820-Uncaster Firming, Saturday, February 21, 1998
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Fanning Staff
LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.)
—Some people always know what
career they want to pursue. Others
find life steers them into unex
pected places—rewarding
positions.
Katina Showman falls into both
these categories.
“1 always wanted to be a teach
er,” she said. She pursued an
elementary teaching degree with a
minor in volleyball coaching at
Wilson College. While there, she
participated in a scholarship prog
ram similar to the work/study
program. Instead of working on
campus, Katina worked as a volun
teer with the Franklin 4-H Exten
sion program in exchange for
scholarship money from the
school.
As a 10-year 4-H member, Kati
na was well acquainted with exten
sion services. But instead of being
a 4-H’er. Katina learned what it’s
like to lead 4-H clubs, plan presen
tation night, and perform other
staff duties.
“As a member, I never imagined
all the time, money, energy, crea
tivity, and patience that agents and
leaders contribute to the program,”
Katina said.
Later, Franklin County hired
Katina as a summer assistant
“As much as I liked 4-H, the
thought never occurred to me to
have a career in extension,” Katina
said.
The fust year after college gra
duation, Katina worked as a substi
tute teacher and coached volley
ball at her alma mater. During the
summer months, she worked in the
Wilson College Alumni office.
When a framer coworker at the
Franklin County Extension office
heard about the opening for a 4-H
agent in Lancaster County, she
encouraged Katina to apply.
In October, Katina was named
4-H agent coordinator for the
county.
Working with her is Lori Little,
who is the 4-H agent in charge of
animal projects. The two replace
former 4-H agent Zoann Parker,
who was appointed Pennsylvania
Deputy Secretary.
Katina is excited about the
Katina was a 4-H *
Franklin County Extension for 2V4 years before coming to
the Lancaster Extension Office.
New 4-H Agent For Lancaster County
change in her career plans. She
said, “Although my job isn’t the
same as teaching a classroom, my
training in elementary education is
suitable for this job. I’m in a posi
tion to influence youth and help
them into a positive growth experi
ence and to gain goals—that’s
what my heart was set upon.”
Katina steps into a position that
has one of die strongest 4-H prog
rams in the state.
Concerning the responsibility of
overseeing 4,000 members and
600 volunteer leaders, Katina said,
“I feel confident because of the
helpfulness of the other agents in
the county and in surrounding
counties. Martha Gregory, 4-H
agent in Lebanon County Exten
sion, is my mentor,” Katina said.
Planning and organizing arc vit
al in her position, but it’s seeing
the events unfold that is most
exciting to Katina.
One of the major events is the
4-H Benefit Auction scheduled for
today.
“The auction raises lots of
money for the 4-H program and
helps keep costs down,” she said.
Katina wants to tackle the myth
that 4-H is only animal projects.
When she worked at an informa
tion booth at the state Farm Show,
Katina said, “Again and again,
people would say, “But I don’t live
on a farm....”
“You don’t need to. Neither do
you need a sewing machine. 4-H
has something for everyone,”
Katina tells potential members
againa and again.
Katina said that stepping into
her position was greatly eased with
help from Lori Little, who after
working as a 4-H assistant for sev
eral months, was named 4-H
extension agent in charge of ani
mal projects.
Lori, too, has a background rich
in 4-H experience. She was a
4-H’cr in horse, judging, beef, and
community clubs. She studied ag
education at Delaware Valley Col
lege with the intention of becom
ing either an ag teacher or a 4-H
agent
Lori especially is fascinated
with embryology projects that she
takes into school classrooms.
Teaching embryology in the
classroom offers her the best of
both worlds, she said. “I am the
star of the show, but I don’t have
the responsibility to displine the
students. I can leave.”
Lori also enjoys working with
horses and dairy projects and see
ing the kids excel in them.
It was through showing cows
about six years ago at the Farm
Show that Lori met her husband
to-be Christopher LitUe. They
married this past June and live on
five-acres in Nottingham where
they raise a pampered puppy
named Sierra.
Lori is in the process of helping
develop a curriculum with the
Dept, of Environmental education
and Penn State.
“We want to present a factual
curriculum without a slant,” she
said.
Livestock Club
Recaps Successful Year
LOU ANN GOOD
Lancaster Farming Staff
MOUNT JOY (Lancaster Co.)
—Members, families, leaders, and
buyers associated with the 4-H
Woolies and the Red Rose Beef
clubs celebrated at the annual
livestock banquet held recently at
the Country Table Restaurant
The combined banquet is held
because many of the members
belong to both clubs. Throughout
the evening members reflected on
the past year of hard work, the suc
cesses in winning ribbons at com
petition, and even on the lessons
that can be gained from
disappointments.
Excitement mounted as mem
bers waited to hear the names of the
recipients of the most coveted
awards. For the sheep club, the
most pretigious award is the She
pherd of the Year award.
“I am totally shocked,” Travis
Donough, 17, said after he was
named the recipient As a reminder
of this achievement Travis, who is
president of the sheep club, was
given a hugh traveling trophy for
one year. Next year, when he
returns the trophy, he will be giv
ing what is called a retiring trophy.
The most coveted beef club
award is the Jason L. Weaver
Memorial Leadership Award. Jill
Hoffines, president of the beef
club, received the award for show
ing outstanding leadership quali
ties. Jill, 17, was also the recipient
(Turn to P«fl« B 21)
Recognized for outstanding performance In taking first place In state competition
for meat Judging are team members, from left, Radell Peters, Jessica Schmidt, Sara
Strickler, and Dale Uvengood.
The Lancaster 4-H is led by co-ordlnator Katina Show
man, left, and Lori Little, who oversees animal projects.
Top awards at the 4-H Livestock Club banquet go to Tra
vis Donough, who holds the Shepherd of the Year trophy,
and Jill Hoffines, left front, recipient of both the Jason
Weaver Memorial Award and a scholarship. From back left
are Stephanie Kauffman, Novice Shepherd of the Year;
Amanda Grube, Go-Getter Award; and Katie Nolt, Red Rose
Rookie Award.