After qualifying on a wildcard merit, the Lamb County Varsity LifeSmarts team earned its spot to compete at the April 2025 National LifeSmarts Championship in Chicago.
Comprised of high school students Jaden Burt, Ty Carr, Reese Moore, Claire Lostroh and Tanner Lostroh and coached by Kathy Lostroh and Brandon Albus, Lamb County Varsity seeks additional funds to assist with travel expenses as preparation for the competition and aspirations to build the program are underway.
“Giving these kids opportunities is one of my favorite parts of my job,” Kathy Lostroh said. “They have to work for it, have practices – but we’re also rewarding them for their efforts. It’s another level, project, activity to show others that somebody’s done it.”
The LifeSmarts educational competition enables middle and high school students to expand their knowledge of real-world topics via competitive presentations and quizzes. Students explore topics like consumerism, technology, workforce preparation and the environment.
LifeSmarts teams must advance from the state competition or qualify on wildcard merit to compete in the national competition. Lamb County Varsity secured its position through the latter.
This process involved selecting a topic to prepare a presentation, completing online LifeSmarts quizzes and writing team captain and coach reports.
Lamb County Varsity selected teen stress management out of the provided presentation topics.
“We went through the list, and we realized we’re all high schoolaged kids, and we all are super involved in a lot of different things,” Claire Lostroh, Lamb County Varsity’s Team Captian, said, “this was a topic that we needed to hit on.”
Next year, the team aspires to qualify for nationals through competing at the state level.
Achieving this milestone allows Lamb County Varsity to strengthen the team’s efforts while encouraging prospective team members to participate, Kathy Lostroh said.
“I told these kids that when they come back, I’d like for them to share their experiences,” Kathy Lostroh said, “so that we have a program in the county that’s continuing and benefiting all of our members.”
Directly engaging with the community, the team plans to practice for the competition by presenting to local middle school students about internet safety.
“We’re giving them the heads up of what’s going on because we have lived through the internet and internet safety,” Claire Lostroh said.
Moreover, their closeness in age to the students makes their message resonate more.
“All five that are on this team are great mentors,” Kathy Lostroh said, “they’re role models for the kids.”
Aside from these presentations, the team practices every Sunday.
Considering the advantages of the competition, Claire Lostroh said the team’s chemistry is strong. Notably, working alongside her brother and mother gives the team character.
“We all get along pretty well,” Claire Lostroh said. “We can laugh together, or we can butt heads.”
While the team expressed slight nervousness about competing nationally, Reese Moore said he is broadening his expectations.
“What the heck, we’re at the national level, and we’ve never done this competition, so that puts us back a little more,” Moore said. “We are going in head first, taking a deep dive, not knowing what to expect, really.”
As preparations on the road to Chicago are underway, the team is asking the community to assist with funding for their travels.
The Commissioner’s Court is tracking the funds needed for the trip, and Kathy Lostroh expressed gratitude for the support thus far.
“We have a super supportive Commissioner’s Court when it comes to 4- H, which we’re thankful for,” Kathy Lostroh said. “They really see the value in what the kids do and educating them and providing opportunities for them and have supported our program in this specific project.”
To help fund the team’s trip and for more information about the competition, contact Kathy Lostroh via email, at Kathy.lostroh@ag.tamu.edu, or phone, at (806) 685-4566.
“We are seeking anybody willing to help get these kids there,” Kathy Lostroh said. “It is a nonprofit organization, but we can do anything to get these kids there. If it’s something that you need to be done, that you’re willing to donate for their efforts, then they’re willing to do it.”