“I have always been a part of the Home & Hobby club,” Quigley explained. “As I talked about in my speech at Rally, the Home & Hobby Club members learn a lot of technical skills. I alone did projects in crafts, sewing and photography but we also learned skills about building self-esteem, making friends, learning about responsibility, communication, leadership, record keeping and time management. 4-H isn’t just about doing projects to show off at the end of the year. You have to attend meetings, vote in your executive office, speak at communications and, if you show the right set of skills, compete in zones, area and provincials communications also. We also have project books that have to be completed and then presented to show what you’ve accomplished all year at achievement. 4-H gives you solid ground work for many of the responsibilities that come with being an adult.”
She said she joined 4-H in 2002 at eight years old and continued until graduating from high school in 2012. Quigley was also leader in 2019-20. She said the club was an extracurricular and her mother was a leader and her brother was already involved. In fact, the roots of 4-H were deep in the family from both sides.
Quigley said she spoke to the kids about how she took the skills she learned in the club and applied them to her life 12 years later, whether it be raising her kids or in her professional career. Learning is important, even if you do not realize it as a younger person.
“I think the best features of 4-H are the skills you learn, even when you’re forced into doing it. Most people would not go out of their way to write a speech or prepare a visual presentation every year, but 4-H kids have to do it. Then when you get good at it, you end up presenting it three or four times in a year. And having that ability to comfortably speak in public goes a long way, as it relates to job interviews, socializing, and participating in your community. That confidence you need to stand up in front of your peers and talk about something you really enjoy opens up more doors than you would think.”
She added she has already spoken to the head of the Home & Hobby Club to return to a leader position. Quigley also stated she hopes as her children get older, they too will get excited about joining 4-H.
With 2024 Rally finished, the organization is looking to a special anniversary on the horizon. The 90th Rally should have been this year, but due to two years off for the pandemic, it will be in 2026. Nowazek said she started out digging around for past gold watch winners, and her searches grew from there.
“With the 90th not far away I started keeping track of weather, attendance, sale price of steers, winners in parade, secretary, treasurer books, anything different that took place in any given year,” Nowazek explained.
She came to The Recorder to look at old issues from 1967-2013, and also to the Boissevain-Morton Library. Nowazek said she enjoys reading the stories of old Rallies and how everything has changed over the years, adding the numbers from the 1960’s were much different from today. Her plans are to create a binder to display at future events.
They are not at this point sure exactly how the 90th will look, but Nowazek said her readings have given her a few ideas. Having a youth event last nearly a century is important and something to celebrate.
“It’s amazing for Boissevain area to continue holding their annual 4-H Rally Day for 90 years. Not all events can reach this milestone and it takes dedicated leaders, members and volunteers as well as sponsors to make this event continue each year. I’ve been told that Boissevain hosts the only Rally like this in the province with all the different groups of 4-H involved, (beef, equine and multi- purpose). Looking forward to celebrating 90 years and the 100th in the future.”
Quigley too would like to see the tradition continue.
“Rally was the 4-H day that I looked forward to most because I got to see friends from other communities and clubs that I wouldn’t normally see,” Quigley stated. “As an added bonus, it gave me a long weekend from school which, as a kid, I couldn’t say no to. Rally was the day that all the clubs got together, we presented our projects, had our parade, watched the horse and beef shows and continued to build those friendships that had been created during the year. It’s important for the kids and community to continue having Rally as it is the time that people who don’t participate in 4-H have the opportunity to experience what the kids have completed during the year and have a small glimpse into the 4-H world to see if it is something they may be interested in joining each fall. I hope to continue attending 4-H Rally in Boissevain for years to come.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff