Grayson Co. 'mom' encourages kids

By LYNN MONTGOMERY | East Texas Edition

Madelyn Vaughan (left) has worked as a librarian for 11 years, and has devoted nearly two decades to helping, and encouraging, 4-H youth. -Staff photo by Montgomery

May 9, 2002 -- Walk into Gunter High School's library and you will see a lady who proudly wears a shirt stating, "All my time, energy and money go to 4-H."

Madelyn Vaughan has been a librarian for 11 years, and she has been involved with the 4-H program for over 17 years.

"I got involved when my daughter, Erin, was in the third grade (17 years ago). Kids have to be 9-years-old to be in 4-H," Vaughan said. "Shane (her son), who is three years younger than Erin, got involved when he turned 9 also. Both kids were active in 4-H. When they graduated from high school, I continued to help out the kids.

"I am very proud of all my 'kids'," Vaughan said. "My advice to them is they are not going to win every time. Do your best. There's always next year."

Vaughan, who grew up in Irving, knows what it takes to persevere. In 1988, she had a horse accident which left both arms broken.

"I was riding my mare and for whatever reason, she decided to buck, bucking me off. My left wrist was shattered and I had to have a cast. The bones in my right wrist were powdered, so the arm had to be put in traction," she explained. "At the time, I was working in the school cafeteria. The school could have fired me, but instead, I was moved to elementary library assistant and CMC (content mastery classroom). I can't remember what year I actually moved to the high school librarian."

Not only is she the librarian, Vaughan drives a school bus, is the IPM (integrated pest management) coordinator and migrant coordinator for the school district, and the ag booster president. In addition, she is the Gunter Community 4-H club manager

"I have so much going on, but plans are to step down from club manager next year. I will stay involved in 4-H as a parent leader," she said. "I will continue to help these kids any way I can. If they have questions, I try to answer them."

As Vaughan was talking about kids, several students walked by and said "hi." She would answer them and then say, "That's one of mine," or "her and her sister show on the team....4-H is a great program and can offer a kid many opportunities, such as scholarships. Erin received a scholarship. So many kids drop out of 4-H when they get to be a freshman in high school and enter FFA. Erin stayed with 4-H but she also was in FFA," Vaughan said.

"I have a good group of kids and a good group of parents. Every one of these kids are 'hands-on.' I tell them 'you get out of it what you put into it.' I see big differences in kids whose parents help and those who don't," she continued.

Vaughan enjoys relating "her kids" accomplishments as well as explaining some of their experiences.

"We had nine (4-H) girls who showed heifers at the major shows this year, plus two who showed at the county level. Two sisters showed broilers at Houston with one making the cut. Kathleen Robinson got the 49th spot out of I believe 200. Jessica would have made it, I believe, if the weather hadn't been a factor. There was a cold north wind blowing and her birds were on the outside. They (the birds) took the brunt of the wind. The reason I know she probably would have made the cut is because her scores were high the first two times but then they dropped."

At times like this, Vaughan is quick to remind the kids that "we are out here to have fun, that's first. Don't give up and remember tomorrow's a different day and with a different judge."

Showing animals does requires everyone's help in the organization, according to Vaughan.

"Many times, either myself or one of the parents will haul the show animals while the kids are still in school. We don't want the kids to miss too much school. I close the library and take off. The school is really great letting me do this," Vaughan said.

With any club organization, fundraisers are a must.

"As ag booster president, our big fundraiser is hamburger sales at football games. This money goes toward paying for hotel rooms, FFA state and national conventions, and projects," she said. "This year the ag booster club gave $1,000 to the Texoma Livestock Show for new buildings. Mongoose Trailer in Tom Bean donated a flatbed trailer and a portion of the sales made up the $1,000."

As the saying goes, "it doesn't matter who wins or loses, it just matters how you play the game." In Vaughan and "her kids" case, they are having fun playing the youth developement game.