4-H leader puts in 26 years with Washakie County program

WORLAND - Kathy Bush of Ten Sleep has been leading programs within the Washakie County 4-H program for 26 years.

Bush has been involved with 4-H activities since she was young. "4-H wasn't like it is today when I was a child. What we were involved in was clubs. Our Upper Nowood Club was like the Jolly Neighbors and it was a family thing. All of the people in the club brought their canning, sewing, and different grains and each club decorated their space and put their stuff out," Bush said. She helped her mom with the club and as a young kid she loved that.

Bush said her kids were involved in 4-H growing up and they loved it and made many friends.

When Bush first got involved as a leader, LeAnn Chenoweth was the 4-H coordinator. "She talked me into leading. I didn't know much about it but I told her if she guided me then I could do it," she said.

At first, Bush took over the Ten Sleep Sage Stompers as the community club leader. She then got involved in cooking and cake decorating. "There was a home economics teacher helping the members with cake decorating and I got interested and started playing around with it. The kids talked me into being their leader," she said. Bush has now been leading cake decorating for 24 years.

"I love it and I love the kids," Bush said.

"We live 30 miles from Ten Sleep so after all my kids got out, I finally gave up being the community leader and president of the 4-H leader's council because of gas prices," Bush said.

Bush started the buyer's dinner five years ago for people who bought animals, contributing her time and own garden ingredients for free.

Bush now leads canning and cake decorating for Ten Sleep.

"I like the kids and if I quit there isn't going to be anyone for them," she said.

Extension 4-H/ Youth Educator Amber Armajo said, "We appreciate all she does. She helps our Ten Sleep kids and she was a club leader for a long time. Now she still helps Ten Sleep kids and her grandkids are in the program now so she will hopefully continue to help them through the 4-H program. She's always there. You can call her and ask her to do something and she does it. She always participates and we appreciate helpers and leaders like that."

In addition to 4-H, Bush's other major activity is the Cowbelles. According to Bush, the group started in 1945.

"We promote beef. We are not a catering service, but will do dinners such as WESTI Ag Days or something related to agriculture," she said.

The Cowbelles give scholarships to kids going into some type of agriculture major and one's that are already in college pursuing careers in agriculture.

"I've been a part of that for 48 years. I'm not the oldest person but I've been there the longest," Bush said.

"It's something I enjoy too. Those are my two major things. I really enjoy the kids and I really enjoy both activities so I hate to give it up," Bush said.

Bush was selected as Ag Citizen of the Year in 2004.