Supporting Youth Development
Jan 21, 2025
Sara Clausen
Director of Communications
WE KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY goes into showing animals at our local county and state fairs. But did you know those projects actually begin now—when the snow flies? Families are weighing in their calves and mapping out farrowing schedules, and lambing season is right around the corner.
For years, Key has proudly supplied families with Purina Honor® Show feeds to produce the healthiest show-ready animals. Now, Key also offers 4-H and FFA members special financing on show feeds for their animal projects. This option allows youth to charge feed to their individual account with Key without accruing interest until after the project is complete. This gives them the opportunity to really own the project from beginning to end and learn about managing expenses along the way. Also new this year: 4-H and FFA members receive a 10 percent discount on all project-related feed items!
“I write all my own checks and handle my own feed bills,” said high school junior Katelyn Walters, who shows both her horse and cattle at the Boone County Fair. “My mom has encouraged me to take on this responsibility.”
Katelyn had her older brother to teach her what it meant to manage her own finances. Her love for animals has made her who she is today. “I truly enjoy taking care of my calves, watching them warm up to me then actually get excited to see me,” said Katelyn. “It’s through showing that I learned I want to become a vet someday.”
For the Ellensohn family in Ames, the experience of showing is the culmination of life skills they’ve learned over many months. “Being responsible for their own animals—understanding what it takes to raise them from beginning to end—is important to our family,” said father Aaron Ellensohn. “People don’t know where their food comes from, and I want that for my kids.”
The three oldest kids in the family—Brock (ninth grade), Sienna (sixth grade) and Savanna (sixth grade)—have grown their production, Septenary Farms, which began with the sale of eggs.
“The eggs are where it all started,” said Brock. “We would review sales, expenses and daily production to understand the health trends of the hens.”
The family production includes meat birds, turkeys and pigs (and a bucket calf here and there). They intend to add another 300 birds to their operation next year. “We also held a Berkshire and a Herford pig back for breeding,” said Sienna. “I’ve also been researching quail,” added Savanna.
Overall, the family appreciates the youth feed financing program because it allows for various accounts to remain separate for the kids to learn how much feed it takes to raise an animal, then make a profit.
Participating in the youth feed financing program is easy! Simply fill out a brief project summary and submit a credit application for approval. 4-H and FFA members can reach out to a member of the Key Feed team to get signed up for the youth discount card. Just show your card when purchasing feed at your Key location!
Participating in our youth show feed programs is easy! Contact our team to get started!
Kelcie Carpenter | Key Cooperative, Gilbert Feed Sales | 515-520-1962
Jim Hawkins | Lifestyle Feed Sales | 641-990-8964
Joel Edge | Purina Sales Specialist | 319-331-3667
Pictured above: The Ellensohn kids are learning important life skills as they raise their show animals.
Savanna Ellensohn poses with one of the family’s chickens. They plan to add 300 birds to their operation next year.
Director of Communications
Key Cooperative offers feed financing program for youth show projects
WE KNOW HOW MUCH TIME AND ENERGY goes into showing animals at our local county and state fairs. But did you know those projects actually begin now—when the snow flies? Families are weighing in their calves and mapping out farrowing schedules, and lambing season is right around the corner.
For years, Key has proudly supplied families with Purina Honor® Show feeds to produce the healthiest show-ready animals. Now, Key also offers 4-H and FFA members special financing on show feeds for their animal projects. This option allows youth to charge feed to their individual account with Key without accruing interest until after the project is complete. This gives them the opportunity to really own the project from beginning to end and learn about managing expenses along the way. Also new this year: 4-H and FFA members receive a 10 percent discount on all project-related feed items!
“I write all my own checks and handle my own feed bills,” said high school junior Katelyn Walters, who shows both her horse and cattle at the Boone County Fair. “My mom has encouraged me to take on this responsibility.”
Katelyn had her older brother to teach her what it meant to manage her own finances. Her love for animals has made her who she is today. “I truly enjoy taking care of my calves, watching them warm up to me then actually get excited to see me,” said Katelyn. “It’s through showing that I learned I want to become a vet someday.”
For the Ellensohn family in Ames, the experience of showing is the culmination of life skills they’ve learned over many months. “Being responsible for their own animals—understanding what it takes to raise them from beginning to end—is important to our family,” said father Aaron Ellensohn. “People don’t know where their food comes from, and I want that for my kids.”
The three oldest kids in the family—Brock (ninth grade), Sienna (sixth grade) and Savanna (sixth grade)—have grown their production, Septenary Farms, which began with the sale of eggs.
“The eggs are where it all started,” said Brock. “We would review sales, expenses and daily production to understand the health trends of the hens.”
The family production includes meat birds, turkeys and pigs (and a bucket calf here and there). They intend to add another 300 birds to their operation next year. “We also held a Berkshire and a Herford pig back for breeding,” said Sienna. “I’ve also been researching quail,” added Savanna.
Overall, the family appreciates the youth feed financing program because it allows for various accounts to remain separate for the kids to learn how much feed it takes to raise an animal, then make a profit.
Participating in the youth feed financing program is easy! Simply fill out a brief project summary and submit a credit application for approval. 4-H and FFA members can reach out to a member of the Key Feed team to get signed up for the youth discount card. Just show your card when purchasing feed at your Key location!
Participating in our youth show feed programs is easy! Contact our team to get started!
Kelcie Carpenter | Key Cooperative, Gilbert Feed Sales | 515-520-1962
Jim Hawkins | Lifestyle Feed Sales | 641-990-8964
Joel Edge | Purina Sales Specialist | 319-331-3667
Pictured above: The Ellensohn kids are learning important life skills as they raise their show animals.
Savanna Ellensohn poses with one of the family’s chickens. They plan to add 300 birds to their operation next year.