4-H Service: Something to Keep the Kids Out of Trouble

I was a 4-H Leader for over 25 years. Volunteering as parent, project leader, Main Leader, volunteering at the County Level as a Secretary to the 4-H Leaders Board, member of the Camp Operations Committee, newsletter, record books, Arts and Recreation Committee. Dances, camping and more.

When I was a kid I was unable to join 4-H because I lived in the city. So when we had our Children we decided that they were going to be a part of 4-H.

4-H is not only for the Country Kids anymore. It is open to all kids in the city as well as different ethnic groups. There are so many advantages to being a 4-H member. Each club has it's own Project Leaders, helpers, and Main leaders. The officers are the kids themselves. They run the meetings with a Leader close by in case they need help. Roberts Rules Of Order are used, as well as the US Flag Pledge, and the 4-H Pledge. The 4 H's; I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to better service, and my health to better living.

4-H is open to boys and girls and the clubs are no longer separate. All you need to open a Club is 2 families and 5 children. The 4-H program is affiliated with your County Extension Program which is affiliated by your university as ours is with UW Madison. All of the project programs been put together by the University. They are guidelines to follow. We have County workshops where we have adults and teens that volunteer teach our youth how to do woodworking, sewing, arts and crafts such as stencil painting, beaded wire ornaments and jewelry, canning, baking, cooking, how to put on a demonstration properly, dogs, rabbits, horses, and more animals. 4-H is no longer just for Dairy or farming kids.

You can take your projects to the local County Fair in some of the following areas: Aerospace, Nature Space, Foods and Nutrition, Knitting, Crocheting, Home Environment, Arts and Crafts, canning, Gardening, Flowers and Plants, Wood Working, Horses, Dairy, Small Animals, Cats, Dogs, Sheep, Pigs, Beef, Dairy, Glass etching, Stenciling, Embroidery, Mechanics, Reports, Clothing and Style Review, Photography, and so much more.