The Big Sandy Mountaineer -

National 4-H week: It takes 4-H leaders

In 4-H, it takes leaders, adults that care, willing to volunteer. Leaders have always stepped up. To become a 4-H Volunteer leader, the first step is to contact the Extension County office in Fort Benton. Time working with 4-H youth is time well spent. According to the 4-H web page, they say, "Research shows that 4 H helps young people excel beyond their peers. The 4 H Study of Positive Youth Development, conducted by Tufts University, explores the impact that participation in 4 H has on youth."

The new 4-H years begins October 1 and leaders are needed. Currently, the only leaders in Big Sandy are Kristie Rutledge and Mary Ophus. "4-H projects and activities rely on trained volunteers to provide leadership and work with youth as partners in learning. Volunteering is an opportunity for you to share your interests by demonstrating expertise." Your interests can be projects where youth can learn. There are many 4-H projects where you can develop your interest and help children.

"Volunteer Leaders are organizers, teachers, and mentors to the youth in the 4-H program. Leaders work with Extension to create educational programming through club meetings, community service projects, events, activities, and learning-by-doing projects. Leaders give of their time and resources while working with the local 4-H Extension Agent to create programs in their community. To be a 4-H Volunteer Leader, you must be 19 years of age."

I visited with a couple of past leaders, and they told me the most significant part of being a leader is seeing the development of the youth growing more confident. Several older 4-H leaders in our community served for many years as a leader because it was so rewarding. Ruth Merrill said, "Oh, I loved it!" She enjoyed teaching girls to sew. Ruth was a 4-H'er herself before she became a leader, and was a 4-H leader for 25 years. She started as a leader in the Happy Hoppers 4-H club along with Murial Silvan, Velaura Rutledge, Bill Rutledge, Angus Merrill, and a few others. She and Katheryn Lanik started the Sunshine Snippers 4-H club which was just for girls. Doris Gasvoda and Lorrie Merrill also helped with the Sunshine Snippers as leaders for a while. Barbara Drga said, "Sunshine Snippers" when they were trying to come up with a name. The Sunshine Snippers were Hopp-Illaid girls. Ruth said, she would still help kids learn to sew if they wanted to learn, "but people don't do that now. They wear t-shirt and sweatshirts. They don't sew anymore."

Ruth commented what was most rewarding is seeing the girls, who were so shy, as adults speaking confidently in front of groups of people. "4-H did that."

Ann Drga/Bitz was one of Ruth's 4-H'ers who after learning everything in 4-H, went to college, and then became a 4-H leader herself. She believes, "kids learn teamwork. They find a place to belong. There is security in the 4-H to try new things. The confidence they get-they bloom because each year they had to give a talk and a demonstration. They may never like doing it, but they learned they could."

"They also learn about record keeping. The real-life things they learn is they have the opportunity for success and opportunity for failures. They learn life is not always fair. They learn about politics, not just government politics." They get a taste for real life."

Her favorite part, like Ruth's, was watching little kids who had no confidence at all grow to confident young adults.

According to the 4-H website, "4-H is the nation's largest youth development organization, grows confident young people who are empowered for life today and prepared for career tomorrow. 4-H programs empower nearly six million young people across the U.S. through experiences that develop critical life skills."

If you want to JOIN 4-H, it is open to all youth ages 6-19 years of age. Six to eight-year-olds join as Clover buds.

"The 4-H Emblem is a four-leaf clover with the letter "H" on each leaf, denoting Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The four-leaf clover signifies Good Luck. Head, Heart, Hands, and Health represent the four values members work on through fun and engaging programs. The 4-H colors are Green and White. Green is nature's most common color and is symbolic of springtime, life, and youth. White symbolizes purity and high ideals. The 4-H Motto is To Make the Best Better. The 4-H Pledge is 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."