“I’m doing things I never thought I’d do,” said Nataleigh Kerr, the 18-year-old daughter of Jim and Patty Kerr of Harmony, about her five-year Butler County 4-H career.

Although Nataleigh grew up on her family’s 100-acre farm, she was unfamiliar with the 4-H program until friends Matt and Alyssa Tice, also of Harmony, invited her to join their 4-H livestock club, the Jr. Agriculturalists.

She was hooked immediately, and her three siblings, Mitchell, Madilynn and Katelyn, have also become active. They raise hogs and all the fourth generation Kerrs now show market hogs, lambs and steers.

“4-H has definitely changed a lot of things in my life,” she said. “I’ve had to dedicate a lot of time to raising project animals, and it gives me a lot of responsibility. I never thought I’d show animals and didn’t know what to expect until we showed our first year at the Butler Farm Show.”

Nataleigh admits her family had a great deal to learn about showing, but said, “Our animals have gotten much better by (our family) learning and talking to other 4-H families. It comes with time.”

One of her most memorable experiences came when she qualified for the second round of steer showmanship. The same year, the steer earned reserve champion honors in its weight class, and Nataleigh reveled in the chance to parade that animal in the final champion drive.

While she didn’t walk away with the pink or purple ribbons, she felt a huge sense of accomplishment.

“I’m sad that my 4-H career is almost over, just as I was just getting into things,” she reflected.

Something else Nataleigh never thought she’d do was host a square dance for more than 260 people. However, she did just that on April 4, as part of her senior project at Seneca Valley High School.

Although not a square dancer herself, she chose the project as a fundraiser to benefit the county 4-H. She had to conduct field research by attending different dances, build a portfolio of the planning and execution process, and will make a presentation to a panel of teachers.

“I was hoping for 100 people to come, and raise about $1,000,” she said’

She was pleasantly surprised when so many people attended, and she was able to present $1,800 to the 4-H program.

“I was relieved and excited so many showed up that weren’t just involved with 4-H because I know my advertising worked,” Nataleigh added.

Eighteen 4-H clubs put together themed baskets that sold in an auction, and she was “so proud” of the support by her fellow 4-H’ers.

“It was awesome,” she said.

Matt Tice also focused his senior project on skills developed through 4-H by raising a hog to donate to a food cupboard.

Nataleigh’s senior year also included being one of the drum majors for the high school marching band. She also plays flute in the wind ensemble and piano in the jazz ensemble, and is a member of an honors music society and National Honor Society.

Nataleigh plans to attend Westminster College this fall to study accounting and computer information systems.

“I like business-related projects, and I learned to keep record books through 4-H, which helped me decide to focus on this,” she said.

Her family has a side business growing pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn, that is sold at the farm, at shops in Portersville and at the New Wilmington produce market.

“It’s a lot of work in the fall, but our family has fun doing it,” she said of the effort that complements the farm’s corn, hay, soybeans and wheat crops.

Nataleigh may not seem like a typical farm girl, but she embraces her agricultural roots and her 4-H experiences and will use those as a springboard to success in the future.

For information about the county 4-H, contact Jean Kummer at the Extension Office at 724-287-4761, Ext. 224.