South of Moran on his family’s farm Trent Johnson stands in front of two steers. A smile comes across his face as he explains his daily duties with the cattle. Beef production is a family affair for the Johnsons.
“You can’t beat being around cattle,” Johnson said. “I’ve always grown up around it. My great-grandpa, grandpa and dad all raised them.”
Johnson’s hard work has recently earned him the State Beef Award for Kansas 4-H.
Johnson will be a senior at Marmaton Valley next year and is president of the Prairie Rose 4-H Club. He has been active in the club with his beef project for many years. He feeds the cattle, gives them shots, grooms them and practices walking them around the ring for fairs.
“The shows are won at home,” Johnson explained. “You work really hard with them at home and then the work pays off in the ring.”
Achieving the state award is something he has aspired to do since a young age. Johnson was working on the corral with his father, Jeff, when his mother, Laura, brought him the letter notifying him of his award. Once he read the words “congratulations,” the realization sunk in.
“When I was growing up I used to look at the winners in the 4-H magazine,” he said. “It doesn’t seem real that I won.”
Applying for the state project is a lengthy process. After the county fair, 4-H’ers begin writing their stories and turn them in for the Achievement Award night. Their personal portfolios include very detailed record books, project pictures and a citizenship and leadership project. To qualify for the state award, a 4-Her’s project must come in first at the local level. Finalists must then include a video of themselves talking about their project.
Each of the state award recipients earns a commemorative project medallion and invitation to the National 4-H Congress in Atlanta, Ga. Nov. 28 to Dec. 2. Winners receive a $400 travel scholarship from the Kansas 4-H Foundation toward expenses to attend the conference. Johnson received his award on Wednesday in Manhattan at the Emerald Circle Banquet.
Along with 4-H, Johnson is also involved in football, track and FFA. He will be his chapter’s president next year. This summer he’ll stay busy at the Washington Leadership Conference, 4-H camp in Rock Springs and the Allen County Fair. Participation in the various organizations has taught Johnson important lessons.
“If you’re around good people and good leaders, good things will come back to you,” he said. “The places to be are with the people with valuable knowledge.”
Johnson hopes to attend Kansas State University after high school and major in animal science.
