December 2019 Volunteer of the Month - Dave and Kalei Robbins

The Robbins are great examples of the volunteer spirit. Dave, a lifelong resident, and his wife Kalei and their four boys have been running the Squash Head 4-H Sheep Showmanship Program in Santaquin for the past 6 years. Children between the ages of 8 and 18 are invited to participate in the program and they are taught how to feed, lead, shear, wash, and present the animals at several shows before they are sold. To help offset program expenses, Kalei and Dave approach local businesses to participate in a booster program to sponsor the children. Their Squash Head 4-H Petting Zoo has become a main attraction during our city Orchard Days Celebration. 

Because many children do not live in areas where livestock are allowed, the Robbins allow the lambs to be raised on their family farm. The participants are taught money management skills to help the program be successful in future years. There is also a garden on the farm property that the 4-H students learn how to cultivate. After a successful harvest, the food is then donated to our local assisted living centers. On top of these volunteer efforts, Kalei is the Young Farmer and Ranchers Chair and Dave is the Vice President of the Utah County Farm Bureau. Their hope is that these efforts can advocate to our future generations the importance of agriculture. A big thank you to Dave and Kalei for their volunteer efforts in helping our children learn valuable life skills and promoting our agricultural heritage.