Northern Wyoming News - Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years

WORLAND - Washakie County 4-H Educator Amber Armajo has been a part of the 4-H family for more than 24 years.

As a youth, Armajo spent 10 years in 4-H in Hot Springs County. Armajo had mostly livestock projects in 4-H - horses, pigs, sheep and steer.

"My mom tried to get me to sew and I didn't. Looking back I wish I would have. So I will try to get my daughter sit with grandma and sew. It [4-H] would have been a great place to learn, but I was too busy with my animals."

Armajo said she was in 4-H and FFA in high school and working on her livestock projects was basically her "job" during the school year and during the summer.

If she had a favorite project it was horses. "We always had horses growing up. They are probably the most comfortable [to work with]," she said, adding that sheep and pigs were next and steers were last. She said she didn't have a steer project every year. "It's like an art trying to work with steers. It wasn't my thing. I liked horses," Armajo said.

After graduating from Hot Springs County High School in 1997, Armajo attended the University of Wyoming, majoring in ag communications. She interned two years with Washakie County Extension. In college she worked in the College of Ag's academic program office right across from the state Extension office. Between working near Extension and her internship and Armajo realized she would enjoy being a 4-H educator. "It was a good fit. It's what I wanted."

When she graduated from UW, the position in Washakie County opened up, left vacant when Johnathon Despain became the state 4-H program director. It was the perfect opportunity for Armajo.

Armajo and her family live on the same property where she grew up in Hot Springs County.

4-H educator

Armajo began her career as Washakie County 4-H Educator in 2002. She enjoys working with the youth of Washakie County, but noted, "You think you're going to work with kids all the time, but that's not the case." When she does get to work with the 4-H members, that's what she enjoys most.

She also enjoys the flexibility the position provides her, the flexible hours, but more so the flexibility to form a 4-H program to fit her style and fit the community.

Over the past 14 years, Armajo said there hasn't been a lot of changes to the 4-H program. She said they did make it a requirement for all 4-H members to take a livestock quality assurance class before they can sale animals at the fair. She said every county offers the class but not every county requires it.

Washakie County 4-H

How does the county educator describe 4-H? "It's a youth development, educational program where we teach life skills for youth to become productive adults in today's society. That's where the projects come in, to teach those life skills, responsibility, decision-making, recordkeeping. That's a big one right now with record books due Sept. 15. It's not the funnest part of 4-H but it's a great life skill that they learn."

Washakie County 4-H has 158 members, with youth ages 8-18 eligible. The county also offers Cloverbuds for youth ages 5-8.

There are 42 volunteer project and club leaders with five clubs throughout the county.

She said looking back at 4-H when she was a youth, she believes the number of projects available was similar to what is offered today, noting that 4-H offers a wide variety of projects, but it all depends on if there are volunteer leaders available to take charge of the projects and teach the 4-H members.

One area of 4-H that has grown since she was in 4-H as a member is shooting sports, Armajo said, adding that shooting sports is one of the largest 4-H projects in Washakie County, which she attributes to enthusiastic leaders.

Livestock is the second largest project group for Washakie County - horses, sheep, pigs and steers.

"This year we have several kids raising sheep and pig as a breeding project. Breeding projects are great learning experiences," Armajo said.

She said probably the third largest project area is foods, including cake decorating, and fabric and fashion.

Youth can join 4-H anytime but the new 4-H year officially starts today, just in time for National 4-H Week (Oct. 2-8) and Washakie County 4-H's pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. at the Big Horn Co-op.

Armajo said most of the work on the projects begin after Christmas, despite the year starting Oct. 1.

National 4-H Week

As for National 4-H Week, Armajo said it's an opportunity for people to learn about 4-H and learn that 4-H is more than livestock and is available for everyone, whether they live in the country or in town. "People think 4-H is cows and cooking but it's so much more," Armajo said, adding that in addition to a variety of projects, there are also scholarship and travel opportunities.

This year in addition to the pancake breakfast they will have their monthly partnership with the Worland Youth Learning Center for National Youth Science Day: Drone Discovery at 4 p.m. Tuesday. Friday is wear green in support of 4-H.

Armajo said the Roadrunners Club also puts a basket together for the first baby born at Washakie Medical Center during or near 4-H Week.

Clubs will be decorating some windows on Main Street in Worland as well.

Armajo also will be honoring a 4-H member and leader of the day during the week.

Volunteering

"Volunteers are what makes 4-H go 'round. I'm just here to guide," Armajo said. They are always looking for more volunteers. Just stop by the Extension office at the Worland Community Center Complex to volunteer to share your expertise, or call Armajo at 347-3431. Volunteers must complete a background check.

She said volunteers and stability have been keys to the success of the Washakie County 4-H program.

Armajo said across the state you see a lot of turnover in the 4-H educator position, noting that the 4-H position is important in Wyoming, which is why the Extension Service has one educator in every county. She said there are only two or three other educators who have a longer tenure than Armajo in the 4-H educator positions at their respective counties.

"I've learned to balance my family and work life," Armajo, who is married with one daughter, said, which is what helps her avoid burn out.

She added, "4-H is a great program. It's what I do and I have a passion for it."