The Salinas Californian, a six times weekly newspaper serving the Monterey Peninsula, ran a feature story today about the UC Cooperative Extension 4-H program representative in Monterey County, Wendy Grennan. Almost 18,000 copies of the paper are distributed on weekdays.
The story reads like a brochure for the local 4-H program, noting that Grennan oversees clubs involving 800 youth and 300 adult volunteers in activities that range from animal science and family and consumer science projects to environmental education and plant science.
In addition to explaining 4-H roots in the area - where clubs started forming in the 1890s - the meaning of the acronym "4-H" and the 4-H pledge, the story says today's 4-H encourages youth to set their own goals and learn through hands-on activities. Members explore their individual interests through a variety of projects that foster learning responsibility, building confidence and developing specific skills.
The story also notes that animal and plant agricultural projects are still important and popular parts of 4-H, and that 4-H youth also participate in many newer activities, such as geo-caching, rocketry, outdoor barbecuing and vegetable judging.