Sauk County 4-H member Ruby Taggart led a workshop at ArtBEAT! that also supported local farmers’ well-being.
At ArtBEAT!, the arts and STEM camp experience at Upham Woods in mid-March, the high school senior showed youth in grades 3-5 how to create a collage on playing cards. Each camper made two cards — one to keep and one to donate to the Farmer Angel Network. Farmer Angel Network is a Sauk County nonprofit that works to ensure all farmers are resilient and have healthy, productive lives. Taggart said the Farmer Angel Network promotes many of the 4-H values like empathy, community service, and mental and physical health.
“Farming can be a difficult and isolating job, and it’s important to support the people who provide the food that keeps everyone healthy,” Taggart said. These cards will be given out to farmers in the area to bring more joy into their lives.
Taggart, an eight-year member of the Spirit Lake 4-H Club, was impressed by the youth during the activity as they were creative with their collage designs and their utilization of materials. She was also impressed that the youth really enjoyed making cards to be donated and commented that some kids even made more than one card for donation!
Taggart wanted to show young 4-H members that community service can be fun and incorporate things they are interested in. Leading the activity at ArtBEAT! taught her a lot about leadership and working with a younger audience. She also learned that the collage activity is a great experience for all ages and skill levels! Taggart hopes to continue teaching this activity to others in the state and continuing to spread the mission of the Farmer Angel Network.
