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Counties Hold 4-H Membership Drives
 Auburn,
Sept. 5----Going back to
school isn’t the only activity keeping students busy this Fall. Early
Fall is recruitment season for 4-H, the nation’s largest youth
organization. With more than 6 million members, 4-H seeks to empower
youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in
partnership with caring adults.
In Alabama, nearly
180,000 youth are involved in 4-H. Cooperative Extension System
agents conduct 4-H in every county. While membership is open all
year, most membership drives take place during the first three months
of the school year.
“October is 4-H enrollment
time in Colbert County,” said Extension Agent Marion Beck.
“Many school 4-H clubs in
our county put up exhibits or bulletin boards, and 4-H’ers wear their
county 4-H T-shirts to promote 4-H. “
In Lauderdale County, 4-H
meetings begin in October. However, Extension Agent Melanie Allen
meets with school principals and parent-teacher organizations and
other leaders in August and September to tell them about 4-H. She
also sets up 4-H club meeting schedules for the year.
Whether youth, between the
ages of 9 and 19, live in a city, suburb or rural area, there’s
something for them in 4-H. There are many ways young people can
participate in 4-H.
In many states, including Alabama, 4-H
works with schools to provide 4-H educational materials and projects
for teachers and volunteers to use in classes. These programs are
called school enrichment because they supplement the school
curriculum. They provide students with a learn-by-doing process in
science and other subjects.
Emily Campbell, an Extension
agent from Jackson County, visits 4th and 5th
grade classrooms in September to talk about 4-H. She also sends 4-H
information home to their parents.
“I believe parents should
help their children decide if they want to join and be active in
4-H. Parents’ roles in 4-H are
important, too. Besides providing support for their own 4-H’ers,
parents serving as 4-H adult leaders provide valuable learning
experiences for 4-H’ers.”
There also are many after-school
programs in which members meet after school on campus.
Community or neighborhood
4-H clubs are also popular. These clubs are often organized in a small
town, a suburban community, a city block, or a housing complex and
usually range from six to 100 youth. These clubs serve a wide age
range of 4-H’ers, and most members enroll in projects according to
their interests. Homeschoolers are usually involved in these clubs.
Adult volunteer leaders coordinate club activities, while the 4-H
agent serves as a resource for the club. They supply a monthly
newsletter and 4-H educational materials for the clubs.
Special interest clubs target specific interests such as shooting
sports, livestock judging, babysitting or a particular need in their
community.
4-H’ers can take part in a
wide variety of activities offered by the community, county and state
including workshops, achievement programs, camps, tours, competitive
events, international exchanges, exhibits, fairs, statewide
conferences and national events such as National 4-H Congress and
National 4-H Conference. National 4-H Congress focuses on leadership,
work skill preparation and community service.
Competitive events are one of many
educational methods used in 4-H. Participation in competitive events
help 4-H’ers make and defend decisions, speak publicly, gain knowledge
and skills in a subject matter and learn to deal with competitive
situations.
Oct. 5 through 11 is National 4-H
Week. In addition to membership drives, it is a special time set aside
to promote 4-H programs and outstanding 4-H’ers.
For more information about
becoming a 4-H’er, contact a county
Cooperative Extension office.
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