County Leaders Hear From Local 4-H Students

Representatives from 4-H Clubs across Fayette County attended the Fayette County Commissioners Court meeting Thursday morning, Sept. 25, to give a report on their activities from the past year. They are pictured above on the steps of the courthouse with County Judge Dan Mueller (front, center) and members of the Commissioners Court. Fayette County Commissioners Court signed a proclamation designating Oct. 5-11 as National 4-H Week in Fayette County. Pictured are (back, from left) Fayette County 4-H Council Officers, Brealey Nieto – Secretary, Logan Poncik – Vice President, Tori Newton – President, Tate Fritsch – Parliamentarian, Tatum Fritsch – Reporter, (front) Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann, County Judge Dan Mueller, Pct. 2 Commissioner Clint Sternadel and Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom. Not pictured were 4-H Council Treasurer Crockett Guenther and Pct. 3 Commissioner Harvey Berckenhoff. Photos by Andy Behlen

Fayette County 4-Hers gave an annual update on their activities to the Fayette County Commissioners Court on Thursday, Sept. 25. Their presentation came just ahead of National 4-H Week, which is Oct. 5-11.

Fayette County 4-H Council President Tori Newton reported that the Council would hold its community service project, the Color Run, benefiting the Emily Fritsch 4-H Scholarship Fund on Saturday, Oct. 11.

County 4-H Council Parliamentarian Tate Fritsch said approximately 400 members and 50 adult volunteers enrolled in 4-H programs in the 2024-25 year.

Brealey Nieto, County 4-H Council Secretary, reported that nine community 4-H clubs, two project clubs and several project groups were active in Fayette County over the past year. He reported that Fayette County 4-H members collected approximately $2.1 million in sales at major and local livestock shows in the past year.

In addition, Nieto said graduating senior members received 4-H Opportunity Scholarships totaling $36,000 last year.

Representatives from each of the 4-H Clubs in Fayette County gave updates on their activities. Those clubs are Fayetteville 4-H Club, Flatonia 4-H Club, Grow Wings 4-H Club (which focuses on youth with disabilities), the 4-H Horse Club, La Grange 4-H Club, Pure Country 4-H Club, Rising Stars 4-H Club, Round Top-Carmine 4-H Club, Fayette 4-H Shooting Sports Club, and Winchester 4-H Club.

Many folks associate 4-H mostly with youth livestock projects. But the youngsters at the Commissioners Court meeting Thursday spoke about the many other endeavors 4-H offers, such as photograph, culinary arts, clothing and textiles, robotics, wildlife science, public speaking, volunteer work and more.

Council Delegate Ty Maxwell gave some interesting statistics about the 4-H Shooting Sports program. Maxwell said about 500,000 Texas 4-H youth participate in shooting sports. He said there have been zero fatalities in the shooting sports program and the incident rate is just 0.0004 percent.

“It makes it one of the safest youth activities when compared to other sports like football, wrestling and basketball,” Maxwell said.

Following the presentation, Commissioners Court signed a proclamation designating Oct. 5-11 as National 4-H Week in Fayette County.

“I can’t begin to tell you how impressive these young folks are,” said County Judge Dan Mueller.

“It’s very impressive for y’all young individuals to get up and speak to a group like this,” said Pct. 4 Commissioner Drew Brossmann. “I know it isn’t easy. I know it’s nervewracking. We do it a whole bunch and we still get nervous when we get up here. So good job.”

Brossmann recalled one of the public forums from the last County Judge race when someone asked the candidates why there aren’t more activities for the youth in Fayette County.

“Good Lord have mercy, if you just listened to everything you all just said, if you join 4-H and can’t find something that interests you, you must be a sad individual,” Brossmann said.

Pct. 1 Commissioner Jason McBroom read a statistic he found that said for every dollar invested in a 4-Her, there is a $40 return of economic benefit to the youth, their family and the community.

‘That’s pretty substantial,” McBroom said.

“It makes all of us very proud of the way you represent the County,” said Pct. 2 Commissioner Clint Sternadel. “Whether its public speak or the events y’all attend, it reaches a lot farther than just the County. It looks really good on Fayette County that you guys have such high achieving character and professionalism.”

“We’re proud of all of you,” Judge Mueller said.

Following the proclamation, the 4-Hers treated the Commissioners Court to some kolaches, pigs-in-the-blankets, cookies and other sweets.