4-H Poss-ABILITIES Program Offers Opportunities For Youth Of All Abilities
WARSAW — The Kosciusko County 4-H Poss-ABILITIES Program is accepting applications from youth who are interested in learning more about the 4-H program and the opportunity to work with and show livestock animals.
The program was started last year as a way to make interactive livestock experiences “POSSIBLE” for youth of all “ABILITIES” and backgrounds. Living on a farm or having any previous experience with animals is not required.
The program is open to any youth between the ages of kindergarten and grade 12, with a specific interest in involving youth with special needs.
The enrollment fee for first-year participants has been waived. Enrollment for other members is $5 for grades K- 2 and $25 for grades 3-12. This gives the youth the opportunity to be in the program, which requires at least three farm-visits with their peer mentor and gives youth the opportunity to show in the Poss-ABILITIES Showcase with their animal they have been working with.
New this year, Poss-ABILITIES is also offering an opportunity for participants to purchase or lease animals and show competitively with the help of their peer mentor. Participants can choose between pigs, cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry to show.
Youth also get the opportunity to participate camps, workshops, meetings and to compete in general projects such as sewing, cooking, creative writing, photography, scrapbooking, crafts and much more.
Mayor Joe Thallemer was the special guest judge of the showcase last year.
“I was honored to participate as a celebrity judge at the first 4-H “POSS-ABILITIES” livestock showing at last year’s Kosciusko County 4-H Fair. The support given by the families, friends, leaders and mentors all projected on the accomplished faces of the showmen and I will never forget it! The program was as inspirational as any I had ever been around!” Thallemer said.
The Poss-ABILITIES program is willing to work with any youth, of any background, and any ability.
“I would say the best part was that were included in all aspects of it and never treated like he had a disability. And without this program he would have never got into doing 4-H,” said Jessica Miller-Gomola, whose son participated in the program last year.
The application deadline for the 2017 program is Jan. 15.
For questions or more information about 4-H Livestock Poss-ABILITIES please contact Melinda Wise or Stephanie Stephenson at (574) 372- 2340.