A guest blog post by 2019 Emerald Winner and 2018-2019 Kentucky 4-H Vice President Walter Steely
My name is Walter Steely and I grew up in Webster County. I started 4-H as a cloverbud by going to events with my older sister. When I turned 9 and was able to be an official member, I wanted to try something my sister had not done in 4-H yet, and that was how I found our livestock club. I knew both of my parents grew up on farms and showed livestock, so I figured it was a way my dad and I could bond. I participated in skillathon and judging, and eventually started showing cattle. My sophomore year in high school I followed in the footsteps of many family members and joined the State Teen Council. I served from 2015 to 2018 and was the 2018-2019 State Vice President. 
HOW TO ADAPT
From my time in livestock skillathon and showing, the biggest lesson I have learned is how to adapt and overcome when things are not going the way I hoped they would. At the beginning of the show season, every kid thinks they have the animal that is going to win everywhere they go. For some kids they do, but for most, the first few shows provide a reality check and that’s totally fine! It is better to be a good loser than a bad winner. Whenever a show doesn’t go the way I was hoping for, it makes me work harder for the next show. In life, things won’t always go the way you planned, you
have to find a way to adapt and make the best out of the situation.
HOW TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
Different parts of 4-H have made me understand responsibility in different ways. First, every competition I did in 4-H, I wanted to win. I knew that it was up to me to take responsibility and do the extra work to achieve my goals. Second, when I started showing cattle, I learned a different level of responsibility because show animals depend on you to put in the time and effort so they can do their job in the ring. I think, however, the biggest lesson of responsibility I learned was as a state officer. Not only was I representing myself and the State Teen Council, I was representing every 4-H member
in the state. I had to be responsible in every aspect as a state officer to be the best I could be. 
HOW TO LEAD
As a State Teen Council member and Vice President, I learned what it takes to be a successful leader. I think the most important tool of a good leader is to listen to others. By listening, a leader is able to make the most efficient decisions to the problem or task at hand. There were many times as a council member and state officer I had to remind myself to slow down and listen; by doing so, it made accomplishing a task much easier. Everybody is a leader in some form. Take time to listen to others to be the best leader you can be.
I’m grateful for 4-H because it opened up amazing opportunities I would have never gotten if I wasn’t in 4-H. This organization has given me some of my best friends and many awesome memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life. I’m thankful for each part/event I participated in because every one of them taught me a lesson in some way. Most importantly, I’m thankful for 4-H and everyone I came into contact with because my 4-H experience has molded me into the person I am today.
