Editor's Note: This is the latest Nelson Motors 4-H Member of the Month profile. We thank Nelson Motors for sponsoring this promotion, and we applaud 4-H for the difference it makes in the lives of young people.
Name: Hudson Vandenhurk
Club: Cymri 4-H Beef Club
Age: 16
Years in 4-H: 10
Age group: Senior
Hudson Vandenhurk joined the Cymri 4-H Beef Club because he loves working with animals, and 4-H provides him with the opportunity to do so. It's proved to be a great experience, and he has remained ever since.
Among the highlights, Vandenhurk has been at the regional 4-H Show and Sale each year in Weyburn, and has won numerous awards for the strength of his cattle.
"Each year I have raised a steer from a weight of about 450-500 pounds to a weight of 1,400 pounds," said Vandenhurk. "You learn about how to feed them, what to feed them, different nutritional aspects and what kind of habitat they should have, and just general well-being, how to take care of them," he said.
This past winter, he went to Saskatoon for 4-H Saskatchewan's annual general meeting, where he said he met a lot of really cool people and learned about leadership. It was fun and a great experience.
In his first year in 4-H, he went to the provincial speaking competition, and has continued to prepare a speech every year. He has been to districts and regionals on multiple occasions.
"When I started, I could hardly speak to crowds at all," he said. "I'd get up there and freeze up, and 4-H has helped me come out of my shell. I've learned different techniques and different ways of presenting myself."
He was also a counsellor at a 4-H camp this summer. He started attending the camp when he was younger, absolutely loved it, and has fond memories and has made many new friends.
Vandenhurk also skipped his 4-H curling team at regionals this year.
If anyone is thinking about joining 4-H, they should do so, he said, because it's an opportunity they won't forget. Vandenhurk said there's a lot of great people in the Cymri club and it's like one big family.
