Marion County 4-H senior profiles
Kristin Waner
Kristin Waner has been a member of 4-H since first grade.
Projects she has been enrolled in during that time have included foods, eight years; clothing, 10 years; leadership, five years; electricity, four years; ceramics, seven years; woodworking, two years; geology, two years; and photography, one year.
Her accomplishments include receiving the Key Award, a 10-year membership pin, and various project awards.
Waner's most memorable 4-H moment was going skiing in Colorado with a county 4-H group. "It was my first experience skiing and I finally got the hang of it after falling several times," she said.
Receiving reserve grand champion on purchased clothing in Style Revue was Waner's most memorable Marion County Fair moment.
Waner plans to attend Kansas State University in the fall and major in chemical engineering.
She is the daughter of Bernard and Janice Waner of Florence.
Tacy Taylor
Since 1997, Tacy Taylor has been a member of 4-H.
Projects she has been enrolled in include sheep, 11 years; ceramics, three years; self-determined: writing, four years; photography, four years; and leadership, two years.
Accomplishments for Taylor include being 4-H Queen first attendant and receiving leadership and member pins.
"My most memorable 4-H moment is when I was scheduled to give a talk and didn't have one prepared so I just gave my memorized speech that was written for FFA
Taylor said the water fights are memorable. Her most memorable moment was an occurrence with Austin Percell. "When AP (Austin Percell) was in Round Robin and as she was showing her goat, it fainted so she just dragged it to the end of the line."
In the fall, Taylor will attend Kansas State University to major in ag communications.
She is the daughter of Todd and Robin Taylor of Marion.
Grady Stultz
Grady Stultz joined 4-H when he was seven years old. "I joined so I could show dairy goats. I was raising and showing them in open class already before joining 4-H. My mom was a longtime 4-H member so she knew about it and encouraged me to join," he said.
For the past 11 years Stultz has been involved in a wide variety of activities, including dairy goats, 11 years; market goats, six years; robotics/aeronautics/rocketry, four years; junior leadership, six years; motorcycles/dirt bikes/small engines, two years; ag mechanics, one year; and foods and nutrition, two years.
Stultz said his accomplishments through 4-H include building a new, from scratch, low profile goat trailer — in which he designed the blueprints and winning many GCH/Best in Show dairy goat awards, including BDIS at the Kansas State Fair in 2005, plus some national awards. Stultz also served as president of his local club for two years and placed in the top 10 in showmanship and trimming team competitions at the ADGA National Dairy Goat Show in Indiana in 2006.
Traveling with dairy goats and family to shows in the summer, especially the out-of-state shows, have been the most memorable 4-H moments for Stultz. His most memorable Marion County Fair moments have been hanging out with friends.
Bethel College will welcome Stultz in the fall. He will be studying aviation/engineering and will play football and run track on scholarships.
Austin Percell
When she was in fourth grade, Austin Percell became a member of 4-H.
For the past eight years she has been enrolled in horse, swine, beef, ceramics, sheep, foods, photography, and woods.
Percell's accomplishments through 4-H include doing the best she can in all of her projects.
Her most memorable 4-H moment was winning grand champion as a freshman in high school and beating a senior.
Percell's most memorable Marion County Fair moment is "always having the huge water fights."
In the fall, Percell will head to Kansas State University to major in kineisiology.
She is the daughter of Matt and Marilyn Percell of Marion.
Kristine Jirak
Twelve years ago Kristine Jirak started her 4-H adventure, and has been involved in various projects.
She has been in swine, 12 years; constructed clothing, 10 years; purchased clothing, 10 years; foods, 10 years; photography, two years; crafts, three years; leadership, six years; crochet, two years; and exploring, two years.
Her accomplishments include being second attendant Marion County royalty, modeling at the Kansas State Fair for two years, receiving the 4-H key award, being named Best of Bread at the Tri-County Fair, attending the state fair several times, and receiving several grand champion awards in constructive clothing and modeling. Jirak also has been Marion County 4-H Council president for the past three years. She served as secretary for one year and has served several club offices.
Jirak's most memorable 4-H moment was modeling at the state fair.
Her most memorable Marion County Fair moment was when she beat her sister in constructed clothing.
Jirak will attend Newman University in the fall to double-major in graphic design and Spanish.
She is the daughter of Frances and Mary Jirak of Tampa.
Ty Goossen
For 11 years Ty Goossen has been a member of 4-H.
He has participated in market beef for five years, breeding beef for six years, and shooting sports for one year.
His accomplishments include competing at shows. He said he attends shows of different sizes and usually does well.
Goossen's most memorable Marion County Fair moment was when he won Round Robin two years ago.
In the fall, Goossen will attend Hutchinson Community College and major in agriculture education. He also will be a member of the livestock judging team. After two years at HCC, he plans to transfer to Oklahoma State University.
Goossen is the son of Tim and Cherie Goossen of Hillsboro.
