At the end of the day though, nothing beats the connections and relationships the youth organization has made possible for Davis.
The people that I’ve been blessed to meet and work with are the best part of the program. From the other members of my club who I consider a second family to members of other clubs in our county and even members from across the state, I’ve been blessed to meet so many young people. These people together with all the adults I’ve worked with through organizations such as Kiwanis and the University of Illinois Extension office have helped shape me into the person I am today.
Kiwanis was full of youngsters Thursday. In addition to the Corn Day royalty and court, several Key Club members were in attendance and Mrs. Lacey Moore, principal at Jefferson Attendance Center honored her 1st Quarter 3rd Grade Most Valuable Bulldogs by treating them to lunch at the club meeting. They include Cameron Keller, Brett Tomm, Zaina Reed, and Brantley Jay.
Coming up next week, Kiwanis will welcome Lacey Harms speaking on behalf of Waiting on Baby Bird Ministries. Harms herself experienced the challenges of infertility for a dozen years. She now serves as the Vice President on the board of the organization, which works to support women and families navigating infertility and loss.
