FARM2026: Jessalyn Hendriks reflects on a life in local agriculture, 4-H

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

Jessalyn Hendriks likes to keep busy. Luckily, she lives in an area with a robust 4-H culture. Throughout her years as an active member of the 4-H program, she has participated in an impressive variety of clubs. Last year was a particularly fruitful year for the young farmer; Hendriks won so many awards that she can barely keep them all straight! Recently, The Citizen sat down with Hendriks at its Blyth office for a rundown on her very busy 4-H career - past, present and future.

 

“Within 4-H Ontario, I was involved in many different clubs,” Hendriks told The Citizen. “I was in the Huron County Sheep Club, Goat Club, Swine Club and Sodbusters Club. And the Huron County Line Dancing Club. I also did Bruce County Beef. And curling.” Along the way, she’s stepped into junior leadership roles in both the beef and curling clubs. She is also one of the 2026 4-H Ontario Ambassadors representing the club at a provincial level.

 

Of all her many clubs Hendriks likes to focus on livestock, as she spent her childhood growing up on a beef farm with sheep and horses. That background - along with her grandparents’ experience raising pigs - meant she was surrounded by livestock from an early age. “I’ve also had ducks, chickens and goats,” Hendriks listed. “I’ve kind of had every sort of animal - I’m very animal-oriented. You get to learn things from them - how they think, how they move and how they react to things. Their perception of things is interesting compared to how we see things.” 

 

While she enjoys working (and winning) with different species, sheep remain a favourite. “I like Suffolk sheep. I’ve kind of grown up with Suffolks,” she said. “You get the black and the white, which is nice.”

 

That dedication to livestock and 4-H paid off in her standout 2025 season. “I won the Huron County Sweepstakes in 2025,” she explained. “First, I won Grand Champion in Seaforth with my goat for showmanship. Then, in Huron County, all the champion showmen competed against each other for each species - and I won! That was pretty exciting.”

 

The win was especially meaningful because it came during her first year competing at that level. “It was my first time entering the sweepstakes, and it was also my first time showing a dairy calf as well,” Hendriks told The Citizen. 

 

Her achievements extended beyond the show ring. Hendriks also received the coveted Don Pullen Award for the highest overall score in all of Huron County 4-H for 2025. She also won a junior leader award. Additionally, Hendriks completed so many clubs that she won a club number award recognizing the sheer volume of clubs she has completed - over 36 in total! Along with all the awards, Hendriks has received several scholarships to help with her post-secondary education. “I feel pretty fortunate to receive the scholarships,” she said. It’s not surprising that Hendriks’ passion for all things agricultural is helping to shape her educational path. She’s previously studied Environmental Sciences and Agricultural Business Management, before moving into equine studies.

 

Hendriks feels that 4-H can help potential future farmers navigate some of the challenges faced by young people interested in getting into agriculture someday. “Years ago, if you were in your twenties you could potentially buy your own farm or have lots of machinery and animals,” she explained. “Now everything is so expensive it’s really hard to get into farming and sustain it.”
She believes programs like 4-H remain an important starting point for young people interested in any aspect of farming - not just livestock. “There are lots of different 4-H clubs,” Hendriks advised. “There’s also life skills clubs and different opportunities like that.” As she enters the final phase of her 4-H member era, Hendriks has already made plans to become a 4-H leader. 

 

Looking ahead, Hendriks hopes agriculture continues to thrive in Huron and Bruce Counties for generations to come. “I hope farming is still here in 100 years,” she opined. “I hope agricultural sustainability helps preserve things with new technologies and old ways of doing things. And I hope women are just as involved, if not more involved, as men. And that Huron and Bruce Counties are even more known for farming. And I hope that 4-H is still going!”