4-H programs support youth

4-H is the nation’s largest youth development organization. An estimated 6 million 4-H youth in urban, suburban and rural communities are building opportunities and implementing ideas community-wide beginning at young ages.

4-H supports youth in schools with programs that are meant to give them the opportunities to enhance leadership and become tomorrow’s innovators. 4-H’ers experience hands-on learning activities in science, citizenship and healthy living.

The caring support of adult volunteers and mentors inspires young people involved in 4-H to work together, take responsibility for their own projects and set and achieve goals with confidence. 4-H’ers take a stand for themselves and their communities.

The core principles of the 4-H are reflected in the successes of 4-H youth and their communities. Head, Heart, Hands, and Health are the four H’s in 4-H. They are the four values members work on throughout their 4-H years.

These four H’s are written into the 4-H Pledge, which reads “I pledge my head to 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.”

The 4-H idea is simple: help young people and their families gain the skills they need to be proactive forces in their communities and develop ideas for a more innovative economy.

4-H has an expansive reach. Youth in 4-H tackle some of the nation’s top issues: food security, climate change, sustainable energy, childhood obesity and food safety. 4-H offers a wide range of programs that include out-of-school programming, in-school enrichment programs, clubs and camps. Topics include science, engineering, technology and applied math, agricultural and animal sciences, rocketry, robotics, environmental protection and computer science. 4-H youth take on responsibility every day by contributing to their clubs, communities, country and the world as stated in the 4-H Pledge.

4-H also has expanded globally with the development of the International Farm Youth Exchange. The exchange helped to develop similar 4-H programs in more than 80 countries across the world.

There are distinguished 4-H alumni in fields like business and industry, communications, education, entertainment, sports and public service. Alumni include Orville Redenbacher, Jim Davis, Nancy Grace, Johnny Bench, Archie Manning, Don Meredith, Julia Roberts, Dolly Parton, Jennifer Nettle, Luke Bryan, Roy Rogers, Faith Hill and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.

Local 4-H activities coming up include Youth Activity Day.

Youth Activity Day is Dec. 27 and is a fun-filled day of activities aimed at various projects that are available in 4-H. Youth create take-home projects and meet new friends in the world of 4-H. This event is open to all youth ages 8-18. This is a great way to learn more about the 4-H program. Youth not enrolled in 4-H are welcome to attend.

For more information about the 4-H program, contact Deb Hatlewick, Stutsman County Extension Office, 701-252-9030, 116 1/2 East First St., Jamestown, ND 5840. Check out the website at http://miv.ext.nodak. edu:4000/stutsmanextension.

Tags: life, youth