Hadley Stanger

Do you know the feeling of your heart racing in anticipation of something? You know, that feeling you get when you are really excited, but completely terrified at the same time? That is the exact feeling I had this time last year when I gave my very first country ham speech! It was my first time standing up and speaking for others to judge and my heart was pounding out of my chest and my stomach was in knots BUT it was sooooo awesome! Once I got the first few words out and realized I was going to survive, my body relaxed, and I really enjoyed my first ever speech! I couldn’t help but smile as I talked about the history of country ham, and it was the beginning of a new journey for me. It was that day that I realized how much I enjoyed speaking and it was that speech that helped give me the confidence to start exploring other leadership roles! Who would have guessed I would have found my love for speaking from country ham!

The 4-H Country Ham Project is such a great experience for everyone involved. From learning the curing process to writing and giving a speech, the program has pushed me to learn new things, helped me to set goals for myself, and most importantly has given me the confidence to know that I can do anything!

MEADE COUNTY FAIR 4-H YOUTH COUNTRY HAM AUCTION - Online bidding ends Thurs., Oct. 14th @ 5:00 PM EDT