‘A Lot Of Who I Am Has Come From 4-H’
GAY BROWNLEE
Somerset Co. Correspondent
SOMERSET (Somerset Co.)
Jill Darr, 19, a sophomore at
Penn State Altoona Campus,
said, “A lot of who I am has
come about from being a member
of 4-H. The program has taught
me so many life skills in order to
be successful in the future.”
The daughter of Scott and Sue
Darr, Jill lives with her parents
in a big farmhouse along Kline
Road.
On Oct. 5, Darr was recog
nized as the Pennsylvania Out
standing 4-H girl by the Pennsyl
vania Livestock Association
(PLA). The organization pres
ented state youth awards at the
Keystone International Livestock
Exposition at the Farm Show
complex in Harrisburg.
By working closely with 4-H
leaders, her parents and peers,
Darr says what grew out of a
decade of 4-H involvement was
the sense of responsibility, good
sportsmanship, cooperation, ap
preciation, values and traits, that
are so important to her now.
The top trophies from the three species she has
shown in a 10-year 4-H career represent meaningful
awards for Jessica Darr of Somerset, who has arranged
them on the staircase. She, recently was selected the
Pennsylvania Outstanding 4-H Girl.
As a yoqpgster, however, her
first experiences were typical of
those any kid might have enter
ing a show ring for the first time.
“I was very nervous,” she re
calls. “I definitely experienced
the butterflies-in-the-stomach
feeling. My experience with a pig
at the fair was a total circus.”
Still, she would recommend a
pig as a good animal for an in
coming child who is just starting
to show.
“It is an overwhelmingly inti
mating first experience for a
child,” Darr says, but she has ob
served that judges go out of their
way to help the kids be comfort
able so they feel encouraged to
come back, rather than defeated
after the first try.
Darr said the PLA award
came as a great surprise and
being honored as its recipient
culminates her years of 4-H in a
memorable and beautiful way.
Darr, who has two sisters
Andrea, 17 and Alicia, 13 first
joined a 4-H club to get more in
formation about handling her be
loved horses.
Jessica Darr, Somerset, the Pennsylvania Outstanding 4-H Girl, has a heart for
horses. She is pictured with Victor, a Belgian stallion owned by her father, Scott Darr.
He raises registered Belgian horses for a hobby.
“I had this vast interest in
horses and joined a 4-H club to
leam more. It was through 4-H
that I got to show my first horse,
Darr said.
“My mom and dad always su
pervised when 1 was around
horses,” she said. “A horse is like
a person you have to get to know
so you can accomplish what you
want to do. A lot of trust is in
volved. A quiet voice and a quiet
hand allow them to trust you,”
Darr said.
“This basic trust helped me
down the road when 1 started
showing lambs,” Darr said about
the new species she added two
years ago.
With 4-H horse projects,
Darr’s awards have been many,
running the gamut from county,
district and state level shows. She
has had a state champion, state
reserve champion, and placed in
the top five.
Outside of 4-H, in the Ameri
can Quarter Horse Association
(AQHA) Darr additionally, has
shown in IS states, ranging from
Pennsylvania to Texas where her
horse placed 7th in the Aged
Gelding class, during the Youth
World Championship Show.
Recently, the horse she showed you. whether it is in the show
at Texas was sold. He was Her- ring, in a job, school or life in
cules nicknamed Here and a general,” concluded the junior
very well known 1992 Quarter 4-H leader and past holder of al-
Horse Gelding of tremendous most every possible 4-H office.
size. Darr said with a keen sense
of pride that Here’s weight was
probably 1,300 pounds.
She has competed, as well in
the Quarter Horse Congress held
in Columbus, Ohio.
Today, for a hobby, Darr’s
Self-employed dad also raises
registered Belgian horses on the
family’s 50-acre farm, where he
and his wife operate Keystone
Vacuum, Inc. He keeps a stalli
on, two brood mares, and several
head of young stock. Mr. Darr is
also an independent milk hauler.
Darr says that 4-H is a great
place for kids who are learning
to handle and manage animals,
to learn people skills, as well.
These are critical tools to possess,
whether at a youth show where
one might encounter ill will, or,
with society at large.
“I take competition very seri
ously,” Darr acknowledges, “but,
I am just as happy to see a friend
of mine win.”
As a competitor I don’t think
you can let an antagonist get to
Besides serving on 4-H County
Council, Darr has assisted with
instruction at horse camps and
Champ Camp for sheep.
At the Somerset County Fair,
Darr placed in the class and in
the showmanship division with
her hogs. At the Farm Show her
market swine placed in the class
and she garnered master show
man honors.
The state Farm Show is actu
ally where she got her feet wet
with lambs. That venue is where
her first lamb was showed. It
placed in the class and she was
named master showman. More
recently, at the 2000 Somerset
County Fair, her market lamb
was reserve grand champion and
she won senior division show
man.
In the Westmoreland County
Lamb Classic, her lamb was the
reserve grand champion, and she
also participated in the Indiana
County and Dayton Fairs in
Pennsylvania. In the 2000, first
ever State Jackpot Show in Har
rington, Delaware,
Darr’s lamb was
named reserve grand
champion.
At the Pennsylvania
Special Winter Olym
pics Darr’s volunteer
ism exceeds 100 hours
of work, but, a for-pay
job on weekends is at
The Gap located in the
Galleria Mall, Johns
town.
Within a short time
Darr will declare her
college major as mar
keting and agricultural
business management.
“I am getting ready
for the big move to
main campus next
year.” she said.