Three members of local 4-H clubs entertained a crowd of roughly 300 people with their speeches during the Estevan Farmers’ Appreciation Evening on March 9 at the Days Inn Plaza.
Colesey Goetz, an intermediate with the Outram-Madigan 4-H Club, Sasha Mantei, a junior with the Outram-Madigan 4-H Club, and Brody Walter, a junior with the Benson 4-H Club, enlightened the audience with their entertaining and informative topics.
Colesey told the audience it was important to live life to its fullest. She documented some of her experiences, and how they have helped her lead a more fulfilling life.
“Do you know what my New Year’s resolution is this year? I want to know how to play the piano and become ambidextrous. That’s when you can write with both hands,” she said.
She has even started to save money for future trips to the Pacific coast and Niagara Falls.
“These aren’t life-changing experiences, but I have one life,” said Colesey. “And looking back at these accomplishments, I would much rather spend my days learning something new, trying something new and being overall adventurous, than just watching my favourite movie again.”
Colesey urged the audience to work hard, have fun, relax and try something new. Her mother says life is like a box of chocolates, but according to Colesey, “those chocolates won’t last forever.”
Up next was Sasha, who explained her love for the sport of roller derby. Sasha, who competes under the moniker of Lightning 900, even showed up wearing her Junior Coaler Rollers equipment.
“Roller derby is a fun sport that I have been doing for two years,” said Sasha. “I am a Level 1 skater, but I am working on my Level 2.”
Roller derby becomes a full contact sport at Level 3. It takes a lot of work to reach that point, but Sasha believes it would be worthwhile.
She enjoys being the jammer, because it’s the position that scores points, but it’s also the most difficult role, because she has to avoid the opposition’s blockers.
“Roller derby is a great sport that I love to play because it is fun and cool,” said Sasha. “I enjoy roller derby because it allows me to be myself and I make lots of friends.”
It’s a complex sport with a lot of rules, but it’s still a lot of fun to watch and play.
Brody used humour at his own expense with his speech on good things coming in small packages. Brody told the audience that he is nine years old and is short, and he stood on a milk crate while speaking to prove his point.
He said a lack of height has its perks, but there are some problems, like school pictures, when they line students up from shortest to tallest.
“I have been the first in line in Kindergarten, Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 and Grade 4. How embarrassing,” Brody said, to the laughter of the audience.
Girls call him adorable, which he says is not what a boy his age wants to hear. And people think his younger brother is his older brother, or that they’re twins.
The upshot is that he doesn’t have far to fall, he has the best hiding spots for hide and seek, and he never gets hit in dodgeball. And he says it helps him play goal in hockey.
“Maybe by the next speeches, I will hit a growth spurt, and my topic can be all about being tall,” said Brody.
