This and That

By Helen Kaverman, The Delphos Herald
Published:  Monday, March 5, 2007 (1 year, 5 months ago)
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4-H has always held a special place in my heart. 4-H was born in Ohio. A.B. Graham founded the organization in Springfield, Clark County, roughly 100 years ago. Many changes have been made over the years and many things have stayed the same.

The 4-H Pledge remains:

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.

How does one become a member?

Contact any advisor or the OSU Extension office in your county. The hardest part is to find out how it is listed in the various phone books. You can also use the Internet: www.ohio4h.org.

What is 4-H?

4-H is a voluntary educational program designed to meet the needs of interested boys and girls. The aim is to learn and have fun at the same time. Membership in a 4-H club program begins when a child is at least 8 years old and enrolled in the third grade as of Jan. 1 of the current year. Ohio membership ends on Dec. 31 of the year in which the individual attains the age of 19. Cloverbud membership begins when a child has reached age 5 and is enrolled in kindergarten as of Jan. 1 of the current year. Participation and membership is open to all such youth without regard to race, color, national origin, ethnic background, social-economic situation or place of residence.

The purpose of 4-H is to provide learning experiences and opportunities for boys and girls which help them grow and develop to the fullest of their potential. Although competition is a necessary part of 4-H, we are careful to remember that the real benefit comes from learning and not winning. Skills learned and friendships made in 4-H will long outlast any ribbon and trophy won.

Myra Philpott, who was the Allen County Homes Extension agent for many years always said: “It’s not so all important to get an ”A” on the project, but to learn (by doing) something that you can enjoy doing for the rest of your life.”

A good example of that is a story told to me by one of my former “little” 4-Hers who was in our club when I was an advisor in Delphos.

Theresa said she took “You and Your Money” as her project and still practices what she learned, especially to write down everything she spends. She credits the project with helping her control her finances to this day.

Why didn’t I take that project myself? When I was a 4-Her back in the 40s, girls could choose between cooking and sewing. I still have my first project which was a hand-sewn luncheon set which I had also embroidered with cross-stitch.

The livestock projects were mostly taken by boys at that time. Now a 4-H member can choose from a list of more than 213 projects, all open to both girls and boys.

My granddaughter, Angie, shows her steers and heifers at the Putnam County Fair and she really enjoys taking care of her animals.

The list of projects is varied, covering many categories such as electricity, child care, creative arts, clothing, food and nutrition, home decorating, photography, genealogy, woodworking, natural resources, weather, writing, veterinary science, money management, gardening, field crops, many animal project, forestry, archery, trapping and more.

List under animal projects are: beef, cats, dog care and obedience, goats, horses, pet care, poultry, rabbits, sheep and swine.

I always enjoyed the hog show when my grandchildren were in it. It’s fun to watch because the pigs in the arena can be very challenging and entertaining.

There is also a category called self-determination, which includes such things as quilt making, model railroading, clowning and scrapbooking.

The clothing category includes 20 projects from beginner to advanced and the food and nutrition division also have 20 categories, including “Meals in Minutes” and “Global Gourmet.”

All of these are listed in the Ohio Family Guide 2007.

There are many opportunities for 4-H members to take advantage of or participate in. 4-H Camp Palmer is usually at the top of the list. The camp is open to youth in the third grade up the completion of the eighth grade. It’s a chance to meet new friends, experience new things and enjoy the outdoors.

Other opportunities include Junior Leadership, Junior Fair Board, demonstration and illustration talks, health and safety talks/skit contest, junior fair king and queen, State Leadership Camp, State Conservation Camp, 4-H Sea Camp, state fair participation, 4-H Congress and IFYE (International 4-H Youth Exchange). College scholarships are also offered.

As a member, you can participate in your project and the county fair only or aim as high as you want to go. If you have dreams of aiming high, I would advise you to keep a scrapbook of projects and activities.

One of my most memorable 4-H events when I was a member was the 4-H Excursion for Allen, Auglaize and Putnam counties on the B&O Railroad to Cincinnati and taking the paddle wheeler on the Ohio River to Coney Island. I enjoyed more than 20 years as an advisor in Allen and Putnam counties. When I was an advisor in Delphos, we used to take a big summer trip, often to Cedar Point or King’s Island. Yes, we once lost a boy at King’s Island and it took more than an hour to find him. All six of my children were Delphos 4-H members so the trips were a family affair.

I’m proud to say that two of my granddaughters and the wife of a grandson are now 4-H advisors in Putnam County.

The deadline for Putnam County membership is March 15. They have an early enrollment because of an early county fair, June 19-24. According to Jason Hedrick, county extension agent for 4-H, the county had 750 traditional members in addition to 107 Cloverbuds last year. These members are from 29 community clubs and completed 1,305 projects under the direction of 162 trained adult advisors for the 2006.

Mark Light, Allen County 4-H agent, said they had 977 members, including Cloverbuds in 2006. Allen County had 66 4-H clubs led by 220 advisors. The Allen County membership date is May 4.

Greg Hohman is the Van Wert County Extension 4-H agent. According to the Van Wert office, Van Wert had approximately 600 members, including Cloverbuds in 2006. The 22 clubs had 125 advisors. Their membership deadline is April 1. Van Wert County is sponsoring an open house from 6-8 p.m. March 7 for members and those interested in becoming members, along with their parents. This will introduce them to the projects and the program.

Ohio 4-H week begins today and continues through Saturday.

Allow me to finish with the 4-H motto: “To make the best better.”

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