By Kayla Kohls Rathmann:
The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step…. 4-H was my first step. I began my life in Garden City, Texas, a small town 35 miles east of Midland. My dad Norman Kohls was the County Extension Agent for Glasscock County and my mom was a schoolteacher. There wasn't much to do in this small town. Life was centered on agriculture and the family. My family raised sheep, pigs, and goats. Because of the sheep that my family actively showed, I was able to get my first taste of Fort Worth. At an early age, we traveled to the Southwestern Livestock Exposition to exhibit our 4-H projects.

I have two older sisters Kallie and Kaci and together we experienced much success. However, it wasn't until my high school years, that I was able to make the Junior Sale of Champions. In January 1997 as a freshman in high school, I was blessed to exhibit the Grand Champion Market Goat of the show. This was a very special day for a couple of reasons. My best friend from high school had the Reserve Grand Champion meat goat. We were so fortunate to experience success on the same day! I was also awarded the Champion Showmanship award. That made it three years in a row that I received that award. Winning showmanship is one of the greatest honors for an exhibitor.

It is all about you and your skills and it is a reflection of the hard work and dedication you put forth. A week after the show, I returned to Fort Worth to sell my goat. My goat brought $8000! I was fortunate enough to make the "sale" at the other major livestock shows, but I never topped the $8000 that Fort Worth awarded me. When I received my check from the Southwestern Livestock Exposition, I deposited the money into a savings account for college. My goal was to attend Texas A&M University after completing high school. My dad always told me that there were only two schools in Texas:

Sunday School and Texas A&M University. While at Texas A&M University, I majored in Agricultural Development with an emphasis in business. I became very active in several extra-curricular activities, including the Saddle and Sirloin Club, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Student Council, Junior Achievement Volunteer as well as volunteering for the HOSTS program. After all of this, I finished my Bachelor of Science degree in three years graduating Magna Cum Laude.

I decided to further my education and pursue a Master's Degree with the funds from the Fort Worth Stock Show. During my master's program, I served as a graduate teaching assistant for undergraduate programs, actively participated in the Agricultural Education Graduate Student's Society and assisted in writing research papers with peers in the department.

In June 2004, a paper my colleagues and I wrote was selected as Outstanding Graduate Paper at the 20th Annual Association for International and Extension Education Conference. This past December, I graduated with my Master's in Agricultural Education. All of these accomplishments would not have been possible without the assistance of my prize money awarded to me from the Fort Worth Stock Show Syndicate. I was able to receive two degrees from Texas A&M University and the best part…I left there debt free! Now, I work for the Texas 4-H Youth Development Foundation as the Director of the Texas 4-H Friends and Alumni Association.

This job allows me to give back to 4-H and others just as the Fort Worth Syndicate gave to me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all that you have done and continue to do. I owe it all to 4-H, my parents, and those who support the 4-H program…YOU the Fort Worth Syndicate.