A guest blog post by 2019 Emerald Winner Beth Huffman
My name is Beth Huffman and I am a 2019 Emerald Winner. I got started in 4-H doing dog and horse club and I am now a leader of the Oldham County Leaders of the Pack Dog Club. I have been learning how to train dogs since I was a cloverbud. As a leader now I can see that working with animals is a tool to build leaders. Having an animal beside you teaches valuable life and leadership skills. I have shown multiple dogs in 4-H, from my leader’s chihuahua Mickey, to my rescue yorkie Princess, and even an AKC quality dalmatian, Swanky. Each dog is different, making every bond special. Mickey helped bring me out of my shell and Swanky sure keeps me humble. Here are three leadership skills I learned from Mickey, Princess, and Swanky. 
DEDICATION
Dedication is a huge part of being a leader and widely emphasized in 4-H. Training a dog takes more than just one day of work, as does any leadership project. To accomplish a goal, whether in obedience or agility, you must stick with it. A dog is never going to learn if you give up halfway through because it gets hard. Through the training process you build a bond with the dog and it becomes easier to see what works the longer you work at it. A leader is committed and never gives up on their goals. Learning dedication through training dogs in 4-H has helped me become a better leader in 4-H and within my community. 4-H teaches us to never give up when life gets hard and this is what allows us to succeed.
PATIENCE
Working with animals teaches the valuable life lesson of patience. Animals are unpredictable and do not communicate the same way we do. With Swanky, I have learned to expect anything and to think on my feet. He will get excited and run an agility course the way he sees fit, which is of course not the way to do it. My final year of 4-H at the State Dog Show, he finally ran the agility course flawlessly, and proceeded to pee in the tunnel, giving us a lovely disqualification. The patience I have with this dog is unbelievable. If I gave up on agility, he would not have even been able to run the course. I have learned not everything goes as planned and that is okay. A leader can work through the unexpected to achieve a positive outcome. Dedication and patience are hand in hand; a patient leader is one who is dedicated. 
CONFIDENCE
As a shy kid going into competitions, I would have my dog right there with me. This is one of the most valuable things I have learned in 4-H, you are never alone. We use dogs as a tool, it is not only about training the dogs, it is so much more. Kids can take their best friend into a show ring with them, this inspires a confidence never felt before. The first dog I showed in 4-H was Mickey. I worked so hard with him and at the time I did not realize it but, my leader Cindy was training me in a way. I was so unbelievably shy and building the bond I did with Mickey helped me come out of my shell. I realized my potential through the 4-H dog program and slowly gained confidence. 4-H is a family no matter what group or club you are in.
I am so grateful for my experiences in 4-H because I would not be where I am today without it. I have the life skills and leadership qualities I need to succeed in life. I have connections and friendships that will last a lifetime and have learned to take pride in my community. I am currently a biology major at Hanover college where I hold leadership positions in multiple clubs. I was able to grow as a leader to become active in every community I am part of, even outside of my 4-H family. This is what is so special about 4-H; it shapes us in ways we cannot imagine and into the movers and shakers of tomorrow. 
