Lydia Abbuhl

Lydia Abbuhl – Ohio
Nomination & Photography by Capture Life Photography by Davinda
Issue 85 of Inspiring Teens Magazine
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Nomination: Lydia Abbuhl is an inspiring senior who embodies hard work, compassion, and leadership. As a standout in 4-H, she excels with animals while pursuing her passion for photography and graphic design. Juggling a part-time job and multiple commitments, Lydia always finds time to uplift and empower those around her. Her kindness and drive make her a true role model among her peers, as she spreads positivity and leads by example. Lydia’s dedication to growth, both in her craft and in her community, makes her an exceptional and deserving candidate for this scholarship.
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Photography by Capture Life Photography by Davinda
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What is the most exciting thing about being a senior this year?
The college search journey is the most exciting thing about being a senior this year! I have had so much fun researching different colleges and figuring out where I want to go that fits me the best. I will be attending the University of Kentucky in the fall of 2025!

What legacy do you hope you leave behind?
I hope to leave a legacy of stepping out of your comfort zone and trying new things. I would never have pursued my passions if it were not for stepping out of my comfort zone.

What do you feel passionate about or could talk about forever?
My greatest passion is anything agriculture or livestock-related. I have learned so much through being in 4-H, showing livestock, working at a feed store, and having hands-on experiences with local livestock breeders that my greatest passion is teaching those around me about what I love. I have taken on a role in my county and surrounding counties as a mentor for younger 4-H livestock members whom I help by sharing my knowledge of livestock. If you bring up livestock to me, be prepared to take a seat and pull out a notebook because lots will unfold.

Tell us more about your adventures in 4-H. How did you get started and where are you at with it now?
I have been in 4-H since I was 9 years old, showing rabbits. My dad showed rabbits in 4-H and when my parents bought me my first rabbit they decided I should enroll in 4-H. After being successful in rabbits for many years I decided it was time for a change, showing livestock. I was very successful my first year showing pigs so I wanted another challenge, so I decided to show goats and lambs. I have been very successful in my 4 years of showing livestock with 4 Grand Champions, 3 Reserve Champions, and 7 Overall Showmanship wins.

What do you love most about working with animals?
What I love most about working with animals is their personalities. Most people would not expect a pig to have so much personality, but they have as much personality as a dog, maybe even more. I have loved every animal I have raised for different reasons that I could talk about forever. Every animal I have raised has had a different personality, some are super sweet, and some are super stubborn. The stubborn ones have a special place in my heart as they push me to work even harder.

What do you enjoy sharing most as you mentor younger 4-H livestock members?
I enjoy sharing my daily care for my animals the most as it is very particular and tedious. Most people do not realize how much goes into the daily care of show livestock from feeding, training, exercising, to hair and skin care to maximize their overall appearance! Everything I do in the barn to prepare my animals for show has specific steps to help me achieve my goals and I love sharing these steps with others to help them achieve their goals!

What do you wish everyone knew about working with animals?
I always get the question, “How do you sell your animals for meat after you have bonded with them?”. Well, the answer is that it never gets easier, I do get bonded with these animals, but going into the project I have a mindset that the end goal for these animals is to provide someone with food. In the months I raised these animals they had the best life they could have. After I have achieved my goals of showing and winning with these animals they have their purpose to serve and that's the mindset you have to have.

What have you learned from working at the feed store?
Working at the feed store has taught me customer service skills as well as helping people figure out which feed will best help them achieve the goals of the animal they are feeding. There is a big difference between show livestock feed and farm livestock feed and I enjoy helping people find a feed that will help them achieve their goals.

What inspiring things about you does your nomination not cover?
My middle school years were very tough, I never fit in with the population at my school and developed great anxiety with little ways to cope. I tried participating in activities such as sports in hopes of making friends, but this only led to more exclusion and anxiety. I was lost and hopeless until I stepped into the pig barn for the first time. I began using showing pigs as a way to cope with my anxiety about school and friends. Instead of trying to fit in anymore, I chose to do what made me happy.

What else would you like to talk about?
While I have a love of showing livestock, I also have a strong passion for photography and graphic design. This past year alongside my art teacher at school, I helped create a club at my school for students with the same passion as myself. We use our talents and passion to create works of art for our peers, school, and community. This spring, many teachers nominated me for the Aurora High School Visionary Award for my efforts in creating this club and I was honored to be the recipient for the class of 2025.

What do you love most about the club you created?
What I love most about the club I have created is getting to see other students join the club to step out of their comfort zones and try something new. I also love getting to communicate with other students, staff, and community members to achieve the goals of the project they would like us to complete.

