October 2-8 is National 4-H Week and this year’s theme is “#4HGrown.” Sherburne County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. Throughout this week, local 4-H youth will connect with the community by reaching out to local businesses to decorate in 4-H pride, and a participating in community clean-up!
The 4 H Grow True Leaders Campaign is the first of its kind for National 4 H Council – a national, multi-platform initiative that will support the organization’s growth goals of empowering 10 million youth by 2025 (a 67% increase). The campaign and the event are designed to give young people across the nation a forum to put their voices into positive action and rally the nation to invest in the next generation of true leaders.
The 4-H youth development program provides “learn by doing” experiences to encourage youth to experiment, innovate and think independently. 4-H programs are offered through school-based, after-school and camp settings and within community clubs, where groups meet regularly to work on projects, perform community service and develop leadership skills. Through this unique process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem solving, decision making, coping and communicating.
Today’s 4-H projects include the traditional and still popular agriculture and animal science projects. But 4-H youth also work on cutting-edge technology projects, such as aquatic robotics, digital photography, community service and environmental projects, such as maintaining local hiking trails and testing water in area streams for contaminants.
Sherburne County 4-H continues to provide fun, interactive, and beneficial activities available to our local youth. In October, we are excited to kick-off our 4-week STEM club and a 4-week Book Club with the Becker After School Program. We are also looking forward to the annual Winter Regional Retreat available to Grades 7+ and the annual Winter Regional Lock-In available to Grades 4-8. These are just a few examples of how your child can become involved in a local program that strives to make a difference, and are interested in helping our youth grow!
“4-H definitely shaped who I am today. I’ve been in 4-H for 9 years and it has taught me how to be a leader, to be patient, caring, responsible, social, and confident. It also makes you responsible because you have due dates, animals to take care of, and leadership roles to fill. It has changed my life.” – said Sherburne County 4-H Member, Ruth.
Learn more about 4-H in Minnesota and how you can get involved at www.4-H.umn.edu or contact Kristen Gustafson, Sherburne County 4-H program coordinator, at 763-765-3077 or kgustafs@umn.edu.
