Todd and Jennifer Cook have a farm and ranch in Bingham County, raising hay, grain and livestock.
Their three children participate in 4-H. Their oldest daughter Emma, 14, has been involved with multiple projects since she was 8.
“She grew up farming and ranching with us and has helped since she could walk,” Jennifer said. “From the time she was 2 she was helping her dad feed, and has been driving tractors by herself since she was 8. She’s always loved to feed and take care of animals and is a hard worker.”
Jennifer continued, “Her first year of 4-H she did a horse project. Ever since then she has had multiple projects each year. Last year was probably her busiest. She did horse, steer, pig and cooking projects. She went to the Eastern Idaho State Fair last year with a steer, her cooking project and her horse. This year she is just doing the horse project.”
Emma also loves volleyball and is always very busy, either with horses and livestock or volleyball.
“She keeps us really busy trying to keep up with her.,” Jennifer said. “Her younger brother is 12 and her little sister is 9. They also do 4-H. Her sister did a steer for the first time this year, and when we weighed that steer we realized it was 24 times her size. She’s a little bitty kid but it was a gentle steer and she had a great time and loved showing it.”
Emma added, “I started 4-H because our neighbors were doing it. I thought 4-H was so cool. I asked them how I could sign up and they got me started in their club. It was a lot of fun. I was 8-years-old and at my first fair I only entered two classes with my horse equitation and showmanship. I took third place in the equitation class and I was so excited.”
The next year, at age 9, she decided to do beef as well as horse 4-H.
“My steer was amazing,” Emma said. “He was like a pet and I could actually ride him. He’s one we raised here on our ranch and he was so gentle. I was heartbroken when I sold him.”
Emma continued, “I loved 4-H and was super competitive and tried a bunch of projects. I started doing pigs and that was super fun and I placed fairly well my first year. We got pigs from friends who do 4-H with us. They sell pigs to all the 4-H kids. We bought three pigs because my younger brother took one as a project, too, and we got an extra one in case one of them got sick or something. I didn’t know how to show pigs at all when I went to the Fair that year; I just watched the class ahead of mine, and just copied them. Pigs are fun to work with because they are really smart.”
For a couple of years, Emma branched out and did cooking projects as well.
“One of my neighbors, the person who started our club, asked me if I wanted to do cooking. I was a little older when I started the cooking projects, so I kind of already knew everything they were teaching — since I do some cooking at home. It was still a lot of fun, however, and I did it for two years.”
Those projects also did well at the Eastern Idaho State Fair.
Emma has gone to the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot several times with various projects. The first year was with her horse, entering the equitation class and her horse project.
“I was so nervous,” she said. “I was really scared because it was very competitive. When I rode into the ring for the equitation class there were all these riders with their fancy saddles and shirts and I just had my old ranch saddle. I didn’t do very well in that class.”
Emma continued, “That same year I also did a steer, and they only take the top 20 to sell in the market sale at the end of the fair. I didn’t have a very good-looking steer, but he was calm and well behaved. He placed as number 17. He wasn’t good-looking so we didn’t do very well in showmanship, but I was really glad I got to sell him, because there were a lot of kids who didn’t get to sell their animals.”
When she went to the fair for the second time, she was determined to try to do better.
“I bought a fancy saddle from my great aunt who used to show horses,” Emma said. “I did a lot
better that year, but partly because I presented myself better.”
She also knew more about what to expect, and had another year of practice.
“There is a saying that pressure is a privilege,” Emma said. “The fair helps me try to perform better because it’s bigger and more competitive, but I also have more fun just because my other friends from other counties were there. I met so many new people. All the food vendors are there, and we enjoy lots of great food when we have a break between classes. It’s just amazing.”
She will be at the Eastern Idaho State Fair again this year with her horse Chester.
“He’s 26, so he’s pretty old, but he’s a great horse and looks really good for his age,” Emma said. “I used him in a high school rodeo for reining cow horse competition and took first place this year. I got him from my mom’s cousin when he was 22. They were retiring him and trying to find a good home for him and gave him to us. He turned out to be a really good horse and I really love him.”
For all kids in 4-H, the advice she gives is to remember to have fun.
“It’s not just about winning,” she said. “The memories are great and it’s important to just do your best and have fun. I don’t remember the classes I got ribbons in as much as I remember the good times I had — the great memories.”
For kids going to the Eastern Idaho State Fair for the first time and are nervous about it, she says the main thing is to try your best and don’t be upset if you don’t win.
“You can’t change the judges’ opinions, no matter how well you do,” she said. “You just do your best and that’s all you can do, and not worry about it.”
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