As a youth, the only time I ever saw 4-H members was during my annual visit over Labor Day to the Minnesota State Fair. To my naive self at the time, if you were in 4-H it meant that you either sewed quilts, made corn art, spent more time with cows than with your peers and you were a carrier of the H1N1 virus. (I did contract the H1N1 virus while at the state fair, and then used the 4-H students as my scapegoat for my sickness).
4-H is much more than quilt making, corn art and the swine flu. 4-H is a program that encourages the involvement of students beginning at a grade school level through high school and college, their families/parents, and both local and state communities. The 4-H's stand for: head, heart, hands and health. For grade school classes there is a wide variety of curriculum available that includes business and citizenship lessons, to a focus on STEM fields, the creative arts and healthy living. Though 4-H might have a reputation for being "focused on agriculture," it offers materials and activities much broader than "just ag."
One of the many mysteries was left unsolved until recently, was the true difference between 4-H and FFA. Check out the info-graphics below to see a great break down between the two organizations!
4-H offers opportunities for truly everyone to be involved in their programs. Beginning as a youth, through parent involvement, to a supportive community, a volunteer, working alongside state/extension services and even the USDA; there is room for anyone and everyone.
4-H is an important asset to many communities and even at a collegiate level there is continued efforts for involvement and youth support. NDSU has a 4-H collegiate club; from their website their motto reads: "Collegiate 4-H is an organization that provides its members with a sense of identity on campus, enriches their lives through group projects and recreation, and develops confidence and leadership skills. 4-H clubs provide service and support to their local and state 4-H programs, such as serving as judges and conducting training workshops."
4-H is an organization that has been giving back and actively serving various communities around the United States since 1902, and it does not seem that service will end any time soon.
Info-graphics retrieved from: http://www.nacaa.com/journal/index.php?jid=125
