Building Skills, Confidence, and Community Transcript
Kinsey Oak: My name is Kinsey Oak, and my kids have been going to livestock school for two years. This is their second year, and I really appreciate the opportunities that they've been given through NMSU. Last year was at Capitan; this year it's in Socorro, so it's closer to home. This is our second year, and we've really enjoyed it — I think just the opportunities... a lot of times you look at it and it's like, oh, it's college, but there's a lot of things they do in person, a lot of hands-on learning. Last year when I went, I learned more about how it's all connected through livestock, so that's been really exciting.
Interviewer: What changes have you seen in your child since attending?
Kinsey Oak: So the people that they picked to do the classes last year — my son had JJ and Jason for pigs, and that changed his whole life. The confidence that he had with his pigs — he came back and got to show his friends what he learned, and this year he went in extremely confident. My other son did goats last year; this year he's doing lambs. But again, I think a lot of the instructors come in with a lot of passion, and that just rubs off on the kids, and they take that to jackpots and county fair. So that's what I appreciate the most — the instructors.
Interviewer: And then, would you recommend NMSU Extension to other families?
Kinsey Oak: Oh, of course I would. I talk about it a lot, even though we've done livestock school only twice — we've been in 4-H, this will be our fifth year, and I think it's changed our life. Just the connections we've had, and the assistance and the help and support that we get. I would recommend 4-H to anybody.
Interviewer: Your child.
Kinsey Oak: Yeah, I think there's been a lot of moments, not just one. If you look back five years ago, it starts with Emily, who is the agent in Socorro, and then Jamie. So I think it started there — the relationships I built with them kind of gave me the confidence to continue growing, too. So I think there's been a lot of moments, but it first started with Emily and the relationship with her and the support that she gave.