Highland County 4-H member Addy Knauff selected as Georgia Boot Trailblazer

Earlier this year, Georgia Boot announced that Highland County 4-H member Addy Knauff was selected as one of their 2024 Trailblazers.

Serving as one of just six honorees chosen from youth applicants spanning across the country, Georgia Boot seeks to publicize Knauff’s 4-H journey and celebrate her passion and dedication to her project work. Through this recognition, Knauff will have the opportunity to share her 4-H story and achievements on the national stage.

During her 10 years as a 4-H member, Knauff has kept busy through her involvement in three 4-H clubs and her involvement in a variety of leadership opportunities. Knauff showing her alpaca at the Highland County Fair.

Throughout the year she volunteers as a 4-H camp counselor, is a part of Highland County Junior Leadership, and serves on the Jr. Fair Board, Family and Consumer Science Board and Highland County Rabbit Council.

However, when asked about her 4-H successes, Knauff would say that starting the Highland County llama and alpaca show is her biggest achievement to date.

“I started out showing rabbits, but always wanted to show a bigger animal,” said Knauff. “I wasn’t sure where to start, but two years ago while traveling to different county fairs as a Highland County Fair queen attendant I had the opportunity to talk with a llama and alpaca representative at a neighboring county about their project work.”

This conversation got the ball rolling for Knauff, and before she knew it, her petition had been approved to start a show at the Highland County Fair. As a member of the Jr. Fair Board, she then had the opportunity to sit on the planning committee and was essentially able build the show from the ground up.

“This all happened in the span of one year,” said Knauff. “It took a lot of planning, but we were able to host the first Highland County llama and alpaca show at last year’s county fair. All in all, it was a big learning experience, but it went really well and I’m excited to see how the show improves this year.”

2023 was also the year that Knauff finally got an alpaca, meaning that she was able to participate in the inaugural show.

“I’ve always loved alpacas and even used to joke with my 4-H educator that I was going to start a llama and alpaca show despite the fact that I didn’t actually have one at the time,” she said. “My mom played a big role in helping me get an alpaca to show, and I’m so grateful for her support.”

Knauff is thrilled to have a platform to share her 4-H story with the Georgia Boot audience as she serves as a 2024 Trailblazer.

“I love 4-H and everything it has to offer,” Knauff said. “I’m so excited for the opportunity to tell people across the nation about my experiences in Highland County 4-H.”

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