Ashley Bergsbaken had to cut back on her 4-H projects at the Shawano County Fair this year.
Bergsbaken, who will be a senior this fall at Bonduel High School, is showing “only” in the swine, visual arts, photography and home environment categories. Previously she also showed sheep and beef.
“I love being at the fair,” she said. “I like to see people walking through the barns. They see animals close up and experience something I see every day.”
She also loves what 4-H and FFA have done for her over the years, such as giving her the confidence to be a leader.
“I’ve got a passion for leading and growing as a person as well,” she said.
Bergsbaken credits her formative years with the Bonduel 4-H Club with helping spark interests that she plans to continue pursuing after high school. Starting in 4-H as a Cloverbud, she quickly progressed to leadership roles. After attending Camp Susan, a 4-H summer camp, for three years, she became a counselor in training, then a counselor. This year she was a junior director, in charge of campers and counselors.
“There are so many experiences there and you meet new friends,” she said. “I’ve seen a lot of kids break out of their homesickness.”
Bergsbaken, who also is president of the FFA chapter at BHS, plans to run for state office in the FFA after high school.
She does not shy away from public speaking and serving as an ambassador for agriculture. “I love it a lot,” she said.
She has been a guest speaker at the Outstanding Young Farmer Banquet, worked the House of Moo, an exhibit run by FFA and 4-H at the Wisconsin State Fair telling people about farms and animals, and plans to run for Fairest of the Fair next year and Alice in Dairyland in the future.
She is the daughter of Dennis and Donna Bergsbaken, who are past Outstanding Young Farmer winners at the county and state levels.
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