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4-H is a fantastic organization that brings together youth, families, and caring adults to foster personal growth, community involvement, and lasting friendships. Each year, National 4-H Week is celebrated by millions of youths, parents, volunteers, and alumni coming together to promote the many positive youth development opportunities offered by 4-H. “I love 4-H” is this year’s theme and it celebrates 4-H as one family with many hearts and smiles.
4-H provides opportunities for youth to find their spark by providing educational opportunities, caring mentors, and service-learning opportunities. Youth choose their own path and are guided by volunteers with similar passions.
Benton County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.
“I cannot express how much I love Missouri 4-H’s members, volunteers, families, faculty and staff,” says Lupita Fabregas, Sr. Program Director of Missouri 4-H. “We are truly one big family with many passionate individuals who are committed to personal growth, leadership, and making a positive impact in our world.”
Fabregas challenges each member and volunteer to show their 4-H spirit during National 4-H week and recruit at least one new member for their 4-H family. Missouri 4-H has a broad range of project topics and delivery methods to ensure that there is an opportunity for all Missouri youth to participate in 4-H.
Benton County 4-H members will celebrate National 4-H Week by setting up window displays in local businesses and wearing 4-H shirts to school.
“My experience in 4-H taught me how to sew and crochet and decorate cakes, skills which I now use as an extra income source for my family”, said Kristie Jonson, Lake Creek 4-H Club Alumnae and Outgoing 4-H Club Leader. Jonson added, “Through community service projects like Adopt-A-Highway trash pick-up and cleaning flower boxes at the local library, 4-H members learn to take pride in their community and the value of giving back”. "4-H projects such as Gardening, Food Preservation, Country Cured Meats, and Foods give members the knowledge and skills to feed themselves forever."
In Benton County, more than 115 4-H youth and adult volunteers from the community are involved in 4 H. Highlights of this past year include attending Clover Kid Day Camp, Regional 4-H Camp, and Missouri 4-H Teen Conference, exhibiting items grown or made at Missouri State Fair competitions, and performing project demonstrations. One member serves as a Missouri 4-H State STEM Ambassador. Popular projects include arts and crafts, foods, country cured meats, shooting sports, poultry, rabbits, and beef cattle. 4-H also provides the educational “Hatching Chicks” embryology project in local schools.
