4-H; What about it?
Texas 4-H
4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship and life skills. 4-H is about having fun, learning, exploring and discovering. In 4-H, young people make new friends, develop new skills, become leaders and help shape their communities.
More than 65,000 Texas youth are enrolled members of 4-H community clubs in Texas. These youth live in cities, suburbs, small towns and rural communities.
4-H gives them a chance to pursue their own interests – from photography to computers, from building robots to raising sheep. A list of 4-H projects is available online at https://texas4-h.tamu.edu/projects/” They go places – to camp, to state and national conferences. They learn to be leaders and active citizens.
In 4-H clubs, they serve as officers, learn to conduct meetings, and facilitate group decision-making. They give back to their communities. 4-H members get involved in volunteer projects to protect the environment, mentor younger children and help people who are less fortunate.
“To Make the Best Better” is the 4-H Motto
The 4-H Pledge is the foundation for which we fulfill the Motto:
“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”
Although playing and practicing is a big bonus in 4-H activities, meeting attendance is even more beneficial in order for your child to receive the full 4-H Experience, while putting the motto and pledge into action. Here is why:
• Club meetings emphasizes subject matter not only in knowledge and skill, but also important lessons in relationships, leadership and citizenship;
• 4-H Club and Project meetings are diverse, which allows each member in the group to gain people skills by introducing themselves to new people and including them in the activities;
• Meetings provide youth “learn by doing” opportunities in projects, record keeping and goal setting;
• The 4-H program is family-oriented where parents are encouraged to attend as many activities as possible.
We have the following clubs in Gray County:
- North Fork 4-H – meets 2nd Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Gray County Annex
- Clover Kids Club (for K-2 youth) – meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 5:30 p.m. at the Gray County Annex
- Top of Texas Archery Club-Every 3rd Thursday at 6:00 p.m. in the Bull Barn.
We would love to show you what the meetings are all about, so please come!
For more information about these clubs, please call the Gray County office at 669-8033.
4-H Record Keeping
Documentation is not always fun, but in order to achieve the full experience by attending Club and Project Meetings, Project Record Forms and 4-H Record Books are also part of the full experience. The PROJECT RECORD FORM is 4 pages and this is the minimum that needs to be turned in to the Extension Office in order to receive a 4-H Year Pin and recognition at the Annual Gray County 4-H Awards Reception. It is also something that the youth can fill out as they go to their meetings and activities throughout the year, or reflect on what they did and fill it out after their project is over. Technically, projects are not considered complete unless the Project Record Form is submitted to the Extension Office.
The TEXAS 4-H RECORD BOOK is more detailed and includes a story and pictures that support the story about their 4-H experiences throughout the year. This is the youth’s time to brag on themselves about their hard work and accomplishments throughout the year. The Youth can opt to enter the the County and District Record Book Contest and compete with others in the same projects. The youth receive recognition with a year and project pin at the Annual Gray County 4-H Awards Reception when they submit a Texas 4-H Record Book. The youth does not have to submit a Project Record Form if they submit a Tx 4-H Record Book, but the Record Form can be used as a tool to outline the Record Book.
Recognition for Participating in 4-H Events and Activities is given at the Awards Reception if a POINTS BOOK has been submitted by the given deadline, usually by June 1st. If the youth attended and participated in enough 4-H Club and Projects meetings, fund raisers, community service, 4-H get-togethers, contests, shows, activities and events to earn 275 points they get to chose 30 points worth of items that the 4-H Youth Council previously determined from the 4-H Catalog.
A Record Book and Report Form Training is provided in May every year, but if you would like to work on it from the beginning of the 4-H year or project, we are happy to help. Just give us a call, 669-8033.
