The Questa Achievers 4-H group, led by Denise Winslow-Lawrence has closed out another successful year, helping local area students ages 5 through 18 gain important skills in a variety of subjects.
Whether students participated in community learning activities, Arts and Crafts, Photography, Crochet, Sewing, Gardening, Welding, Leatherwork, Baking, Scrapbooking, or the most popular activity of raising animals, they expanded their knowledge with important hands-on skills and grew in confidence, independence, resilience, and compassion.
In April of this year, the group held a Teddy Bears Picnic and Tea Party at the Questa Library. The group gathered teddy bears to donate to Questa and Red River police and EMT departments so they could distribute them when they respond to calls where children are involved in traumatic situations.
In June, the group attended a Wild Rivers tour where students had the opportunity to learn about the animals in the area while committing to leaving no trace of trash and pollution when visiting the local recreation areas. Kids also had the opportunity to do a hike and scavenger hunt. The group intends to do a similar activity next year.
The group finished up the year participating in the Taos County Fair. The youngest members, ages 5-8, are called Cloverbuds. While this age group doesn’t compete against others, they are encouraged to show their projects at the county fair, including rabbits and poultry projects. Paisley Apodoca and Azealah Wilson showed rabbits they raised this year.
The junior and senior members who competed in showing rabbits were Candice Stroback, who showed two Dutch rabbits and Olivia Seim, who showed her Netherland Dwarf rabbit. Candice won the Rabbit Showmanship Award for the third year in a row. Her rabbit poster also won in the senior category. She went on to the State Fair, winning second place. Olivia won Best of Breed in Netherland Dwarfs and took her rabbit to the State Fair where they won Best Opposite of Breed.
Three members showed poultry at the County Fair. Amber Cote placed second with her Buff Orpington hen. Her poultry poster also qualified to participate at the State Fair. Jackson Ortega placed second with his Wyandotte hen and Jeremiah Ortega received first place and Best of Breed with his Rhode Island Red hen and 3rd place with his Wyandotte hen.
In large livestock, Adrienne Rael received a first place win with her lightweight lamb and a third place with her lightweight goat. Noah Rael also received third place with his lightweight goat. Bo Ortega showed two market lambs this year and placed second in lightweight and fourth in heavyweight. “The competition is tough in large livestock and I’m so proud of the kids that take on the hard work of raising these animals,” says Denise Winslow-Lawrence.
JT Radcliff participated in the photography exhibits once again this year. His work went on to the State Fair where he earned second and third place awards. Kingston Trujillo-Gist entered a stamped leather band and key chain at the County Fair, each earning a second place ribbon.
New enrollment begins October 1, 2024 through February 1, 2025 for youth members ages 5 (in kindergarten) to 18. Please contact Denise Winslow-Lawrence at (575) 200-9947 if you know of a child interested. There is no cost to join.
