A Fridge for 4-H

4-H’s mission is to provide hands-on, real-life experiences through projects, activities, and events to youth. Breana Kiser, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent for Dickey County, works with youth across the county to develop life skills, learn by doing, and create positive outcomes in their own lives and those of their neighbors. She also helps organize the much-anticipated annual Dickey County Fair in Ellendale, North Dakota.

Every summer for four days, the Dickey County Fair boasts good food, livestock judging, commercial booth exhibits, entertainment, and more. Kids in 4-H demonstrate the knowledge and skills they have gained of the past year by showing their static exhibits (photography, woodworking, welding projects, etc.), small animals, and livestock to a set of judges.

The county fair brings in many people from around the county and even around the country, making this a prime fundraising opportunity for the 4-H chapter.

“It’s a great event to get people out,” Breana said. “I know this year some people stopped through on their way from New York to California, they heard advertising for the county fair and had never been to one. It’s a really great atmosphere because it is a smaller town and has a big family atmosphere where everyone can have a good time.”

The county fair concession stand is one of the primary fundraising sources that supports Dickey County 4-H for the next year. Besides just being a fundraising vehicle, everyone comes out to help at the concession stand and support the 4-H chapter, bringing community members together for a shared cause. 4-H truly bridges the community.

Just as the excitement was building toward this past year’s county fair, the concession stand’s refrigerator quit working. Faced with the prospect of decreased fundraising income, Dickey County 4-H was in a tough spot. That is until a community member submitted a wish to the Choice Bank Wishing Well for a new fridge for the organization’s concession stand.

Recognizing the impact the faulty fridge would have on the year to come, Choice Bank gave a new fridge and freezer to Dickey County 4-H. We hope that with these new appliances, Dickey County 4-H can continue to give area youth invaluable, hands-on learning opportunities.

“4-H is so good for these kids. It teaches them all life skills, it’s great!” Gaige Dunn, Ag and Business Banker in LaMoure, ND, said. “There are so many good things this organization does.”

The new fridge and freezer not only help the 4-H chapter, but many other organizations around the community will also be able to utilize them in their own fundraising and community-building events. The new appliances will get plenty of use as Ellendale gets ready to host an all-school reunion in 2022.

“We’re planning on next year being a very big year, so we need to plan for a lot more people, a lot more food, and a lot more workers,” Breana said. “Bigger events can be planned now. We’re expecting many more people to attend this year since they’re all going to be coming home.”

The Choice Bank Wishing Well is accepting wishes! Ready to cast yours? Visit choicewishingwell.com and let us know who you would like to help out in your community.