Teens represent wider ag community
Three county teens are serving as state agricultural royalty. They are sharing their Butler County roots as they travel across the state this summer.
Robin Peters, 19, of Renfrew was crowned Pennsylvania Ayrshire Princess in April.
Lane Kummer, 16, of Evans City became the Pennsylvania Jersey Queen in competition at the state Jersey Breeders Convention in March.
Madeline McEachin, 19, of West Sunbury is serving as the Pennsylvania State Fair Queen.
These three young women have all participated in the Butler County 4-H program and credit 4-H with preparing them to compete at the state level. They said they are looking forward to busy summer promoting Pennsylvania and Butler County agriculture.
“4-H throws you in feet first,” McEachin said. She has found that she enjoys filling leadership roles and recently became president of the state 4-H Council.
“I see benefit every day from my 4-H experience,” she said. “I am incredibility grateful for the opportunities that 4-H has given me.”
Peters never really wanted to talk to people. Now she enjoys public speaking. The 4-H program has helped her overcome her fears through providing her with leadership opportunities, she said.
“I'm not really sure what I want to do. I hope to find something where I can use public speaking.”
Peters served as president of her dairy 4-H club for three years and served on the multicounty dairy judging team. She also served as 2015 Butler County Dairy Princess.
She plans to attend Butler County Community College in the fall with a focus on communications.
She is very attached to her cattle. Her Holstein cow, Mohawk, is 10 years old.
Peters is now too old for 4-H but credits it with helping her learn the value of money and providing her with many opportunities to show her cattle. She has shown cattle at the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg and at the North American Livestock Exposition in Louisville, Ky.
Peters and Kummer have shown cows at many of the same shows but at different events.
Kummer is a junior at Seneca Valley High School. As a member of the Butler Youth Council, she has been part of the staff for the In-Betweeners Retreat at McKeever Environmental Center.
“This event is where younger 4-H members from several counties learn about the opportunities available for members 13 and older,” Kummer said. The whole event is planned and conducted by 4-H teens.She has gone to State Leadership Conference, Team Leader Retreat, state Achievement Days and 4-H camp. She has shown cattle at state and national events.The national Jersey Breeders' Convention will be in Pennsylvania this year. Since, Kummer cannot attend, she has created a video welcoming the visitors to Pennsylvania.Wearing a crown is not new to McEachin. She served as North Washington Rodeo Queen, as Butler County Fair Queen and this summer as the State Fair Queen. She will visit fairs across Pennsylvania, and said she enjoys meeting people.She credits her horse club leaders, Karen and Jim Dillaman of Slippery Rock, and extension educator Jean Kummer with the encouragement to pursue the opportunities available for teens in 4-H.Taking officer positions and working on community service projects developed her leadership skills, she said. She participated in state Leadership Conference, Capital Days and as an officer in the County Youth Council.McEachin graduated from Butler High School in 2016 and will return to Penn State University as a sophomore.The three will all be participating at the state agricultural exposition, AG Progress Days, conducted by Penn State University. Their last event will be the 2018 Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg in January.
