4-H volunteer Kathy Bush earns statewide recognition

Washakie County 4-H volunteer Kathy Bush said that winning the Wyoming 4-H Northwest Region Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer award came to her as a surprise.

According to a previous Northern Wyoming News article, the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer award is one of two awards to which county 4-H programs may nominate volunteers. The award is given to an individual who has spent 10 or more years as a 4-H volunteer, like Bush.

Bush, who has been volunteering for Washakie County 4-H for 33 years, said she didn't even know there was such an award. "I opened up Facebook and saw that I won, and I was completely surprised," said Bush. "I had to read over again four or five times and yeah, it was a total surprise to me."

Throughout her 33 of volunteering, Bush has held numerous positions within 4-H. Bush was the club leader of the Ten Sleep Sage Stompers for 20 years, was the organizer of the Junior Livestock Sale dinner, and more recently, serves as the foods superintendent at the Washakie County Fair.

Being in the foods superintendent position, Bush oversees the 4-H food judging event at the county fair and assists in the transportation of goods going to the State Fair. Bush said she has been in this position for four years.

Bush has consistently been involved in cake decorating and canning with the club as well. "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 in a previous interview in the Northern Wyoming News. "I told them I had never done it, but it grew from there," Bush said. She has now led cake decorating for 30 years.

While Bush said she doesn't hold the same positions that she previously has while her own children were in 4-H, "I'll still help [the club] out when I'm needed."

When Bush joined 4-H during high school and eventually began volunteering, she had no idea that she would be involved with the group for as long as she has. But with the help of other 4-H leaders such as Phyllis Lewis, Bush said her leadership within the club developed.

Bush said one reason she has volunteered for as long as she has, is that she hates to see 4-H struggle to maintain leaders who can help with children's projects. "I like the kids and helping them," she said.

Washakie County 4-H Educator Amber Armajo said on the University of Wyoming 4-H website, "Kathy continues to instill good attitudes and determination in every 4-H member she works with, which is very evident in her own children and grandchildren. She is worthy of many rewards for her contributions to the Washakie County 4-H community and the Washakie County community."