Tears well up in Karen Winslow’s eyes as she talks about the wonder of 4-H, not only for her family but for hundreds of youngsters through Linn county.
“When I think about seeing the kids getting their animals ready, washing them or working around the fairgrounds as a team, I can’t help but cry,” Winslow admits.
For more than a decade, the former “town kid” has helped make memories for local children, first with the Wooley Critters, a sheep club and then with the Calapooia Critters, livestock club.
Winslow’s dedication was recognized recently as she was named co-Leader of the Year by the Linn County 4-H Leaders Association.
For Winslow, 4-H involvement came about as it has for so many other parents over the years, her children became involved.
“Well,” Winslow said, “it was actually Ed Graville who got the kids started. He told them he’d give them their first lamb when they were old enough for 4-H. Kari took the money from that first lamb and bought her first cattle. It’s been interesting from that day on.”
Kari said having her mother as a 4-H leader “Has had its moments…we never had to worry about missing any meetings.”
Karen admits she “had to learn about animals right along with the kids.”
“I told people, I don’t know what I’m doing but I’ll try my best,” Winslow said.
She also was fortunate to work with leaders and strong 4-H supporters like Sudi Lamb and Ron Blackwell.
“Well, I guess I do it because I believe people have to step up to the plate,” Winslow said. “I guess I got into leading the club because I was willing to do the paperwork, making sure it got to the kids and scheduling things.”
The Winslow girls, Kari and Terra, both SHHS graduates, worked hard to show champion cattle. Both succeeded. Terra showed the reserve champion steer at last summer’s fair. Kari has shown numerous award-winners and also became quite active in the Junior Polled Hereford Association, rising to the presidency.
Their dad, Butch, has worked alongside his family to help them succeed.
“4-H is all encompassing,” Winslow said. “Anything a kid is interested in can be learned and done through 4-H. What we need are adults willing to share their skills and to teach them. I wish we would have gotten the girls more involved in other areas such as sewing and cooking in addition to the livestock but there’s only so much time.”
With a stock trailer purchased in partnership with Sudi Lamb, one year the Winslows made five trips from Sweet Home hauling livestock for 4-H club members.
“Karen pulls a trailer in forward only,” Butch said with a hearty laugh. “No backing up for her.”
For many families the county fair is the midway carnival or the annual livestock auction, but Winslow said she wishes more people could see 4-H kids when they’re up early in the morning to clean the barns.
“The adults aren’t supposed to clean things so it falls on the kids,” Winslow said. “We sit back and watch and it’s rewarding to see them working together.”
As the state budget tightens, 4-H extension agents’ jobs are being cut, Winslow said. It’s a frightening prospect because one agent can’t effectively work with two or three counties.
“The county fair is still community oriented,” Winslow said. “There are work days, workshops and demonstrations. Many people probably don’t know that the wildfire steward programs in schools uses 4-H materials. 4-H is in the classroom in many ways.”
Some 20 Sweet Home area youngsters took 59 large animals to last year’s fair, Winslow said.
“They can only be successful if there are parents and leaders to help them,” Winslow said.
There have been many tears mixed with the happy times for the Winslows when it comes to showing animals.
“It’s hard to believe now, seeing Terra the social butterfly, but she was painfully shy at one time,” Winslow said. “She changed because of 4-H. When Kari showed her first lamb, it just wouldn’t cooperate even though we worked very hard with it. She cried and cried after the judge marked her down. But she kept going and had a great 4-H career.”
In addition to her work with the local club, Winslow has held positions on the executive council and as beef superintendent for the entire fair.
Born and reared in Pendleton, Winslow has a twin sister, Kathy, who lives on a ranch at North Powder.
“4-H provides kids with a lifetime of opportunities,” Winslow said. “I just can’t say enough about its programs.”
As Terra nears the end of her 4-H career, Winslow says she too will begin to phase out of leadership like her predecessors.
“But, we never go away. We’ll always be there to help the next person. Look at Sudi and Ron, their kids are grown and they’re still helping all the time, “Winslow said.