Cooper County University
of Missouri Extension Center
Cooper County 4-H
FOUR-H is a volunteer-led organization that reaches boys and girls through small
groups called community clubs and sometimes in classrooms. 4-H members decide for
themselves which of more than 40 projects they want to learn more about. Most projects use
hands-on learning experiences to teach subject matter and life skills such as cooperation,
leadership, and decision making-skills that can be applied over and over for a lifetime.
Who can join 4-H?
4-H is for boys and girls who will reach their 8th birthday
and will not reach their 20th birthday January 1. The 4-H program years runs from
September 1 through August 31. It is open to everyone, regardless of race, religion,
color, disability, gender, or place of residence.
Cooper County offers a pre-4-H program called Clover Kids
for youth ages 5 to 7 years old.
Who provides leadership for 4- H?
- 4-H is sponsored in Missouri by the Cooperative Extension
Service of The University of Missouri and Lincoln University. Nationally, it is part of
the Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Local leadership is provided
by Extension Educators in the county offices of the Cooperative Extension Service, which
is supported financially by county, state, and federal tax dollars.
What do the H's stand for?
- Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.
The 4-H pledge--
- "I Pledge
My head to clearer thinking
My heart to greater loyalty
My hands to larger service
My health to better living
For my club, my community, my country, and my world."
What is the 4-H Emblem?
- A green four-leaf clover with a white "H" on each
clover leaf.
Why do young people like 4-H?
- They have FUN with friends at meetings,
social activities, tours, trips, camps, and fairs. They learn to do interesting things
such as take care of animals and plants, redecorate their rooms, fix their bikes, take
pictures, practice cooking, and collect rocks. And, they help others to learn more about
their 4-H project, provide leadership to younger kids, and learn about themselves.
How do you join?
- Call your County Extension Office or a local 4-H leader (if
you know one). In Cooper County call 660-882-5661 or e-mail to Cindy Thomas at thomascy@missouri.edu .
-
Click here to visit
the Cooper County 4-H web site.
What are 4-H projects?
- A 4-H project is a series of learning experiences for 4-H
members. More than 50 projects are available from the from the Cooperative Extension
Service of Missouri University. Most projects have manuals to assist the 4-H'er with his
or her project Some of the projects that a 4-H member can do are Archery, Backpacking,
Beef, Bicycle, Bowling, Cake Decorating, Camping, Careers, Cats, Cavies, Child
Development, Clothing, Clowning, Computers, Conservation, Corn, Country cured hams,
Crafts, Creative Arts, Crochet, Crops, Dairy, Dogs, Electricity, Entomology, Environmental
Stewardship. Exploring 4-H, Foods/Nutrition, Food Preservation, Forestry, Geology, Health,
Home Environment, Horticulture: Vegetable Gardening and Flower Gardening, Horses, Kith and
Kin: Genealogy and Family Customs, Knitting, Leadership, Lifetime Sports: Golf and Tennis,
Outdoor Skills: Camping and Fishing, Photography, Poultry, Public Speaking, Rabbits,
Safety, Sheep, Shooting Sports: Hunter Education and Safety, Small Engines, Swine,
Tractor, Veterinary Science, Visual Arts, Welding, Woodworking.
What does a 4-H project cost?
- It varies. A member enrolled in crafts might use supplies
from around the home to practice the skills he or she is learning and have no additional
expense. A member who buys and keeps a saddle might invest hundreds of dollars. Members
should consider cost as they select a project. It should be realistic to the family
situation.
Are 4-H members expected to do their own
project work?
- Yes -- with help. 4-H is a "learn by doing"
program. Leaders, junior leaders, and parents may tell or show a member how, but members
are expected to learn how to do things themselves. One of the principles of 4-H is that
allowing a youth learn to do builds self worth.
What is an exhibit?
- An exhibit is an object or display designed to help a young
person show what s/he has accomplished. Ideally it motivates a youth to learn and to have
fun in a 4-H project. An exhibit is not an end in itself, nor does it measure all the
learning that takes place from completing a project.
Are projects done individually or as a
group?
- Both. Some projects like geology or biking are more fun when
done as a group. Others like making cloths, photography or baking cookies will be done
individually by each member of the group.
What do 4-H clubs do at meetings?
- 4-H clubs usually do five general kinds of things: project
work, conduct business meetings, recreation or social activities, community service work,
and special interest programs.
Do they do all of those things at one
meeting?
- Sometimes they have a little business meeting, work on their
projects for awhile, then have recreation. Sometimes the whole meeting is devoted to one
thing. Everyone brings his or her dog and practices obedience training or they elect
officers and plan the club program or they have a pizza-making party or tour a local
factory.
Who plans the program for the club?
- Members of the club. If the club is small, this might be
done at a meeting of the whole group. If the club is large, ideas come from everybody, and
a committee puts together a program.
When do clubs meet and how long do
meetings last?
- This depends on the group. Many clubs meet for an hour or
two after school, in the evening or on Saturday. The most important thing is to have a
regular time to get together, one that members and their families can remember.
As a 4-H parent, how can I help my
child?
- Counsel with your son or daughter in the selection of 4-H
projects that are interesting and can be conveniently financed. Show your interest and
enthusiasm after the projects have been selected. Read over the project manual with your
child and help him or her understand what to do, when to do it, and how to carry out
different phases of the project. Assist your son or daughter with project work, but don't
do the job for him or her. Your job is to teach, not to govern; to guide, not to control.
Learn to give increased freedom as your child develops.
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How do I become one of the 600,000 volunteers working with 4-H in
the United States?
- In today's society young people need to know adults care.
You can help them develop vital life skills to make them into confident, successful,
productive citizens or our nation.
To become a volunteer, contact your local University of Missouri Extension
Center at
660-882-5661, or send a message to Cindy Thomas at thomascy@missouri.edu Your County Extension 4-H Agent can tell you what 4-H activities are
available in your neighborhood and community.
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4-H Volunteer Pledge
I pledge my Head to give
children the information I can, to help them see things clearly and to make wise
decisions.
I pledge my Heart to encourage and support children no
matter whether they have success or disappointments.
I pledge my Hands to help children's groups; if I cannot be
a leader, I can help in many equally important ways.
I pledge my Health to keep children strong and will for a
better world through 4-H, for children's groups, our community, our country, and our
world.
We are always looking for people to get involved. Please
fill out our questionnaire and join us in helping our children to develop and improve
their minds.
Last Updated
05/09/08
