UACES Facebook Mississippi County 4H Welcomes New Members
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Mississippi County 4-H Invites New Members



OSCEOLA, Ark. –

What is 4-H?

4-H is the premier youth development program conducted by the University of Arkansas System, Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. It is the largest youth organization in the state with over 131,000 members and a reach of over 250,000 youth across the state. The mission of 4-H is to provide opportunities for youth to acquire knowledge, develop life skills, form attitudes and practice behavior that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. It is a way for youth to develop their own pathway to valuable life skills through fun activities, completing accomplishments and forming lifelong friendships.

The four H’s in 4-H represent Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

This is designed to prepare young people to step up to the challenges in their communities and provide youth with the skills to lead for a lifetime. All program center around hands-on experiences and learning by doing.

Core elements of 4-H include:

  • science
  • health
  • agriculture
  • citizenship
  • youth leadership
  • community service
  • life skills learning

Who can join 4-H?

4-H is open to youth between the ages of 5-19.

How much does it cost?

There is no monetary fee required to join a club. All that is required to join is a commitment to try your best and have fun while learning!

What are the benefits?

Paths to developing life skills such as citizenship, community awareness and leadership are open to 4-Hers through taking part in competitive activities such as those associated with 4-H O’Rama’s and fairs, and attending various demonstrations, talks and camps.

These help 4-H’ers strengthen their skills in communication and cooperation while showing their mastery in their selected project area. Their leadership and citizenship skills are increased through officer and committee roles in their local clubs. Each club elects a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, reporter, and recreation leader. Clubs follow parliamentary procedures to run their business meeting giving them hands-on learning of how to make motions, how to direct a meeting and practice public speaking when giving committee reports.

Being an active 4-H member opens youth up to a number of 4-H camps, scholarships, competitions, community projects, engaging and fun state and nationwide trips, networking opportunities, and exposure to new ideas, activities and projects they may not have had the opportunity to engage in otherwise.

With 4-H projects, individual project work and record keeping 4-H members adopt positive traits in areas such as:

  • STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
  • arts
  • leadership
  • nutrition
  • agriculture
  • safety
  • pet care
  • livestock
  • money management
  • positive self-image

(Just to name a few.)

What's involved?

Members select a project and complete it in an area of their interest. Project book activities and lessons are often designed for the member to work on under the direct guidance of his/her parents.

There is so much 4-H can offer youth of all ages!

We Rely on Knowledgeable Volunteers

The key to a successful community 4-H club is the strong support and guidance given from its members’ parents and the club’s volunteer leaders.

There are many topics within 4-H that a youth could choose as an interest area and a new club become formed around it with the leadership of knowledgeable volunteers in areas such as livestock, poultry, horse, garden, agriculture, cooking/baking, beekeeping, photography, teen leaders, STEM, wildlife and more. Clubs are only limited by a shortage of volunteer leaders.  

If you’re looking for something new to get your child involved in that’s fun, a way to make new friends, exposes them to new things and provides life skills-building opportunities, why not give 4-H a try?

Interested in joining or volunteering?

Give the Mississippi County Extension Office a call at (870) 563-0236.

Check out the Mississippi County Facebook Page @MissCo4H for current events and opportunities.

 

By Kamella Neeley
County Extension Agent - 4H
The Cooperative Extension Service
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Media Contact: Kamella Neeley
County Extension Agent - 4H
U of A Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service


Kamella Neeley is a County Extension Agent 4-H with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service in Mississippi County. She can be reached by email at kneeley@uada.edu

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