WAYNE COUNTY, PA — The 4-H program is in full swing, but there is just enough time for new members to join the fun and get the experience of a lifetime.  

Even though agriculture makes up a vast portion of the 4-H program, there are many additional 4-H project areas and opportunities for kids aged five to 18—as well as adult volunteers—to join.  

The PA 4-H program year begins October 1 and continues until September 30 each year.  Young people can join a 4-H club based on their location as well as their project interests.  Many 4-H clubs in Wayne County are community clubs, where 4-H members can work on a wide variety of projects within one club.  

What kinds of projects?

Well, what is the young person interested in?

A 4-H project is based on a curriculum that is approved by Penn State University (or Cornell University in New York), and there’s plenty to choose from. 

And then they work on their project at their own pace, learning a lot as they go.  

There are projects in animal science, environmental science, shooting sports, civic engagement and leadership, communication and expressive arts, healthy living/foods and nutrition, and STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).

Within those categories, a 4-H member can work on livestock, horses, rabbits, gardening, fishing, wildlife, leadership, finances, photography, drawing, painting, cooking and baking, woodworking or rocketry—and so much more.  

Not only do 4-H members learn great skills and gain confidence, they also learn compassion and the importance of helping others through community service. Club members are taught at a very young age the importance of responsibility, public speaking, record keeping, accountability, respect and many other important life skills that help youth become capable and successful adults.

More ways to have fun and learn

In addition to 4-H club projects and community service, 4-H members can attend workshops at the county and state levels throughout the year.  

Here are some examples:  

Poster-making class—Learn how to make an award-winning poster or educational display for the Wayne County Fair.

NewsWorthy workshop (hosted by the River Reporter)—How do you tell people what your club is up to? Learn the proper way to gather information, write and submit a news article to the newspaper.

4-H leaders’ forum—This is a professional development conference, held at Penn State University, for 4-H leaders to improve their teaching and organizational skills in their clubs.

Quality animal management—Learn how to care for your animals. These are training sessions for all animal science project members, so they can learn the proper way to raise the animals.

Livestock and horse-judging teams—What you need to learn about horses, cattle, pigs and more. Teams will meet weekly to study the anatomy, composition and quality of livestock animals and horses.  The teams will compete at Penn State and other locations across Pennsylvania.

New 4-H family orientation—Is your family new to 4-H? This is an excellent opportunity to meet extension staff and learn about 4-H and the projects offered.

Intro to 4-H wildlife—What animals live in our area? Learn about native wildlife, animal pelts and tracks from state 4-H environmental specialists.

Seed-starting workshop—Learn to grow! Master gardeners from Penn State will teach 4-H members how to start seeds and successfully grow them for exhibit at the Wayne County Fair and the 4-H Fall Harvest Roundup.

4-H youth fun night—It’s a Friday night filled with fun, games and food for all 4-H members. The evening is organized by the Wayne County 4-H Teen Council.

This list of events only gets us to the middle of April!  There are so many other opportunities, all year long, for 4-H members to get involved.

For more information about 4-H and to locate a club near you, call the Penn State extension office in Honesdale at 570/253-5970 ext. 4110, or check out the PA 4-H website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h.

In New York, call Barbara Moran at Cornell Cooperative Extension, 845/292-6180, ext. 109.

Administered in Pennsylvania by Penn State Extension, 4-H is a non-formal educational youth-development program of the United States Department of Agriculture that helps young people develop knowledge and skills to become capable, caring and contributing citizens.  To find your local program, visit the Penn State Extension website at https://extension.psu.edu/programs/4-h.

Penn State is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, and is committed to providing employment opportunities to minorities, women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and other protected groups. Nondiscrimination: http://guru.psu.edu/policies/AD85.html.

[If you would like to help sponsor this youth-oriented content and support the mission of the 4-H to empower young people, contact publisher Laurie Stuart]