MANHATTAN – Twenty-four Kansas 4-H members have been chosen to have their awardwinning photograph displayed on the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan. Among the list was Greenwood County’s Lylly Stapleford of the Fancy Mustangs 4-H Club.
The photos selected were among the more than 2,000 4-H entries at the 2023 Kansas State Fair in Hutchinson. The two dozen photos received a purple ribbon – the top 4-H award – at this year’s state fair, and then were selected by a committee to be highlighted at K-State.
Amy Collins, a program coordinator in the state 4-H office, said six photos were selected to be displayed each in the offices of K-State President Richard Linton; K-State Dean of Agriculture Ernie Minton; K-State Research and Extension Associate Director Gregg Hadley; and Kansas 4-H State Leader Sarah Maass.
“The photography project helps to enhance so many life skills for the 4-H member --attention to detail, and the importance of looking at the same object but from a different point of view – along with the technical skills they learn,” said Maass, who shared her own experience as a youth in the 4-H photo project leading up to an international trip.
Stapleford’s photo will be displayed in the Dean of Agriculture’s office. Stapleford is an eighth grader at Eureka Junior/ Senior High School and a member of the Fancy Mustangs 4-H Club. She is the daughter of Doug and Sonya Stapleford, of Toronto.
The list of winners, and the location in which their photos is displayed, include: K-State President: Natalie Lacy, Sedgwick County; Jarett Riley, McPherson County; Annabelle Schneider, Greeley County; Reygan Schrock, Central Kansas District, Saline County; Ethan Seever, Shawnee County; and Madelyn Waggoner, West Plains District, Finney County.
Dean of Agriculture: Kinsley Anderson, Marshall County; Stella Martin, Marshall County; Maverick Post, Phillips Rooks District, Rooks County; Lylly Stapleford, Greenwood County; Aubrey Pfizenmaier, River Valley District, Clay County; and Ryker Windle, Lyon County.
Director of Extension: Chase Bell, Twin Creek District, Graham County; Rhett Kats, Phillips Rooks District, Phillips County; Sarabeth Martin, River Valley District, Clay County; Claire Priest, Cowley County; Briley Stites, Phillips Rooks District, Phillips County; and Parker Foley, Doniphan County.
State 4-H office: Noah Cucar, Rolling Prairie District, Elk County; Kinley Curtis, Pratt County; Colton Doll, River Valley District, Washington County; Carson Vering, Marshall County; Megan Kueser, Southwind District, Neosho County; and Mitchell Lehman, West Plains District, Finney County.
The 4-H members whose photos were selected for display at K-State – and their families -- were recently invited to the K-State president’s office to officially hand over their winning photos. Linton talked about the importance of 4-H in his own career and how the program often inspires leaders.
“4-H has been one of the great things about the jobs I’ve held the past 38 years,” he said. “4-H and FFA are two incredible programs where kids get a chance to lead and be creative. So my recommendation to all of you is to stick with it. Be involved in leadership and continue with 4-H and other youth leadership programs. It will really help you later in life to be the leaders that I know all of you can be.”
Collins said 4-H projects typically start out as something that youth are interested in learning more about.
“As they progress within the project through hands-on learning, they eventually begin to achieve mastery within the project, and with this comes recognition, a main component of the 4-H program,” she said.
“This recognition allows 4-Hers to realize how they have grown, what they have learned, where they may have come up short and even ‘happy accidents’ that may have occurred. The photography project provides an opportunity for competition at the county, regional and state level, in addition to these special awards.”
(Courtesy photos)
