Lancaster County 4-H presents a Heart of 4-H Award to a Lancaster County 4-H volunteer each month in recognition of outstanding volunteer serice. The purpose of this award is to recognize volunteers who are, indeed, the heart of 4-H.
See All Heart of 4-H Winners
Kelly and Colleen have been active in the Ropes & Riggins 4-H horse club for six years, beginning when their daughter joined 4-H. They have been getting more involved in 4-H each year. Currently their children Gabby and Shawn are both members of Ropes & Riggins.
Colleen is president of the Salt Creek Wranglers Saddle Club (Kelly is a board member). Last year, the group looked into additional ways of using their arena grounds and decided to host the 4-H Silver Dollar Series. Response was so great, the series will be repeated in 2005 and the Salt Creek Wranglers may offer several clinics for youth and adults.
"At 4-H horse shows, if you need anything, you can always count on both of them to help out," said 4-H staff member Marty Cruickshank. She noted that Kelly did the work of 10 people at the Silver Dollar Series, working up the arena, setting up jumps and trail obstacles, manning the gates and being ring steward. Colleen says she likes being a 4-H volunteer because she didn't have the opportunity to participate in 4-H while growing up, as Kelly did. They both enjoy seeing 4-H members improve their riding skills.
The Warners also volunteer at the Lancaster County Fair Open Class Horse show, the Capital City Horse and Pony Club, their church and at their children's school activities. Something many people might not know about the Warners is they started dating when Kelly was 16 and Coleen was 15!