Celebrating National 4-H Week: My Journey Through 4-H

This  past week (October 7-13th) was National 4-H week! Seven days set aside for us to celebrate everything that is 4-H, and all that it has done for those of us who call ourselves 4-Hers.

I was a 4-H member for 10 years before college, from age 7-17. During that time I was in a wide array of projects, including: sheep, swine, rabbits, horticulture, crochet, sewing, cooking, photography and leadership. I also participated in livestock and Family & Consumer Science (FACS) judging. Summers were spent attending Rock Springs 4-H Camp, both as a camper and then as a counselor for three years. Osage County also has three county fairs, making summertime very busy for 4-Hers. But 4-H isn't just about the county fairs. Active 4-Hers will spend time giving back to the community, through projects like canned food drives, cleaning up city parks, and volunteering at nursing homes.
The past three years I have stayed involved in 4-H as a member of Alpha of Clovia (Check out Clovia's website here!), the 4-H Scholarship house for women at Kansas State University. (We also have a sister Clovia at the University of Minnesota ). My time as a member of Clovia allowed me to put the previous 10 years to the test. Using my head, heart, hands, and health to contribute to the organization that made my time at K-State unique and memorable. It not only provided a vast social network of close friends, but a fun, educational structure that was my home away from home.

Bailey Myers (Clovia Vice-President), Alma Deutch (Clovia HouseMother), Myself (Clovia President). [2011-2012]

Celebrating Halloween at Clovia as Fruit of the Loom (2010)

Now, 4-H has granted me the amazing opportunity of travelling the world as an IFYE!  I am very grateful for the many opportunities 4-H has provided me with... I am certain my life would be very different without it.

My writing on the John Lennon Peace Wall in Prague, Czech Republic
(Peace, Love, 4-H)

John Lennon Peace Wall