The Seward County Extension office has a new 4-H assistant who was in 4-H from a young age and is looking forward to making connections in the community.
Brittney Emerson grew up on her family’s ranch east of Whitman, Nebraska and started in 4-H when she was 9 years old. She said she started out shooting BB guns, raised and showed her first market steer and learned to sew and cook.
“When I was old enough, I started shooting air rifle and precision as well,” she said. “I shot competitively for all of my years in 4-H and was even lucky enough to go to several national tournaments and was on the winning team for one of them.”
Along with her early experience in 4-H, Emerson said some of her fondest memories from 4-H were spending summer days with her grandma and learning to sew and cook.
“There was never anything significant, but the time spent together is what made it special,” she said. “Those are memories with her that I will hold on to forever.”
Emerson said her first high school job was being a 4-H camp counselor at the State 4-H camp at Halsey National Forest.
“I loved that opportunity because I got to be outside every day, make great friends and work with kids,” she said. “I was also given the chance to go on the CWF trip with the 4-H to tour some of our national monuments on the east coast. That was an amazing opportunity provided by 4-H that I otherwise would have never had.”
Emerson attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and received her degree in Grazing Livestock Systems with a minor in Agriculture Leadership and Communications in December of 2022.
As the 4-H assistant, Emerson will coordinate school enrichment programs with teachers throughout the county.
“I help teach short lessons on healthy habits and agriculture literacy among many other things,” she said. “I also help in planning Clover Colleges, fun and educational workshops held for 4-H kids in the summers. In addition, I will be co-leading the Jr. Leaders club with Ann Dobesh.”
Emerson said she chose Seward County because it has a lot to offer.
“I have only been greeted by kind people and am happy to be a Seward transplant,” she said. “There are so many parts of the county that I am looking forward to getting to know.”
As the 4-H assistant, Emerson said her main goal is to make connections with kids from the county.
“4-H was such a fun part of my upbringing and I am proud to be a part of providing that for the kids of Seward County,” she said.
Emerson said she thinks 4-H is important because it gives an opportunity for kids to gain skills in areas outside of the classroom and their homes.
“They can learn different entrepreneurial skills, work with animals, get experience in STEM projects and important reminders on healthy lifestyles,” she said. “We work hard to give kids all the things they need to succeed and prepare them for life.”
