PB from MN

I have not posted much and for some reason I needed to re-register. Anyway...

I was a 4-Her and my son's were both in 4-H as was my husband. My son's both graduated from 4-H due to a mother's persistence that you finish what you start. A few projects were finished in the car on the way to the Mille Lacs County fairgrounds. I learned a great deal about animal husbandry too, so I was learning along with them. It was great!

I am still a 4-H volunteer and a judge. I can tell you that I love to judge 4-H; we have some incredible youth. I judge primarily in the Home Ec areas-cooking, food preservation, sewing, quilting, demonstrations, consumer, etc. I tell people that my idea of fun is sitting in a metal shed in July and August when it is hot and humid; the weather can be extremely uncomfortable but I adore the youth and their projects.

I encourage you to share your talents to mentor and teach youth and encourage them with their projects. So many things are not being taught in schools anymore and a whole generation never learned to cook and sew, or know that things can be fixed, etc. I see so many youth trying to teach themselves or they give up because they do not have anyone to teach them.

From a judge's persective teach the youth to "sell" their project to the judge, if the 4-Her does not believe in their project how can the judge? I love it when a 4-Her takes the lead in the judging and I can see their leadership emerge. I also like judging the Cloverbuds (Kindergarten to 2 grade, I know some states have a different name for this age group), they either talk away or you need to pull every word out of them and they cannot wait until they are a "real" 4-Her.

I do feel passionately about the subject and got a bit away from the subject line. 4-H definitely helped me in my life and I am grateful for those that mentored me.

Baloonatic

Prolly 'cause he was so CLEAN!! And the pink tinge was a nice touch... ROFL!!

Baloonatic

I was in 4-H from about 11 till 17 when I started college. I raised and showed beef Angus (Best 4-H Angus Steer in the county fair one year!) and polled Herefords. I also took cooking and dairy for one year. I showed sheep for a year, but boy were they difficult compared to my steers!

I just read last month that one of the ladies that helped the club so much back then has passed away at age 92...

Mona Marie

I was in. Sewing, gardening, horse, chickens, dogs. Was also a leader

mommafank

I was in 4- H and then when kids little I formed a local 4-H group. We moved about a year after I started it so not sure what happened after that.

bob1414

I'm a former 4-Her!! Sewing, baking and arts & crafts. No farm related stuff as I was a "town kid".

polly13

Being in 4H is where I learned my love of sewing, which led to quilting. Great memories----oh those nerve-wracking Demonstration Days.

oksewglad

Another one who bleeds green! I was a member from 10-18, was a club leader for over 15 years and sewing project leader for about 4. I have also judged exhibits and presentations at county and state levels. I now work with the local alumni chapter. It costs to join 4-H, so our goal is to offer a scholarship to a graduating HS senior and help offset membership fees. Ex 4-H'ers think about that in your own area even if it's not where you grew up. There are kids out there who would benefit from your donations.
I was once a shy little girl--some people don't beleive it, but I was. 4-H taught me how to speak in front of a group and how to organize a presentation. I met DH while showing dairy cattle at the county fair; over 40 years later we are still working with milk cows and now our grands are following down the green brick road!

Suzanne57

I was in 4-H too. I had a couple of years of sewing, a couple of years of knitting and a couple of years of raising calves. Still knit and sew but don't raise calves anymore!

marilynr

I joined 4-H in 1947 & loved it. My daughter enjoyed it & now my grandchildren are also benefiting from 4-H.