STRAIGHT FROM THE HORSES MOUTH

Duane A. Lienemann
UNL Extension Educator

      This coming week (October 5-11) we will be celebrating National 4-H Week. This year’s theme is "Making a Lasting Impact" which is very appropriate. 4-H is a national community of more than 6 million young people, 540,000 volunteers and 3,500 professionals. We all should reflect on the great things that 4-H offers young people and highlights the incredible 4-H youth in the community who work each day to make a positive impact on the community. Research has proven that participation in 4-H has a significant positive impact on young people. As a former 10 year 4-H member I can attest to the positive influence in my life and I would bet that all of you who benefited from 4-H could name many impacts in your life.   
     About 4-H: 4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 109 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. Locally our Webster County 4-H has 203 4-H members in 13 clubs and the help of 108 volunteers. You can learn more about 4-H by going to www.4-h.org/.  Please join us in celebrating 4-H!
     Seven Days of 4-H: I might suggest that 4-Hers, clubs, and all that work with 4-H observe National 4-H Week by using each day of the week to think about the impact their lives in accordance to the 4-H Pledge.  Let’s begin with Sunday (October 5th) which starts the celebration of National 4-H Week and is a day for families and for each of us to reflect on life and how to serve and help others. That is followed by Monday which I will designate as “Using Your Head” day when you link it to the 4-H Pledge statement of “I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking.” This day is about how 4-H helps with the life skills like: Learning Decision Making, Problem Solving, Critical Thinking, Service Learning, Goal Setting, Planning/Organizing, Wise Use of Resources, Keeping Records, and Resiliency. I might offer a quote from Benjamin Franklin that I think of when talking of this subject. “If a man empties his purse into his head, no one can take it from him.”
     I suggest using Tuesday as “I pledge my HEART to greater loyalty” day. This part of the 4-H Pledge demonstrates the ability of youth to relate and care for others. Loyalty is a hallmark of 4-H. Life skills that 4-H teaches is: Communication, Cooperation, Social Skills, Conflict Resolution, Accepting Differences, Concern for Others, Empathy, Sharing, and Nurturing Relationships. I might use a quote from Buddha to illustrate this point. “Teach this triple to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity.”
     Now let’s go to Wednesday, Tuesday (October 8). This is actually another special day for 4-H as it serves as National 4-H Youth Science Day (NYSD). This event, which takes place in urban, suburban and rural communities all across the nation, seeks to spark an early youth interest and leadership in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) careers in an effort keep America competitive in those fields. Currently, more than five million young people across the nation participate in 4 H programming in topics as varied as robotics, agricultural science, rocketry, wind power, environmental science and alternative energy. For more than 100 years, 4-H has been at the forefront of teaching young people about science, engineering technology and math (STEM). 4-H National Youth Science Day is the premier national rallying event for year-round 4-H STEM programming, bringing together youth, volunteers and educators from the nation’s 109 land-grant colleges and universities to simultaneously complete the National Science Experiment.
     I now suggest using Thursday as “My HANDS to larger service” day. In 4-H, youth learn by doing, and the most learning is done by getting involved and using your hands. Thursday celebrates how 4-H members are using their hands to better themselves and their communities. This day should focus on the efforts of 4-H in the community and how its members make the world a better place. Life skills related to hands include: Community Service, Volunteering, Leadership, Responsible Citizenship, Contributions to Group Efforts, Teamwork, Self-motivation. I will quote Ralph Waldo Emerson who said “I hate the giving of the hand unless the whole man accompanies it.”
     Friday is the day we should focus on the last part of the pledge – “Health”. This completes the work week of National 4-H Week with “My HEALTH to a Better Living.” The strength of any community is only as strong as the citizens that live in it. For 4-H members, they pledge their health to a better living. This includes the ability to live a healthy life for themselves, as well as helping others in the community benefit from good health. This day can include the interpretation of the following life skills: Self-esteem, Self-responsibility, Character, Managing Feelings, Healthy Lifestyle Choices, Stress Management, Disease Prevention, and Personal Safety. To close out some sayings that are appropriate let’s go to Mohandas Gandhi who said: “It is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold or silver.”
     Saturday is the final celebration day of a great 4-H week. We should look at it as the day of “Community Service”. 4-H clubs all should contribute to their community, state and nation. I challenge every 4-H member, club, and group to identify an issue affecting their community that they can assist with and then implement a community service project. Whatever it is, it is your day to make a difference for life. Congratulations to all of our 4-Her’s, leaders and alumni. Go 4-H!!!!

The preceding information comes from the research and personal observations of the writer which may or may not reflect the views of UNL or UNL Extension. For more further information on these or other topics contact D. A. Lienemann, UNL Extension Educator for Webster County in Red Cloud, (402) 746-3417 or email to: dlienemann2@unl.edu or go to the website at: http://www.webster.unl.edu/home