What Is 4-H All About? by Dr. Mario A. Villarino, County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources

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To prepare youth to meet the challenges of childhood, adolescence and adulthood, through a coordinated, long-term, progressive series of educational experiences that enhance life skills and develop social, emotional, physical and cognitive competencies.

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4-H is also a community of young people and their families 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. Another 850,000 Texas youth get involved in 4-H through special educational opportunities at school, in after school programs, or at neighborhood or youth centers. 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 rockets to raising sheep. A list of 4-H projects is available online. 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 and learn to conduct meetings, handle club funds, and facilitate group decision-making. In a growing number of communities, 4-H youth serve as youth representatives in municipal or county government or as members of Teen Courts. 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. 4-H at the county level operates in local clubs, were social interaction between 4-H members enhance learning and promotes social skills. In Hopkins County, all the office staff is involved in 4-H. From learning how to make a cloth project, cook a recipe, prepare and deliver a speech to how to heal an animal patient, 4-H has the structure and resources to provide opportunities for our youth to grow. The first step to get involved is to get enrolled on-line at  www.4honline.com (starting August 15, 2020) . For more information on this or any other agricultural topic please contact the Hopkins County Extension Office at 903-885-3443 or email me at m-villarino@tamu.edu. 

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