4-H: Head, Hands, Heart, and Health

“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.”

That’s the 4-H pledge.  Our children have been involved in 4-H for several years now.  I think it is a great program for youth ages of 8 to 18.  They also have a program for younger kids called Clover Buds for children ages 5-8.  Most people think it’s just for farm kids with animals but it isn’t.  You can either join a club or become an independent member.

Benefits

• During the year, the children will make/construct/work on a project.  One of the benefits of 4-H is that each child can pursue their own interests.  For example, one child could be interested in cooking or sewing, while another might enjoy drawing.  4-H has curriculum you can use based on a given subject.
• At the monthly club meetings, club officers learn how to run meetings like a business meeting.  Members are also encouraged to give demonstrations on whatever topic interests them.
• At the end of the year, children can submit their projects to be presented at the local county fair.  Volunteer judges will evaluate the project and issue a ribbon to the child based on how well the project was done based on their age.  The purple ribbon is the highest award a project can receive.  If a project receives a purple ribbon, it is eligible for the State Fair competition.

Some of the projects our children have done were water bottle rockets, tabletop trebuchets, sewing a couple outfits, public presentations, glass etching, and various art projects with recycled materials.

Check out your local 4-H club!