Sometimes, all it takes is one opportunity to discover a passion that changes your life. For Kaleigh, that opportunity came through 4-H.
Before joining the 4-H Pig Squeal project, Kaleigh had no experience raising production farm animals. But she decided to give it a try. Through the Pig Squeal program, she adopted piglets and spent months raising them to adulthood before selling them at a 4-H pig show and auction.
She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to take on a new challenge through the 4-H Market Steer project. Similar to the Pig Squeal, Market Steer project participants raise cattle to sell at the 4-H Market Steer Auction.
As Kaleigh gained hands-on experience caring for her animals, her curiosity grew. She wanted to understand not only how to raise healthy animals, but also how to care for them when something went wrong.
“From there, I realized there was a lot I wanted to know about when things go wrong and your animals get sick, I wanted to know how to fix that,” Kaleigh said.
What began as a new experience soon became a passion. Through 4-H, Kaleigh discovered her love for caring for animals, a passion that would help shape her future. After graduating from high school, she chose to pursue veterinary medicine at Auburn University.
“I think 4-H definitely played a role in my desire to be in vet med,” she said.
But the impact of 4-H extended far beyond helping Kaleigh discover a career path. Along the way, she developed valuable life skills that continue to set her up for success, from public speaking and recordkeeping to professional communication and learning how to navigate business and networking events.
“There’s so many aspects, from public speaking to just knowing how to do record books, even down to just the business-casual aspect and knowing how to dress for things and go to events and things like that,” she said. “I feel like I have a foot forward sometimes compared to my colleagues.”
Ask Kaleigh what 4-H means to her, and she sums it up in one word: opportunity.
“It gives you the opportunity to maybe experience something you’ve never experienced before,” she said. “Every time that I wanted to do something, I was able to go and be a part and somebody pushed me forward. I got to see a lot of things and do a lot of things, and I think that’s probably the best thing that 4-H means to me.”
Kaleigh’s story is a reminder that investing in young people is about more than providing programs or teaching new skills. It’s about opening doors to new opportunities, encouraging curiosity, and giving young people the support they need to discover what’s possible for their future.
By supporting programs like 4-H, United Way of Marshall County helps create opportunities for young people to explore their interests, develop confidence, and build the skills they need to succeed. For Kaleigh, one opportunity led to a lifelong passion and a future in veterinary medicine.
When we invest in greater youth opportunities, we’re not just changing what’s possible for them today. We’re helping shape the people, professionals, and leaders they’ll become tomorrow.
Learn more of Kaleigh’s story in this video.