4-H members launch courthouse beautification project
By Sam Waller
Shackelford County 4-H members Riley Reames and Kerrigan Howard submitted their plan for a community service project Monday, Feb. 24 to the Shackelford County Commissioners.
“Our senior officers each have a community service project they do each year,” Shackelford County extension agent Kelsey Bell said. “Our 4-H club has been approached several times about doing some work on the courthouse square, and that was something Riley wanted to take on. She’ll be heading that up, and Kerrigan is her junior partner.”
Since the project will be done on county property, it required approval of the Commissioners Court.
“They presented their plan to the Commissioners Court and it was approved,” Bell said.
The project involves planting flowers and other beautification efforts to the courthouse lawn.
“They’re building off the bluebonnets and incorporating some other native wildflower seeds,” Bell said. “Hopefully, we’ll have some color and some blooms all through the spring and into the summer with different ones blooming at different times. There will be a few other little things, as well.”
In addition to helping beautify the grounds, Bell said, the duo also gained experience with their appearance before the court.
“I feel like the court loves when the kids come,” she said. “Riley has been quite a bit through the years for different things, so she’s pretty familiar with it, but I think that was Kerrigan’s first time. All the officials were kind and gracious and told her what a good job they did.”
The club held a series of meetings Sunday, Feb. 23 at The Feed Store. The agenda included horse judging practice and a Horse club meeting led by led by Equine Ambassador Grace Fry. The senior officer team of Madaelein Beard, Landon Kreitler and Reames led the club’s monthly meeting, along with adult leader Kristie Smith on keeping record books. Kelli Kreitler led a Shooting Sports meeting and Nick Rose conducted Archery practice.
“That turned into an all-afternoon affair,” Bell said. “Things went well and Mrs. Smith did a great job on record book training.”
Also last week, Luke Smith and Connor Smith showed gilts at San Angelo and the Sewing Club continued work on its apron project.
“Next month, we have horse judging at Houston and the Smiths are showing pigs at Houston,” Bell said. “I’m working on the local 4-H calendar for March. We have a couple of other service projects and different things happening this spring. The district fashion show is in March, so we’re wrapping up sewing and getting prepped for that.”