What tips would you give others who might want to start a club at their school?
I would tell others that if you have an interest, chances are others will have the same interest, but you have to be the bigger person to start the club. Having a passionate advisor is also a huge part of creating a club, mine being my photography and graphic design teacher.

What do you like taking pictures of the most and why?
I love taking pictures of athletes. You can tell such great stories with pictures of athletes whether on the sideline or action shots in the game. I also love the environment on the sidelines and in the dugouts. I have always loved sports, but was never very good at them so now I get to pursue my love of sports through my camera lens.

Tell us about a picture you took that you are extremely proud of.
This is a really hard question to answer as I do not believe I have an ultimate favorite picture I have taken, but there are a few pictures that I have taken that I love and am very proud of for the clear action shot of the sport, the emotion on the athletes face, and the rugged editing that I do to make the picture my own style.

What is your process for graphic design like?
For graphic design I use Adobe Photoshop and a lot of my graphics involve athletes. In my graphics, I use a lot of cutouts which are very tedious as I hand-select and erase everything myself. I also am very indecisive so I will create the same graphic in many different ways to see which one I like best!

What is the coolest thing you've created so far?
The coolest thing I have created so far was a 200-wins poster for our varsity football coach. Our athletic director brought me this project and I was so excited as I knew this would be a very big moment for our coach. After the game, I handed him the poster I created in front of the community and the football team. I was even spotted on Fox 8 as they were covering the playoff game. It was posted all over the community and I see it everywhere every day and it always makes me smile.

How did you find your photographer? What was your experience like? What did you love most?
Davida and I go way back as we share an aunt, Aunt Kim! As long as I can remember Davinda has always been in my life and behind the camera that captures my life through pictures. Her amazing daughters used to babysit me and help me prepare for dance recitals. As I have known Davinda forever, I knew as soon as I heard about her developing a Teen Team that I would be the first to apply and the first to commit to doing my senior pictures with her.

My experiences with Davinda are some that I will forever cherish as they were always so fun and positive. The Teen Team was an inclusive group of beautiful young women my age that I got to spend time with, model, create memories, and spread positivity and inclusivity. I was one of two original members to do all three years of the Teen Team and proceed to be on the Senior Team as well. Being able to create friendships that would never have been sparked without Davinda's opportunities are cherished by all who step foot in front of her camera.

What I love most about Davinda and her photography is that no idea is too crazy. She is always up for a challenge when I bring them to her. Davinda was not familiar with capturing pictures of livestock until I called her wanting pictures of my pigs. I have shown pigs for four years and every year we have had pictures of myself with my pigs. Davinda has had her fair share of pig noses coming at the lens, even though this has pushed her out of her own comfort zone as a photographer!

What is a favorite memory with or thoughts of the person who nominated you?
My favorite memory with Davinda was this summer when she came to my fair and captured pictures of me and my livestock on the fairgrounds. We had always done pictures at my barn in the past, so this was way different. We took my lamb, Maverick, on a walk around the fairgrounds getting many different pictures and doing lots of tik toks. We took pictures with one of my pigs, Todd, with the Ferris wheel in the background. We even got a chance to sneak away and get a few surprise pictures of my brother and me for my mom.

Why do you want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine?
I want to be in Inspiring Teens Magazine in hopes of spreading my story and leave an impact on those who read it, especially teen girls struggling with anxiety. I coped with my anxiety by raising and showing pigs which led a shy young girl to being a spokesperson and mentor for youth 4-H members around her, to starting a club at my school for my photography passion, to being the Aurora High School Visionary Award recipient. Branching out and doing something that makes you happy can lead to a lifetime of happiness and great accomplishments.

If you had nothing to do and all day to do it, where would we find you?
You would find me binge-watching Criminal Minds with my mom and my dogs.

What is up next for you that you are super excited about?
I am so excited to attend the University of Kentucky with a major in Agricultural Economics.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years/what are your plans?
In 5 years I hope to have graduated from the University of Kentucky with my bachelor's degree and possibly working towards my master's degree while working for an agriculture company doing marketing and sales.

What is your favorite activity or pastime that was not in your nomination?
Spending time with my dog, Kix. Kix is a long-haired corgi and he is my pride and joy.

3 Things on your bucket list
Go on an African Safari
Meet Riley Green and his Corgi Carl
Own a farm-to-table restaurant

Look for Lydia in issue 85 of Inspiring Teens Magazine!
*Interviews are not edited after received from our inspiring teens - what you read is who they genuinely are!

click here for more information on issue 85

click here to nominate an inspiring teen