Youth stress National 4-H Week

By MARGARET HOBBS / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Honor club members serve the community by conducting various service projects. In observance of National 4-H Week, members invited prospective new members to a day of fun and fellowship. (Margaret Hobbs photo)

“The Power of YOUth” was the theme for National 4-H Week with area 4-H members celebrating in style. Warren County Honor Club members invited prospective members to Riverfront Park for a “Celebration of Green.”

Attendees wore 4-H colors of green and white, munched on green, clover leaf shaped cake and 4-H cookies, topped off with green punch. Honor Club president Garrett Martin welcomed the gathering and gave a brief summary about the 4-H movement and its goals.

The 4-H program began in 1892 in a response to young people and their need for a better agricultural education. 4-H enables youth to have fun, meet new people, learn new life skills, build self-confidence, learn responsibility and set and achieve goals.

Honor Club members Davey Britton, Ryan Bush, Emily Hobbs, Mary Beth Gribble, April Kirby and Kristen Sharpe presented a comical skit, The 4-H Dating Game, to the delight of the teen crowd.

Various ice-breaker activities were conducted in an effort for all attending to get acquainted. Organizers hoped to spark interest in their guests to become active in Honor Club activities. The club is designed to provide recognition and leadership development for junior and senior high 4-H members.

The club meets on a monthly basis to carry out planned activities. Its main focus is service to the community by conducting various service projects. Active members are also eligible to participate in district and state conferences and educational trips.

Projects planned for this year include safety treat bags for area kindergarten students, Families in Crisis collections, sponsoring and shopping for foster children, Kids of the Community activity, Valentine treats for individuals residing at Beersheba and Spangler Towers, first aid kit construction for Housing Authority youth and a birdhouse building project.