During National 4-H week we celebrate contributions the 4-H youth organization has provided our community. During the week of Oct. 1-7, we reflect on the important impact the program has made on our youth.
Having been a leader for more than 30 years, I see more each year the value of the life skills gained by the hands-on learning 4-H provides. Projects that the 4-H’ers participate in help them develop skills like positive self-esteem, leadership, communication, and decision making.
4-H stresses the art of making goals and carrying them through to a conclusion, and then at the end reflecting on what you did, what you learned, and what you would do differently the next year. These are basic skills people use to lead successful community organizations.
4-H connects youth with caring adult volunteers who can help them grow and learn. All kids have talents and interests, and everyone should have an equal opportunity to succeed. 4-H is dedicated to positive youth development and helping youth handle the challenges in our changing world today.
In Greene County, besides the vast array of projects youth may enroll in, we are fortunate to have career exploration camps and bonus career classes available through the Greene County Extension office and the Greene County Career Academy. Check with the Extension office for more information on these.
As Greenbrier 4-H club youth reflect, here are just a few thoughts they had on what they gained in 4-H this year.
Makenzie Wahl -I learned everything on a table has a spot for a table setting competition.
JC Pepples – I learned that a lamb has to have good muscle in the leg.
Cody Stephenson -I learned how to show new animals for the Round Robin contest.
Norah Hoyt – I learned that you need to put soil up to the bottom of the leaves on the plants.
Lily Sheridan – I learned that judges really love when the sides of your drawing are the same, like when you split it in half.
Jaelynn Hedges – I learned to never give up and show your animal who is boss.
Tyler Pope – I learned how to show a horse in the Round Robin contest.
Landyn Goughnour – I learned that I need to keep my bunny clean.
Blake Gierstorf – I always know not to give up.
Shailynne Woodley – I learned that it doesn’t matter where you buy your chickens because as long as they have all their body parts and feathers, they can do really well!
Elaina Stephenson – Check your chicken’s feet. (Some have more toes.)
Cody Taggart – I learned I can show sheep.
Autumn Barrett – I learned to double check the pattern when showing horses because if you mess up it plays a major part in the placings.
Madison Christensen – I learned judges look at the muscles of the sheep.
Becca Anderson – Talking and communicating in front of people is one of the biggest things I have learned in 4-H.
Lyndsie Goughnour – I learned not to overbrush lionhead bunnies.
Dakota Ostrander – I learned how to get your muffins to raise correctly.
Abigail Wood – I learned that I need to take two jars of jam; one to judge at the fair and one for display.
Callen Taggart – Always stare at the judge.
Eli Hardaway – I learned from a workshop how to build muscle on my sheep.
Parker Gierstorf – I learned that sheep are just like your dog or cat, or any pet.
Rylan Hostetler – I learned your photos must be a minimum of 5X7. Your pictures need to be cut out in the same way your poster goes.
Grace Hardaway – I learned that when following the rule of thirds in photography, the judges prefer 2/3 of the photo to be the land instead of 2/3 the sky.
In this National 4-H week Greenbrier 4-H thanks the Greene County Extension, businesses, leaders, parents, and all caring adults that make the Greene County 4-H program a success.
Linda Hedges and the Greenbrier 4-H club
