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Michigan young farmer’s 4-H initiative helps youth work hands-on with livestock

A young farmer says providing a space for 4-H youth to raise livestock has been an inspiring addition to incorporate into their operation.

Taylor Schomaker says she recently started a free sponsorship program that pairs youth with animals to be shown at the local fair.

“It’s one thing to watch your own kids grow, we have two little ones, but to also see how you can truly impact the lives of those kids in the community, that also is absolutely amazing,” she shares. “That keeps us pushing forward, even on hard days.”

Schomaker says as a first-generation farmer and registered dietitian by trade, her goal is more than farming, but to build a place where the community can also connect and grow.

“It makes us feel like we are doing such a great thing for the community to see how much people are enjoying the farm, spending time with their families here, and how much they’re learning,” she says.

Last season, members of the farm’s Red Barn 4-H Crew traded weekly hours to exhibit six lambs and two goats.

The Schomaker’s raise about 20 different produce crops and livestock on their 45-acre centennial family farm in Saginaw County.  

Michigan Farm Bureau recently named Schomaker as this year’s Young Farmer Agriculture Leader Award winner in recognition of her work on the farm and in the community.