Erin Shaw by Bonnie Warnyca
June, 2010
While most people would rather have a root canal than get up in front of an audience to speak, 19 year old Erin Shaw is just the opposite. Since the age of 10, when she gave her first 4-H speech, Shaw has been keen to be at the lectern.
Shaw was the recipient of the 2010 4-H premier's Award during the 53rd annual 4-H selections program at Olds College in May. "It was a lengthy process," says this university student. "It takes the combined scores of a lot of different aspects from 4-H and community involvement to the results of a quiz which tests our knowledge about 4-H events, current events and agriculture. I won a massive trophy and a trip to California in July for a 4-H Leadership conference. 4-H also gave me an engraved garment suit bag."
Shaw grew up on a mixed family farm northeast of Gibbons, Alberta and attended the 4-H Club in Bon Accord. She has no great affiliation with the crop side of the farm but, like many kids, loved being close to the animals. "Mom talked me into joining the horse 4-H for the first couple of years, but I switched to the beef club after that," says this energetic little powerhouse. "My most favorite event was the public speaking. I was never nervous. I remember my first speech was about all my firsts, such as my first time fishing and my first time walking, and how everything I seemed to learn caused my parents a lot of stress."
Shaw admits that even though she's a young adult, she has a most Liberal point of view. "I was brought up in a very community-minded family and being the youngest I suppose I had to speak loudly to be heard. I was taught to lend a hand wherever possible and you had to participate in order to help to change the outcome. I remember one of my most controversial speeches was on gay marriages. I sit as a youth rep on our local church board and after hearing a number of guest speakers on the subject and attending some study sessions, I strongly believed that gay couples should have every right given to everyone else."
Shaw says her last speech was a little less controversial although undoubtedly it would have brought out the ire of any in opposition. "I talked about online dating and why I was in favor of it," says this gal unafraid to have her opinion shared. "I acknowledged the cons but I think it's a great new approach to finding a partner. You already know that you have many things in common at the first meeting which can't be said at an impromptu get-together."
Shaw is concerned that her area is slowly being taken over by industry and destroying the rural way of life that her ancestors worked so hard to obtain. She says, "I have only a few cow/calf pairs but I hope to someday come back to the farm and run 100 head. That's my dream. I'm now on the Municipal Development Planning Committee for Sturgeon County. I hope to be able to help to shape the future of our County so that the family farm is still here when I return."
Having just finished her first year of university at Memorial University in St. Johns, Newfoundland, Shaw is spending the summer working with special needs children for Innovative Intervention Services Inc. out of Edmonton. Next semester, she is enrolled in the U of A to work towards her degree in Psychology after which she wants to be a Family and Marriage Counselor.
With two more year's eligibility in 4-H and her new title as 4-H Regional Ambassador, Shaw has plenty of time to give back to 4-H. Something she says, will continue on for many years to come. |
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