A lot of people think 4H is about cows and cooking but it is so much more. Not only do the kids learn how to take care of animals and the responsibility that entails but they learn how to keep records on their animals. They learn out to keep track of expenses on their animals. They learn how to judge the quality of the feed and what difference good feed makes. They learn how to treat their animals medical needs.
The same goes with cooking, sewing, canning etc. All have to keep records, all have to learn to judge what is wrong with their items. They learn if they do a good job on something they get a reward and more money for blue ribbons. They learn hard work pays off.
They learn how to do speeches in front of people. They learn team work. They learn how to get along. They learn how to teach the younger ones and how important it is to pass your skills down just like people have done for them.
In all the years I worked corrections at the jail it was not the 4H kids that were brought into the police department. After they grew up to teens and adults they were not the ones that came in drunk or driving while drunk or thieves. In 30 some years we arrested 2 FFA kids that I am aware of and that was at a wedding and they had only had 3 drinks and did not realize that put them over the legal limit and since they were not used to drinking it really affected the way they drove. They were so embarrassed and would only look at their feet. They still were very respectful and cooperative and they never returned again.
We used to joke at the police department that you could tell which kids would be back with how the parents reacted to them being in trouble. The parents that were upset and grounded the kids and the kids were respectful to and sorry you did not see again and again I repeat they were not 4H kids. The kids that come in mouthy and disrespectful come back again and again and when their parents show up they are mad at the cops for mistreating their kids. If a child does not respect their parent they won't respect anyone. The kids that aren't taught responsibility are not responsible adults either.
Be a parent to your child as you are the only parents they will ever have. They don't need you to be their friend, they have lots and lots of friends. Kids need guidelines and the knowledge that you are in charge and they don't have to be afraid. Kids without that run scared of the whole world and turn to drunks and alcohol to ease their fears.
Here are some of the photos of the kids having lots of fun and getting along at the 4H kick off party last night.
A good old fashioned sack race. I remember as a child how much fun we had with the feed sacks from our animals even on the farm with the neighborhood kids we would have sack races and you can see by this photo it is still a lot of fun for kids.
Another one that was a lot of fun was the hot potato game. We used this one a lot to learn the parts of a horse. If you got the potato you had 3 seconds to name a part of the horse. Or we would say a part of the horse and if you got the potato you had 3 seconds to say where that part was on the horse. We also used it for breeds of horses etc. You can take any game and change it to fit what ever you are learning for the kids. We used to make up jeopardy games for kids too.
The mummy game was a blast for the kids. They had 30 seconds to wrap their partner in toilet paper like a mummy then it was like a sack race usually with toilet paper flying everywhere. Lots of giggles and lots of I am getting dizzy going in circles wrapping them.
Mummy coming right up.
Toilet paper flying everywhere..The one in the blue shirt was not a mummy just encouraging his partner to go faster....
Being 4H kids they also cleaned up their own messes.
One of the kids favorites of course was going into the pumpkin patch to pick out a pumpkin. The girl in the blue shirt is a junior leader carrying one of the little kids pumpkins that was bigger then she was.
fun
Then everyone had pizza for the whole family.
And a beautiful Central Oregon Sunset to end the evening.
Join Jefferson County 4H today, call 541-475-7107 and speak to Jon Gandy or Jill Eveland and get signed up for a fun filled learning year in 4H. Call and ask about all the different clubs from guns to cows.
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