4-H Spotlight: Harper Spencer's events include art, clothing, goats, sheep, dogs and poultry

By Billy Roudybush, Journal contributor

I first met Harper Spencer at the 4-H Arts and Crafts judging at the fair. She is a bright and bubbly girl who has an eye for color, and she had created piece of art that caught my attention. She had created a field of pinecone flowers on a round background. The flowers were different colors and very appealing.

I ran into her again a couple of days later as she was preparing to show one of her goats. I talked with her parents before interviewing her. To start with, I was curious about the pinecones. Pine trees are not normal in Kansas, however Harper and her parents had been in Colorado on vacation when she picked them up and decided to use them for her project.

 A 9-year-old getting ready to start fourth grade at Jayhawk Elementary School, she was a little shy at first. Yet she had great pride in her animals. She has been in Valley Ranger 4-H club for three years, and she has been working with goats for two years.

Her accolades don't stop there. She is involved with 4-H poultry, market lambs and the dog show. She also is very successful in 4-H clothing contests, and has learned to create her own clothes with the help of her grandmother.

Her family lives outside of Mound City, enough room to care for all of these animals. She has demonstrated success in her activities and fairgoers can look forward to seeing her compete in the future.

Correction: In an earlier edition, the name of the Harper's goats was incorrect. We regret the error.