By Paige Lambert
Hays County Livestock Show Queen Madison Hawkins begins her day around pigpens and makes sure her pigs get breakfast before she does.
Following a long day at school, she does it all over again, spending hours washing, feeding and walking her pigs and lambs.
But for the Hays High School senior, there’s nothing else she’d rather be doing.
“I really wasn’t into dance and I wasn’t really into sports,” Madison said. “I get to be outdoors and I love showing.”
Madison shows her four pigs and two lambs with 4-H and Future Farmers of America (FFA). While FFA is a great experience, she said, it’s only limited to high schools.
4-H is one of the largest youth development and mentoring organizations in the country. There are nine clubs in Hays County and anyone can join.
Madison joined when she was eight years old. Madison, according to her mom, Betty, began by showing rabbits.
“Rabbits were the girls’ first project and typically it’s a very short commitment, so we could see if they were interested,” Betty said. “Then we added on and now we have rabbits, lambs, pigs, chickens, you name it.”
Madison wasn’t completely in the dark about showing. Both her parents showed in high school. In addition, the 4-H community always lent advice, anything from where to get feed to correcting showmanship in the ring.
“We have project leaders, so whoever did rabbits in our club would help me,” she said. “Still to this day, I still have one of my friends who graduated help me and share tips.”
Madison said the community and the advice they give is one of the greatest parts of 4-H as she correctly leads her lamb with her bare hands.
To prepare for shows, like the Hays County Livestock Show, Madison has to give the animals more attention and mix special feed. The extracurricular can get expensive.
4-H clubs and local shows focus on building the community. Most county shows are nonterminal, where the owners get to keep their animals.
“We aren’t selling our animals, people are giving us money and sponsoring us,” Madison said. “I take that money and put it back into them.”
Kima Coltharp, a Wimberley resident, said she got her sons involved because of the family involvement and the skills they learn.
“It’s all about teaching your kids the basics of life,” Coltharp said. “And giving back to others.”
Coltharp said 4-H is structured to help the kids and mentor them in any direction they go, whether it is by raising livestock, public speaking or other skill projects.
One example was when members of the Buda Club encouraged a 7-year-old girl to participate in meetings when she wanted.
“She would stand there with a senior officer while they talked … now she will talk in front of 150 people,” Betty said. “Her mom came up and said, I never would have thought my child would speak in front of people.”
Speaking opportunities and developing a good work ethic is all part in preparing students for the real world, Betty said.
After bathing and walking each pig for 30 minutes, Madison worked on her 4-H record book. The book is structured like a college application and most members solely use it for applying.
“I’m seeing now the benefit beside the responsibility and the hard work,” Betty said. “It’s beneficial to have had the opportunities she’s had with 4-H to help her with the next things that come in life.”
