4-H is about far more than livestock
The 4-H Youth Development Program is an educational leadership organization for kids ages 5 to 19. The program is part of the University of California Cooperative Extension, which is part of the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources.
In Monterey County, there are 17 clubs, totaling more than 800 members. Buena Vista, San Benancio and Santa Lucia serve the Off 68 area with a combined membership of 110 involved members and their parents.
The mission of 4-H is to "engage youth in reaching their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." You have probably seen the 4-H emblem, which is a four-leaf clover. Each leaf represents part of the 4-H pledge: "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."4-H activities develop one or more of the four parts. Activities for HEAD involve thinking and planning; for HEART, there is community service; for HANDS, youths learn skills; and for HEALTH, they learn to be strong and healthy.
4-H is a volunteer organization. Parents and other caring adults act as mentors and share their talents in areas including but not limited to arts, youth leadership development, safety, health and food.
"What I like most about 4-H is the opportunity to learn things that are not taught in school," said Kassie McIntyre, 16. "The leadership, community service and mentorship of the older members to the younger members help make us better citizens for our community."
There is a widespread misconception that 4-H is purely about raising livestock, but there is more to it than that.
Members attend monthly club meetings and year-round project meetings for activities such as bowling, arts and crafts, archery, shooting sports, beekeeping, food preservation and entomology. They join committees to serve the community through activities such as working at the Spreckels Fourth of July parade, donating clothing to homeless shelters, giving food baskets to needy families during the holidays and giving May Day baskets to past 4-H members.
"What I really like is 4-H Camp!" said Cody Martinez, 13. "There are different activities to do every day such as hiking, swimming, volleyball, pingpong tournaments, crafts and more!"
You can see 4-H members in action this month at the Salinas Valley Fair in King City from May 12 through May 16. Many 4-H members do raise swine, beef cattle, sheep, goats, rabbits and poultry each year. But there are other items that 4-H members enter in the fair: posters, paintings, crafts, photographs, foods, quilts and scrapbooks are just a few of the many alternatives.
Enrollment/registration for 4-H clubs begins July 1. Check out local 4-H clubs at the Salinas Valley Fair and the Monterey County Fair in September. Contact the Monterey County Ag Office at 831-759-7325 or check out the website at http://www.co.monterey.ca.us/ag/ for local club contact information.
- Submitted by the executive officers of the Buena Vista 4-H Club
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