2024 Buena Vista County: Amber Kragel

Amber Kragel has been part of the Buena Vista County 4-H program for fifteen years and has been a dedicated poultry Superintendent for over ten years. The poultry program has grown exponentially under Amber’s leadership. She lights up when she gets to talk with beginning youth about what poultry breeds might be a good choice. Likewise, her pride beams when she watches the older members teach others the skills they have learned. She has offered numerous workshop opportunities for youth to order poultry, learn about their birds, share their learning with others, and provide leadership to the project area. At the Buena Vista County Fair, Amber has done a phenomenal job tending to the poultry barn and our poultry exhibitor’s learning and needs.

Amber started the Special Poultry project six years ago, using her own poultry to allow Buena Vista County 4-H members and Clover Kids unable to own livestock the opportunity to show poultry at the fair. Amber teaches them about caring for and feeding different types of poultry and how to show poultry. She works with each exhibitor on showmanship and what to expect at the fair. Through the Special Poultry project, dozens of youth have been given the opportunity to try something new and show poultry at the fair. Thanks to Amber’s enthusiasm, the project has become a family affair over the years. For many years, Amber’s mom Martha has helped, and more recently, her son Alex and his wife Kim have taken up the mantel to volunteer and support youth learning at the fair.

Buena Vista County is thankful for their continued contributions to the Buena Vista County 4-H program.