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Pibal from a ‘4-H family’

4-H is a part of his life

-Messenger photo by Kriss Nelson Chase Pibal displays the many trophies he has earned throughout his 4-H career with his various sheep projects.

ROCKWELL CITY — Chase Pibal has made 4-H a large part of his life since joining the organization when he was just 10.

Pibal said his family has always been a “4-H family.”

“My mom told me about what 4-H can do and I wanted to get involved,” he said.

Recently, Pibal received a 2017 state 4-H recognition award for his sheep project.

This award included $100, which was given to each of the recipients from Glen and Mary Jo Mente, of Ames, and the Iowa 4-H Foundation.

Pibal said he plans to save the money to use for college.

The state 4-H recognition award is designed for a senior member of 4-H, he said.

The application process includes involvement and presentations and ends with an interview conducted at Iowa State University.

Pibal said approximately 500 were interviewed for state recognition awards.

“It means a lot. I have been working really hard with sheep all of my life,” he said.

But they weren’t always his interest.

“First I didn’t want to,” he said. “But once I learned what it’s about, I gained a genuine interest.”

In his first year of 4-H, Pibal started with two sheep. Now, his project has grown to about 10 at a time to be shown at fair.

The ewes in his 4-H projects go back to his grandfather, Dennis Booth’s, farm to be used for breeding, and the market sheep are sold.

“I have become more involved over the years to where I help shear, give vaccinations, cleaning, doing all that goes with showing sheep,” he said.

Some of Pibal’s highlights showing sheep have included going to the Iowa State Fair, where he has shown in both market and commercial classes.

“I love seeing the crowd there and seeing all of the 4-H’ers from across the state doing the same thing we do every day,” he said.

Other highlights have been winning showmanship in all three classes — junior, intermediate and senior — at the Calhoun County Expo, as well as grand champion breeding ewe in 2011, grand champion market pen of three in 2014, and grand champion rate of gain in 2017.

Pibal said he works with his sheep five times a week starting at the end of May to prepare for his county fair.

4-H career

As a member of the Garfield Gleamers 4-H club, Pibal said he has served on his county’s council and also has held various club offices such as president, treasurer, correspondence and vice president.

He said the leadership experience he received on the county level helped him to try for a spot on the state 4-H Council, where he was elected to serve for the 2016-2017 term.

“It’s prestigious to be a part of the 4-H State Council,” he said. “I attended conference in 2015 and thought it was an amazing thing and something I could be a part of.”

His responsibilities include helping to put together the state 4-H conference as well as serving on multiple committees.

Pibal said among his favorite duties have included helping make videos for the Iowa 4-H website, as well as serving as a representative for Pocahontas, Buena Vista and Calhoun counties.

Encouraging others to join

Pibal said he would like to encourage nonmembers to get involved with 4-H.

“It’s a great organization that helps them to make money, get involved within the community and gain life skills they’ll use for the rest of their life,” he said.

Those life skills include record-keeping and communication.

Pibal plans to attend college after high school and major in business, and 4-H, he believes, will be a great asset to his studies.

“It has helped me with giving presentations, keeping track of records and as well as with leadership,” he said. “I think I will be prepared for those roles later in life because of 4-H.”

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