Staff writer
Zach Goodwin, 18, has never been too far from his rural Burns home. He likes where he lives, and he plans to return as soon as he has put a recently-earned scholarship to good use.
“I’ll be studying agriculture business at Pratt Community College,” the 2012 Peabody-Burns graduate said. “But after that I plan to come home to work in the shop with my dad and brother.”
Goodwin left Sunday for college, but went knowing his education was partially funded by a $500 scholarship from the Marion County 4-H Endowment Fund.
Goodwin served his Peabody Achievers 4-H Club as club treasurer and president for several years. He was member of the finance and program committees, and served as Cloverbud leader instructing new 4-H members. He earned the Leadership Achievement Pin and served as assistant fair superintendent in the rabbit division at the Marion County Fair.
“I guess my main projects in 4-H have been rabbits and wildlife,” he said. “I’ll come back to show rabbits at the state fair in September, but after that all the rabbits will go.”
Goodwin said he sold rabbit fryers to support his project interests in the eight years he was in 4-H. He also hunted and trapped fur-bearing mammals and sold furs in the winter months. Most often, he spent time at his father’s welding shop as a youth growing up in Marion County. That is what he looks forward to coming back home to after two years at Pratt.
“I grew up in that shop,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in the business end of what we do, so what I learn at Pratt will come in handy.”
Goodwin expects to take accounting, marketing, and other agriculture business courses while at college.
Goodwin Industries, owned by his father Larry Goodwin, makes and sells smokers, grills, and provides welding services to customers needing repair.
In addition to the endowment fund scholarship, Goodwin said he also received several scholarships through the Peabody-Burns school.
“I’m glad for the money,” Goodwin said. “I’ll be glad to come back though. Marion County is one of those places where you know everyone and everyone knows you. For better or worse, that’s home.”