Ronan Warenzak: Champion of Forestry and 4-H

Ronan Warenzak has curated a collection of 120 pressed Georgia tree samples. At the 2024 Georgia 4-H State Forestry Field Day, he added a blue ribbon to that impressive collection as he continues to overcome challenges and thrive.

Ronan has a longstanding love for trees and the natural environment. Looking to expand his horizon and learn even more about the environment, Ronan discovered the Bulloch County 4-H program and joined the Forestry Field Day team as an eigth grade 4-H’er.

At his first area-level contest, Ronan felt quite nervous but still excited. Rotating through the competition stations, his confidence increased as the skills he practiced guided him through. He was announced as the 2nd highest individual in the junior division as the event concluded – grinning ear to ear.
Forestry programming opened the door to an array of 4-H opportunities for Ronan. He began attending monthly club meetings, quickly making friends and creating a support network of peers and adult leaders. He began participating in even more programs, including Project SAFE Archery and Cotton Boll & Consumer Judging. These pursuits helped Ronan develop tactile skills while enhancing his ability to communicate and work toward his goals.

This year, as a tenth grade competitor, Ronan used his new skills to become a vital part of the Forestry Field Day team by acting as a scrupulous tree specimen gatherer and identifier, bringing in samples that he had gathered to help the team with identification. On bus rides to competitions, Ronan brought along more tree samples for on-the-go practice. He describes this as the “study bus,” and remembers it as one of his favorite parts of his 4-H tenure so far. His efforts paid off with a first-place win for his team at the state contest.
Their win earned the team a trip to the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in West Virginia, earning a fourth place finish and experiencing other states’ perspectives on the environment.

Ronan’s success has come alongside a set of challenges. Living with dyslexia, dysgraphia and speech fluency, he has faced obstacles that fueled his determination. Through persistence and new-found confidence, he’s shown himself and his support network that he can perform and compete at a high level.

“Learning differences don’t limit potential; they reveal resilience and strength,” said Ronan’s mother Lacy Warenzak. “Our family views 4-H as a place for those with learning differences to thrive, and we want as many people as possible to be aware of these opportunities.”

Ronan is excited to stay involved with 4-H programs as he moves through high school. As he steps towards his future, he plans to study forestry and carry those studies into a career in environmental conservation.