Douglas County is celebrating one of its own today, a young man whose spirit and dedication have inspired both his peers and elders. 17-year-old Wesley Watts, a newly minted 2025 high school graduate, has been hailed not only as an active member of the 4-H community since childhood but also as an embodiment of the ideals the program stands for. He's been making waves through his deep involvement in a range of activities – from agriculture to aerospace – and in doing so, setting a sterling example for the youth that follow.
According to Douglas County, Wesley's journey with 4-H began at the tender age of eight. His experience rearing chickens, goats, and horses in conjunction with his pursuits in rocketry, filmmaking, and shooting sports has not just been extracurricular activities; they have been building blocks in his development as a leader. Wesley ascribes his growth to the 4-H program, and perhaps as importantly, to the tenets it has instilled in him: hard work, genuine friendship, and leading with a heart full of kindness and love.
It's this same mix of down-to-earth values and earnest effort that Wesley has passed down to the youth around him, including his three younger siblings. His story is not just one of personal achievement; it's a narrative of encouragement and influence, spurring on the next generation to reach for those high bars set before them. "To be a good friend and family member and to lead with kindness and love," Wesley told Douglas County, encapsulates his view on what it means to be a community's ambassador.
