Imagine a community filled with self-confident, innovative, knowledge-driven youth, who celebrate each other’s successes, and lend a hand when their neighbor needs help. Sound too good to be true? When was the last time you attended a 4-H club meeting?
I grew up on a farm in rural Day County and each summer my siblings, my neighbors, and my cousins all spent countless hours helping each other tend to animals, make projects, bake, garden and more just to have the opportunity to learn and participate in our local Day County Fair 4-H events. Today, my own three sons, who have grown up without a farm, have chosen to be a part of Marshall County 4-H and now spend their summer in shooting sports, managing their mowing business, raising animals (thanks to the 4-H leader) and participating in many other similar 4-H activities that I grew up with as a 4-Her. But, 4-H has definitely evolved over the past decades. Traditionally 4-H was linked arm-in-arm with agriculture, but over the years 4-H has increasingly moved towards mainstream American life as our rural communities are losing population. 4-H now teaches topics ranging from agricultural and animal sciences to rocketry, robotics, entrepreneurship, environmental protection and computer science. These focus areas are developed nationally to improve the future workforce’s ability to compete in key scientific fields and take on the leading challenges of the 21st century.
In Marshall County we have 77 4-H members in five clubs. Nationally, 4-H boasts of 6 million current 4-H members, 30 million alumni, and a 111 year track record. However, 4-H in our nation continues to fly beneath the cultural radar. Unless you happened to be raised in rural America, chances are you might not have crossed paths with 4-H. But 4-H does continue to be a vital thread of our communities, and it’s a program that deserves our interest and support. Here are a few things 4-H does for our youth:
• 4-H projects are roadmaps to productivity ‘4-H projects’ created with innovation, goals, a thought process, and skilled precision. 4-H also offers booklet-based educational programs which engage 4-Hers in a step-by-step explanation about how to do… well… just about anything. For example, Canning and Freezing, Gardening, Tractors, Forestry, Pet Care, Poultry, Small Engine Repair and Beef Cattle. Each participant is required to complete a series of written objectives, as well as hands-on activities relating to the topic. In short, projects aren’t simply how-to guides; productivity is required as a component to the coursework.
• Emphasis on intellectual curiosity Aside from completing their 4-H projects, all participants give an annual presentation or demonstration to their fellow club members about what they’ve learned from their projects. Not only does this foster public speaking and communication skills, but it places the student in a peer-based environment where members support one another. Field trips accentuate this trajectory, providing club members with tangible, real world perspectives.
• The program teaches self-confidence, and provides a peer-based safety net It’s by nurturing intangible qualities such as confidence and creativity where 4-H might provide its greatest service to our youth. The structure of the club itself encourages collaboration and leadership within the community, with knowledge (and a little old-fashioned fun) as the reward.
I can still recite the 4-H pledge by memory: “I pledge my Head clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living… for my club, my community, my country, and my world.” This was a serviceable motto back in 1902, and is just as useful today. Perhaps these words will inspire a new generation of Marshall County youth, and propel them towards the tremendous new opportunities. We’re certainly going to need them.
Over the next few weeks South Dakota communities will host County Fairs and Achievement Day events across the state to promote 4-H activities and achievements. Marshall and Day Counties will host their events in August. Here is link of all South Dakota 4-H events if you would like to find one near you to support. http://igrow.org/4h/south-dakota-4h/2013-4-h-county-achievement-days-schedule/.
Paula Jensen - The community coach 