As an active member of 4-H for the past 10 years, I have witnessed firsthand how 4-H improves the lives of its members. 4-H has more than 6 million members, which, considering its beginning as a branch off of the USDA, is quite an achievement. A program initially created to teach rural children how to grow crops, cook, and work with animals, it has now expanded into youth development and leadership, while teaching maturity, responsibility and life skills.
4-H teaches life skills, responsibility, maturing and leadership. Adults have little to do with instruction of the youth; it is the older youth, middle school and up, that teach the new members. This isn't baby-sitting, it isn't school. It is youth, working with youth to learn by doing. Youth run the meetings, plan the events, work for rewards and achieve things greater than just a blue ribbon or a trip. Without even realizing it, they win life skills that they will use throughout their lives: How to task manage, how to work with people, how to take a leadership role, how to be responsible and how to think rationally at a quick pace. If it sounds like chaos and that there is no way a group of kids could run one of the largest youth organizations in the world, look at their history; they just celebrated their 100th birthday.
Youth are the future, and by creating a strong foundation of reliable, responsible and mature leaders we ensure a better tomorrow. 4-H members are pledged to think clearly, be loyal, be of service and commit to good health to better support their club, community, country and their world. Imagine what our world would be like if every person was confident, ready to help and willing to learn.
4-H teaches life skills, responsibility, maturing and leadership. Adults have little to do with instruction of the youth; it is the older youth, middle school and up, that teach the new members. This isn't baby-sitting, it isn't school. It is youth, working with youth to learn by doing. Youth run the meetings, plan the events, work for rewards and achieve things greater than just a blue ribbon or a trip. Without even realizing it, they win life skills that they will use throughout their lives: How to task manage, how to work with people, how to take a leadership role, how to be responsible and how to think rationally at a quick pace. If it sounds like chaos and that there is no way a group of kids could run one of the largest youth organizations in the world, look at their history; they just celebrated their 100th birthday.
Youth are the future, and by creating a strong foundation of reliable, responsible and mature leaders we ensure a better tomorrow. 4-H members are pledged to think clearly, be loyal, be of service and commit to good health to better support their club, community, country and their world. Imagine what our world would be like if every person was confident, ready to help and willing to learn.
