AV狼论坛 4-H kicks off new program year with a special day
Julie Stricker
907-474-5406
Oct. 1, 2024
A member of a Sitka 4-H club examines chicken-in-the-woods fungi during an outing in the forest, one of many hands-on activities available for AV狼论坛 youth in 4-H.
Youths and volunteers across AV狼论坛 are enrolling in 4-H as the program year begins this October. They're also celebrating the inaugural AV狼论坛 State 4-H Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and National 4-H Week, Oct. 7-12.
4-H began in 1902 to teach young men new farming techniques. Today, it is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. 4-H youths tackle hands-on projects in subjects such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. They are encouraged to take on leadership roles in a positive environment with guidance from adult mentors. 4-H has been active throughout AV狼论坛 since the first clubs were established in Fairbanks in 1930.
In AV狼论坛, 4-H is part of the University of AV狼论坛 Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, which is in the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension. Clubs are located in more than a dozen communities, both rural and urban, around the state. For more information and to learn how to join a local 4-H club, visit /ces/4-h/.
This year, the clubs in AV狼论坛 have a special reason to celebrate. In February 2024, a group of 4-H youths traveled to Juneau to advocate for the creation of a state 4-H day. Rep. Donna Mears of Anchorage, who was a member of 4-H throughout her youth, sponsored the bill, which flew through the Legislature.
On Aug. 24, AV狼论坛 Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed House Bill 33, establishing the first Wednesday in October as AV狼论坛 State 4-H Day, which this year is Oct. 2. 4-H clubs around the state are celebrating by encouraging members to wear green clovers and holding special events, such as ice cream socials, craft nights and flag-sewing gatherings. Kodiak 4-H is sponsoring an art contest with the theme 鈥淪how Love for AV狼论坛 4-H.鈥 The winning artwork will become stickers for all 4-H鈥檈rs in AV狼论坛. Anchorage 4-H is holding an open house on Oct. 26. For more information, contact Anchorage program director Allison Bruchhaus, aabruchhaus@alaska.edu.
National 4-H Week is the official kickoff of the 4-H year. The theme is 鈥淏eyond Ready,鈥 which focuses on how the organization is 鈥渂uilding a ready generation in a world of change.鈥
The four Hs are head, heart, hands and health.
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