LAKE ANDES, SD (Mitchell Now) — A dazzling array of creativity was on display Tuesday evening at the Charles Mix 4-H Center in Lake Andes.
Some of the projects were practical, like a wooden shed fortified on the exterior by corrugated metal. The shed was created by 14-year-old Luke. He says it is meant to hold sheep feed. Standing 6’ x 6’ with a roof peak of eight feet, Luke says the work wasn’t finished until Tuesday morning. Luke told Mitchell Now that he was planning on showing a variety of animals over the next several days as 4-H Achievement Days in Charles Mix County get kicked into high gear.
The shed wasn’t the only impressive project laid out on the lawn of the fairgrounds on School Street. Ethan’s contribution was a wooden bench that used parts of tractor tires as the legs. Everything was repurposed from the farm into something equal parts functional and eye-catching.
Ethan will be showing a bucket calf during the livestock portion of the show. A bucket calf is about six months old when it enters the show arena. They’re called bucket calves because of how they are fed. Typically separated from their mothers when she can’t care for them, the calves have to be fed by hand, using either a bottle or a bucket. Ethan discusses the steps necessary for the bucket calf to shine on show day.
While Ethan is enjoying his third 4-H Achievement Days in 2026, a fellow 14-year-old considers himself a veteran, who is ready to move on to rodeo soon. Thomas says he has been in 4-H since he can remember. This year, he is showing beef and poultry. He talked with KMIT about how quick thinking is required during the shows as animals often have a mind of their own about how the day is going to unfold.
Inside, youth were showcasing everything from breadmaking skills to leather goods to photography. Some of their projects are below.
Our coverage in Charles Mix County was made possible by the following sponsors:
Fort Randall Federal Credit Union, Farm Credit Services of America, Commercial State Bank, Fousek Trucking & Grain, Kaylor Agri Services, Kimball Livestock, Bures & Kronaizl Insurance, Martin Trudeau Insurance, Fort Randall Telephone, Wagner Super Foods, East River Veterinary Clinic, Midstate Communications