4-H Rocks!
Do you know what the four H's stand for? Head, Heart, Health, and Hands. Yes, as a 10-year 4-H member I know the pledge well. My experiences through my years of 4-H are some of my fondest childhood memories. From the projects that I made...like my first hand-stitched quilt. To the people I met...my dear Norwegian friend Inger that came on a 4-H exchange. To the life skills that I acquired...no fear of speaking in front of crowds after doing working demonstrations and presentations since age 9. It's all GOOD stuff.
At the Iowa State Fair we always visit the 4-H building. Although colors and styles have changed with the times, some of the same basic elements are still the same as when I was in 4-H.
Quilts and refinished furniture are always a favorite.
Scrumptious food. I especially liked this display since we're Danish.
Creative artwork in a multitude of styles.
Posters that teach your audience something. Watch out David Letterman--people from Iowa know their cuts of beef.
4-H Youth can be found all over the fairgrounds showcasing their animals. This young lady is a member of our church.
The cycle is starting over in our house...Henry attended his first Clover Kids club meeting on Monday night. I can only hope that somedays he looks back on his years of 4-H as fondly as I do.
4-H is one of the best youth development progams around! I judge 4-H and I can tell you the youth are fabulous! I encourage everyone to teach skills to 4-Hers, they ready and willing to learn. The Cloverbuds (the Minnesota name for youth K-2 grade) are a hoot to judge-either they talk non-stop or you need to drag every word out of them!
The projects for other 4-Hers are judged 50% on project and 50% on interview and I am a big proponant of the interview skills as that is a life skill.
I joke with people that my idea of vacation is to go sit in a metal shed in July when it is hot and humid to judge 4-H. I love to do it.
Pat
4-H alumni
4-H parent (2 graduates of the program)
4-H volunteer
4-H judge
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I am sure that Henry and the girls, too, will have fond memories of 4-H. I certainly do, too. However, try as I might, I could not recall the name of our 4-H group and so just now, I called our former leader, JoAnn, and we had a good laugh about this. For a moment, she couldn't recall the name either and then, it popped into her brain - the Lehigh Leprechauns!!! Oh, my gosh, of course, how could I not remember the name!?! It was nice to chat with her and let her know how much I enjoyed 4-H. Thanks, Heidi, for that opportunity.
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