A family passion

BELLEVILLE, Wis. — Showing cattle through 4-H is a longstanding tradition in the Hendrickson family. With a 56-year connection to the organization, Kate Hendrickson’s time in 4-H traces back to her own days spent in the ring as a youth.

She later shared her dedication to 4-H with her husband, Jeff, and their five children –– Brandon, Kelsi, Trent, Breinne and Brooks. Next, would come the third generation of 4-H students with several grandchildren taking the halter as well.

“We had four of our kids in 4-H at the same time at one point,” Kate said. “From the time we started exhibiting at the Green County Fair, I don’t think we had a year off because Brooks’ last year was our granddaughter Emma’s first year.”

Jeff and Kate milk 125 registered Holsteins and farm 300 acres at Jeffrey-Way Holsteins near Belleville with their son, Brooks, and his wife, Riley. Cows are milked twice a day in a tiestall barn and have a rolling herd average of 29,500 pounds of milk, with tests of 4.0% butterfat and 3.2% protein. On their last classification, the Hendricksons had 70 Excellent and 45 Very Good cows with a Breed Age Average of 113.2.

Jeff and Kate began dairy farming near Monticello before moving to Belleville.

“There wasn’t a 4-H club in the Belleville area that showed in Green County, so we started a club in 1994,” Jeff said.

They named their club the Dayton Dairylanders, which is still going strong today. Jeff and Kate were 4-H leaders for 25 years. Jeff also helped create a dairy youth auction at the Green County Fair.

“We met a lot of people over the years and made lasting friendships,” Jeff said. “Our kids have done the same.”

In the early days, Jeff and Kate assisted their children with showing endeavors by clipping cattle and helping break animals to lead. Their kids took over as they got older.

“You have to put the work in, and then you get a sense of accomplishment when you’re all done,” Jeff said.

Kate agreed.

“I enjoy watching kids develop confidence and learn responsibility from their involvement in 4-H,” she said. “Taking care of animals teaches pride in what they do. 4-H kids learn leadership, and as adults, they tend to be leaders in their community.”

Not only did the Hendricksons’ children and grandchildren show their cattle, but most years, area youth did as well.

“It’s been fun to see the opportunities 4-H has provided to non-farming youth,” Kate said. “That’s important. They learn about farming and get to know other kids in the community.”

A neighbor boy, Pat, was one such child.

“Pat was like a son to us and hung out with us at fair time,” Kate said. “He loved it and couldn’t wait until he was old enough to join 4-H.”

Jeff and Kate said they enjoyed watching their kids show.

“They’ve all had a lot of success in the ring,” Kate said. “Each one did very well with showmanship skills and won supreme showman at the county fair. They all took it seriously.”

Jeff said the Green County Fair has approximately 90 junior exhibitors and nearly 200 dairy animals between the junior and open shows.

“For quality and size, it’s probably one of the bigger county fairs,” Jeff said. “The cattle shown here always seem to do well at the state fair.”

The Hendricksons landed a couple of grand champion titles at the state fair and won showmanship there, with one child winning reserve supreme showman. Their children have also received the James W. Crowley Dairy Leadership Award through 4-H.

“When you’re part of 4-H, you get to know other people, not just in the community, but in the whole county,” Kate said. “When you go down to the state fair, you get to know other families from all over the state. It becomes like a huge family.”

When the next generation became interested in showing, Jeff and Kate were there to help. Emma Hendrickson has shown cattle since she was 6 , starting with the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Association. She joined the Dayton Dairylanders at age 9.

“Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve had a passion for cows,” Emma said. “I remember sitting on my grandma’s lap watching my family show and telling her what cow I liked best. I knew that one day, I’d be in the show ring too.”

Emma has shown her grandparents’ cattle along with her own. When her dad, Brandon, surprised her with a heifer calf from her Uncle Trent’s farm for her birthday, Emma started her own herd.

With her grandparents as mentors, Emma embraced the opportunities 4-H presented.

“There are not enough words to describe how much my grandparents impacted my life,” Emma said. “They constantly provided me with encouragement and support, teaching life lessons and fostering a love for showing cattle.”

Emma prepared animals for the ring with help from her father and her uncle, Brooks.

“In the last few years, Emma did it all herself,” Jeff said. “Come show time, she and Brooks each had a clipper in hand, working together on clipping animals.”

Emma said she treasures the lifelong skills gained and the friends made through 4-H. She believes time management, leadership and resilience are the greatest lessons she learned as a member.

“These all connect,” she said. “I needed to know how to balance school, work and showing as well as helping and guiding the younger kids to be successful and feel included.”

After showing at the Green County Fair for eight years and at the Wisconsin State Fair for five years, Emma’s 4-H career came to a close this summer. Emma is attending Texas Tech University, where she will major in agriculture communications. She said the lessons learned through 4-H will stay with her forever.

“4-H has played a significant role in helping me become a well-rounded, resilient, and capable individual, ready to tackle challenges and pursue opportunities with confidence and determination,” Emma said. “I have picked up a strong work ethic, understanding the importance of dedication and commitment to achieving success.”