Alanna Meersman Enjoys Being Part of the 4-H Program

Powerful Potential: Alanna Meersman

Enjoys Being Part of the 4-H Program

By Julie Young, House and Home Writer

Alanna Meersman, 14, is a go-getter. For the past six years, she has been honing her potential and showing off her talent as a member of the nation’s largest youth development program that empowers nearly 6 million young people with the leadership skills they can use for a lifetime … 4-H.

“I got involved in 4-H when one of my friends in the fourth grade said she was planning to join. I decided to do it as well and I discovered that it was a lot of fun,” Alanna said.

This year, Alanna is excited to showcase a number of 4-H projects in the St. Joseph County Fair, which will be held July 2-10 at 5117 S. Ironwood Drive in South Bend. Her entries include a Julythemed centerpiece arranged from dried flowers, a snowman-inspired gift wrapping display and a household stool made from the base of an old birdbath and the seat of a John Deere tractor.

“It’s really comfortable,” she said. “I use it in my bedroom right now but in a few weeks it will be at the fair. I am also entering a dream catcher and a gumball machine that is made from wood and a 12-ounce Mason jar. It holds about 50 gumballs and the best part is you don’t need a quarter to get one. You just turn the little knobs.”

Alanna’s most challenging fair entry is the one that involves a live goat and a show ring in which she will present the animal to the judges for evaluation of her showmanship skills.

“Showing goats was the first thing I ever did in 4-H and, although I love it, it’s hard,” she said. “Sometimes the goats don’t cooperate the way you’d like for them to and, one year, I had to show the goat in a boot because I broke my ankle. Still it’s very rewarding to step into the ring and be judged for how well I show the goat. It’s a great feeling.”

This year came with an additional set of challenges as Alanna underwent spinal fusion surgery. She endured a lengthy recovery period but says her projects were part of her physical therapy. She hopes to become a doctor or a nurse when she is older so that, in some small way, she can pay back the care that was given to her.

According to the organization’s website, 4-H believes in developing young people who are empowered, confident, hardworking, determined, responsible and compassionate to see the world beyond themselves so that they have the lifelong skills to succeed in college and their future careers. They create positive learning experiences that are offered by caring, trusted adult members who cultivate positive relationships in safe and inclusive environments.

“4-H allows me to explore my interests and learn new things,” Alanna said. “I plan on staying in it until I am 18.” n