Three Generations of 4-H Livestock, Sheep & Goats

Denise King 4-H Community, Ambassador and Sheep Project Leader

From the time I was a little girl, I loved my grandparents’ farm, so it only made sense that I would grow up and convince my family to move to the country. We came here to have horses and had a few through the years. Our livestock journey took a turn when we joined Pioneer 4-H. Mike and Marsha Grey convinced my girls, Brianna and Allyssa, to do the sheep project. From that point in 1990, we have had sheep at our place. Raising sheep allowed us to learn about livestock. By the time my girls were in their teens, they could totally manage and raise lambs, right down to being able to pull lambs presenting wrong at birth! Livestock teaches hard work and responsibility. It was always a blast traveling out of town with ten or more kids and their lambs to livestock shows. We have had as many as fifty city youth over the years. Kids got to keep a lamb, train it, show it and eventually sell it at the auction during the Johnson County Fair. It was a rare opportunity to experience raising and showing sheep in 4-H. This year we will once again have youth keeping their lambs at our place.

4-H teaches many skills and has blessed our family. I spent 20 years in Pioneer 4-H as a community leader, as well as being a Crafts/Sheep Project Leader. I served as the Johnson County 4-H Ambassador leader for 10 years. In 2006, I began the Johnson County 4-H Livestock Club, which I still attend with Kaylee. Volunteering at the Johnson County Fair for over 15 years led to being president in 2019 and 2020. One of my greatest accomplishments was beginning Chasing Memories at the Johnson County Fair. Chasing Memories pairs 4-H youth with children with special needs. They practice with 4-H members’ lambs and goats, then have a show. It is the most heartwarming event. I still help at the Johnson County Fair. Although I’m a lot slower these days, I look forward to packing up and heading to the spring shows with Kaylee. She is so independent–training her lambs and goats, shearing them and even unloading the 50-pound bags of feed every week. There is a special kind of peace in the barn. I wish everyone could experience it. Lambs and children just go together.

–Denise King, De Soto resident and former day care owner

Allyssa King 4-H Sheep Superintendent, American Royal Director of Communications

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I’ve always said that I was truly blessed to be able to grow up with livestock and be surrounded by agriculture. I love my agriculture and 4-H roots, for it has shaped me into who I am today. However, my 4-H background encompassed so much more than livestock. Whether it was planting extra vegetables for the community food bank, cleaning up after a tornado hit a small town or simply helping other youth with their livestock–community service has been a huge part of our lives. I can still hear mom saying, “Why not just do something good for others, for the sake of doing something good?” And if you know my mom, you know her big heart, love for children and giving to others. I continued to stay involved with the 4-H program even while attending Baker College, volunteering whenever possible. Shortly after graduation, I received the opportunity to work at the American Royal. As most know, it was a perfect fit. My passion for agriculture, my joy for meeting and working with people, my love of livestock and my mass communications degree all go hand in hand. But some of my best memories have been made in the barn, working with animals, on the road at shows and even today as we watch and support Kaylee as she finishes her show career. I am so thankful that we have been able to do all this as a family, which has made it extra special!

–Allyssa King, daughter of Denise King, aunt of Kaylee King

Learn more about the Johnson County 4-H Livestock Club at: johnson.k-state.edu/4-h/about-join/clubs/livestock-club.html

JoCo Youth Livestock Club

More information about 4-H on the Organization Page 29

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Many have benefited from the 4-H Sheep Project, led and cultivated by the King family. My own daughter learned how to tend, care and show sheep–along with giving a good cleaning and bath. pictured at right.

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There is a special kind of peace in the barn. I wish everyone could experience it. Lambs and children just go together. @ @ @ @ @

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–mom of Rebekah Burgweger

Kaylee King, 4-H Goat and Sheep Projects

From the time I could walk I was in the barn. Every Thursday all the 4-H kids would come to practice, and yes, I started practicing too! We thought age seven would never come, but when it did, I was so ready to get into the show arena. At my very first show in Paola, I was invited to participate in a special camp close to Oklahoma to expand my skills. My grandmother has always been by my side encouraging me to show. She took me to a sheep sale, where I talked her into letting me have a goat too! From that point on, I was hooked. Goats have the best personality!

I was allowed to show goats, but I also showed sheep for my grandma. I will be forever grateful to my grandma for the true life lessons she has taught me. Responsibility, commitment and passion go into my sport of showing livestock. Yes, it’s a sport! We practice every day, change feed diets, exercise animals. There is no vacation. It’s livestock shows all spring–Johnson County Fair, Kansas State Fair, Kansas Junior Livestock Show, American Royal, and we have even been to Denver to show. I have friends from all over Kansas that show with me. It gets in your blood. Show season starts the end of April. We hook up the trailer, gather equipment, prepare the lambs and goats, and fill the truck with gas and a cooler with snacks. We then head to the many stock shows throughout June.

Just me and my grandma making memories.

–Kaylee King, granddaughter of Denise King, daughter of Brianna King

Photos provided by the King family and Rose M. Burgweger