McKenzie Evans: A household name in Dodge County 4-H, FFA

For the past 13 years, Kasson Mantorville graduate McKenzie Evans has been involved with 4-H and or FFA. 
Since then she has been a household name in Dodge County, recently earning 12 Blue Ribbons out of her 15 possible chances, during the Dodge County Fair. She also received overall Grand Champion for her Veterinary Science Project this year. 
For Evans, she comes from a long line of 4-Hers noting that she was at least a third generation 4-Her, and said that was one of the main reasons she got involved with it. 
“My mom was a 4-Her so she encouraged me to get involved with it at a young age,” Evans said. 
After starting it, Evans couldn’t get enough of it saying that she has enjoyed it alot.
“I really enjoyed it, so I kept it up,” Evans said. 
Evans started her career in 4-H as soon as she could while she was in Kindergarten, starting with the building and clothing project. 
As she got older, she began to expand her horizons by starting to show rabbits in second grade. She has also expanded to showing different livestock animals including goats, sheep, and vet science projects. 
Although, she comes from a family of 4-Hers, Evans like others in Dodge County and across the state face a unique challenge of showing livestock, since they don’t live on a farm. 
For Evans it means that she would have to travel 20 minutes north and south from her house in Kasson when she wanted to work with her animals. 
Evans said that she is very happy that she was able to lease animals over the years. 
“Having the leasing program for city kids is a really good thing,” Evans said. 
Because she has been involved with a wide variety of projects, she said that she can’t pick just one part of her time in 4-H and FFA. “I like all the different types of projects,” Evans said. 
While looking at different colleges, Evans explained that she first explored different Animal Science programs but after visiting Bemidji State University, she knew it was a perfect atmosphere for her, and she would be able to run track there something she really wanted to do. 
Evans will be running mid-distance events on the Division 2 Track and Field Team. 
In college she plans on studying Accounting. 
Evans is looking forward to showing at one last fair this year when she shows at the 2019 State Fair.