Viktora takes on 4-H role in Steele County

All it took was one orphan cow and Krystal Viktora was hooked.
When Viktora was 14 years old, a neighbor introduced her to a Guernsey calf that she adopted to be her own. Though a latecomer to the 4-H program, the encounter led Viktora into the youth organization and now she has made it a full-time career.
As Steele County’s new 4-H program coordinator, Viktora replaces Missy Koch, who left earlier this year. Viktora will split the 4-H duties with veteran coordinator Tracy Ignaszewski.
Viktora grew up on a farm outside of Oakland in Freeborn County. She still lives on the farm and helps her parents when time allows with their beef and crop farm of 1,300 acres.
Neither her parents nor any other family member has been involved with the 4-H program. “I was a newbie,” Viktora said, linking it all back to the orphan cow experience. She joined the Moscow 4-H Club where her cousin was attending.
She said she is not athletic so 4-H helped find her true passion while attending Albert Lea High School. “If kids can’t find their passion in sports, they can find it in 4-H,” Viktora said. “It played to my strength, and I could find a passion with my group of people in 4-H.”
Viktora brings some previous experience to Steele County. She served as an intern during college with Freeborn County 4-H. After graduating from the University of Wisconsin at River Falls with a degree in animal science, she landed her first full-time 4-H position with Chippewa County in Montevideo. However, she never moved to her first job, even though it was half way across the state. It came about during the “crazy pandemic times” as Viktora put it, and she worked remotely from home.
For Viktora, working remotely is not her desired way of doing the job. “It just didn’t seem right,” she said. “It was really hard. You can’t build relationships through Zoom meetings,” she said, adding there is so much value in seeing someone face-to-face.
In her new job with Steele County, Viktora says she loves the dynamics. “I like to be challenged every day,” she said. “It’s very energizing to work with volunteers and kids.”
Viktora said she likes to dabble in many things and help youth find their passion in 4-H. She hopes to get other kids connected with livestock and farms.
“It’s helpful I grew up in Freeborn County so I know the passion of livestock in this county,” said Viktora.
With Steele being one of the top 4-H programs in the state with enrollment of 400 youth, Viktora admits it’s a little intimidating to lead the program. She is impressed with the active volunteers and youth leadership opportunities available in Steele County. She said there is a diverse amount of things being offered for youth in 4-H.
“I am happy to be close to home and in a job I love,” Viktora said.
She is currently working on her master’s degree in agriculture education.
And she is happy how her orphan cow, Dolly, has helped pave a career path for her.
“It was just meant to be otherwise honestly I would not be here,” Viktora said.
Besides taking care of Dolly, Viktora enjoys baking, canning, flowers and gardening. She said the flowers and gardening came about when she realized she needed something more to do after being stuck in her bedroom for the past year.