Sunday AM (quite late), 3rd pot of coffee, etc

Noreen, can you please explain what 4-H is? It's not something I've come across, but sounds very interesting Love & higs Christine

On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 16:24:58 +0100, Christine in Kent, Garden of England spun a fine yarn

Certainly, Christine!

4-H is: 4-H reaches millions of youth and adults each year. You can read about some of the exceptional 4-H programs and results that have impacted the lives of young people, their families and communities.

4-H and related programs are operating in over 80 countries. Global education and international exchanges bring the people and programs closer together.

The 4-H Pledge

"I Pledge my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, and my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world."

The pledge tells what 4-H is all about. 4-H has as its goal the four-fold development of youth: Head, Heart, Hands and Health. The pledge was adopted by the delegates to the 1927 National 4-H Club Camp in Washington, DC. State club leaders voted for and adopted the pledge for universal use. The phrase "and my world" was added in 1973. The saying of the pledge has prominent place in 4-H activities at regular

4-H meetings, achievement days, and other club events.

4-H Mission

4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults.

4-H Vision A world in which youth and adults learn, grow and work together as catalysts for positive change.

The 4-H Emblem, Colors, and the four H's

The original symbol of the Boys and Girls Clubs was a three leaf clover with the words Head, Heart, and Hands. Nebraska clubs used the words as part of their statement of purpose: "to educate the youth of the county, town and city to a knowledge of their dependence upon nature's resources, and to the value of the fullest development of hand, head and heart...."

Early in 1911, a meeting of club leaders in Washington adopted a committee recommendation approving the present 4-H emblem design. O.B. Martin, who was directing club work in the South, is credited with suggesting that the 4-H's stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health. (Benson originally referred to a fourth H as Hustle.) . The official emblem is green with white H's - the 4-H colors. The white symbolizes purity. The green represents nature's most common color and is emblematic of youth, life, and growth. Go to Name and Emblem to learn more about the proper, legal use of the 4-H name and emblem.

Motto: "To Make The Best Better"

The motto was adopted at about the same time as the 4-H Club Pledge. Its intent is to inspire young people to continue to learn and grow, to make their best efforts better through participating in educational experiences.

"Learning By Doing"

This phrase sums up the educational philosophy of the 4-H program. Young people learn best when they are involved in their learning. The intent is to do, reflect, and apply.

4H programs are mostly run in the more rural areas. They are loose-knit clubs (at least I don't remember a whole lot of meetings) where kids take on the responsibility of learning how to do various things. (I say 'take on the responsibility' because many times the responsibility is the care of animals.) 4H fairs where I am from consist of the showing of animals ranging from chickens and rabbits to pigs, cows and horses. Also available are contests in cooking, sewing, needlework, other crafts.

Mentoring is a big part of 4H programs.

Tracey

4-H is where I learned to cross stitch, crochet, and quill. While my family never owned any livestock (just a few cats and dogs as pets), I learned a lot from the club, and made a lot of friends while participating. I even took part in a circus performance! I still attend the Franklin County Youth Fair, which was originally started to showcase the 4-H clubs in the area. I'll never forget having one of my cross-stitch pieces take Best of Show. One of the highlights of my life. I still have the ribbon (mom has the piece). We lived in quite a rural area, and there were absolutely no organized activities for kids other than through 4-H. I'm very thankful for the organization.

Anastasia

--who has been feeling too ill lately to do any stitching.... *sigh*

Oh, can I join that 4-H club????

Higs, Katherine

On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 12:55:22 -0500, "Teacher Gal" spewed forth :

I guess every 4-H group puts on a circus show. I was the ringmaster for our show three years running, since my stepdad owned the tails and top hat that was the ringmaster's costume. I did learn how to do tricks on sheepback, too, but I didn't own the sheep in question so I didn't get to do those tricks in the show.

We lived on the edge of town so I got to borrow livestock but I always entered handwork and kitchen products into the local fair. Trying to keep a hog clean for the show was pointless and didn't pay nearly enough. At least I got to eat stale cookies after the fair :D

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

Two of my co-workers have teenaged boys involved in our Tom Green County 4-H Shooting Sports group. They meet weekly at a local claybird range (on the one night the range is closed) to practice and it seems like they go to shoots every couple of weeks. The members all do a variety of trap, skeet and sporting-clay shooting. Since Thursday the kids have been helping with the Texas State Championship being held here. Also, a few weeks ago they got to meet with and get pointers from some Olympic shooters.

BonnieBlue

On Sun, 25 Jun 2006 09:00:15 -0500, YarnWright spewed forth :

I had brunch at a local watering hole with a couple of friends; we all knitted :D

The sweater proceeds, I'm about finished with the front, will have the back finished faster as I've worked out the pattern problems. I'm ready to have it finished and blocked, ready for the fairs, because I want to knit a Shapely Tank using some Kathmandu that Threnody traded to me for somre spinning fiber.

That's what I'm up to.

+++++++++++++

Reply to the list as I do not publish an email address to USENET. This practice has cut my spam by more than 95%. Of course, I did have to abandon a perfectly good email account...

Hi Christine, May I add to Noreens in depth answer, that 4-H is mainly a rural thing. The kids often work with their farm animals, caring for them and showing them, learning about their needs. There are different chapters, e.g. Woolcraft. Noreen talks about teaching tatting, and I know a friend who taught sewing. Our Guild taught spinning, felting, knitting and weaving to the wool crafters. It is wonderful to see how much the kids love all these crafts and how good they are with their hands, In our group we had nearly as many boys as we had girls.

Els

El

As a teacher Katherine, teaching knitting, or looking after a pig, with 12 piglets in tow...LOL

Els

Anastasia, sounds like you have good memories from your 4-H years,

hope you feel better soon,

Els

Kandace would *love* twelve piglets!

Higs, Katherine

told that pigs are smart animals, maybe you should just try one....LOL Dus Kandace go to 4-H.

Els

No, there is no 4-H here. But we visit farms when we travel.

Higs, Katherine

Thanks Noreen, with that reply and comments from everybody else I think I've got the picture. Sounds like a wonderful thing for country kids, where there's little else to do but maybe make mischief. And being able to take up whatever sections are appropriate for each area makes it that much more adaptable. Very good idea Love & higs Christine