4-H: Building Tomorrow's Ag Leaders

Caring, Character, Connection, Confidence and Competence are the five Cs of 4-H; as 4-H members become involved in the in the program, they develop life skills that will teach them responsibility, decision-making, how to view themselves positively, compassion, and a continual concern for helping their neighbors and communities.

With over 6 million youth involved nationally and 540,000 nation-wide volunteers, Montana makes up 18,700 of those members and 3,800 certified 4-H volunteers. Montana has over 200 projects to choose from including Self-Determined projects which is an opportunity for youth in 4-H to explore additional interests and hobbies. The top ten projects in the state are Food/Nutrition, Swine, Horse, Shooting Sports, Beef, Self-Determined, Sheep, Sewing Textiles, Gardening and Photography.

In addition to raising and showing various animals, there are extensive non-animal projects available to youth in the 4-H program. If a member is enrolled in an animal project in Richland County 4-H, it is a requirement that they also enroll in a non-animal project. In Richland County there are 214 members and 132 volunteer leaders with the top five projects being Market Beef, Arts and Crafts, Photography, Market Hog and Cooking. Throughout the year 4-H events like Sewing Camp, Quilt and Fashion Revue, Speech and Demonstration Day, Fair, and State Shooting Sports are open to all Richland County 4-H Members. These events are responsible for cultivating members' interest and developing the 4-H priority initiatives: Science, Healthy Living and C'itizenship. The STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) curriculum is used applying a hands-on learning and skill building opportunity to youth.

"One of our goals is helping kids become active participants of the future in their home and community," said Josie Evenson, Richland County 4-H/Youth Development Agent.

Service Learning Projects are a vital part of the 4-H program and according to Dr. Lerner's Study, 4-H members are four times more likely to contribute to their communities as adults and two times more likely to be civically active. Some of the service projects in the area include the Fair View Club's flower boxes that they plant and spend the spring and summer caring for. The Hi-Liters Club out of Lambert is working on a project that will provide a bin of Frisbees and balls at the local park for public use. The Richland Aces Club is making fleece tie blankets that will be given to the Mathews House and Sunrise; the Blankets of Hope project was completely initiated by youth member Johren Carpenter, and has continued to be youth driven.

  "I hope that with this project the younger and older members will learn about not only how to make a tie blanket, but about the value of the small things and how much these blankets could mean to someone less fortunate," said Johren Carpenter of her intention with the project.

Over the weekend of February 14 and 15, 394 lbs. of food were collected by the Richland County 4-H Jr. Leaders in just two hours from a door-to-door food drive and donated to the food bank. As members gain more experience, they begin to see a need, find a solution, and take action.

Junior and Senior Members hold many leadership roles and can attend leadership training, Pre Congress and State Congress, and gain an understanding of proper parliamentary procedure.

With both members and volunteers actively participating in personal development of skills and compassion, it is clear that there is much to be gained and to give back by getting involved with a local 4-H Club.