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.
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The Messicks have had children in the 4-H Horse program for 15 years and have been volunteer leaders with the EquiRiders 4-H Club for 11 years. They have also helped out at numerous county, district and state 4-H horse shows.
Brenda is a member and past officer of the Horse VIPS committee. Tom is a past member of the Lancaster County Extension Board, having acted as the liaison with the Lancaster County Agricultural Society (Fair Board) for two years.
"I enjoy teaching youth how to ride horses," says Brenda. "During our 4-H meetings and arena practices, I enjoy teaching safety and horse knowledge. Currently, I am helping youth age 8 to 10 learn to ride and show for their first year. I love their excitement! Tom enjoys watching the youth ride, practice and show -- and how much they progress throughout each year.
The Messicks are members of the Capital City Horse & Pony Club and the Quarter Horse Association of Nebraska. Brenda was recently elected to the Nebraska Horse Council Board. Brenda has a business called Messick Quarter Horses and Messick Tack & Feed, giving riding lessons to youth and adults, training and boarding horses, and selling tack and shavings.
The Messicks live in Ceresco and all three of their children were members of 4-H. Their youngest son, Micah, is a senior in high school and planning to attend the University of Nebraska-Lincoln next fall. Tom and Brenda are also active members of the Raymond Central Booster Club and the Ceresco United Methodist Church.