- Author: Karen Giovannini
Celebrating National 4-H Week for the 75th consecutive year, Sonoma County 4-H program was presented with a Gold Resolution at the Oct 2 Board of Supervisors meeting.
"4-H is deserving of public recognition for its distinguished record of helping young people become healthy, happy, and thriving citizens who make a positive difference in their communities... the Board of Supervisors hereby proclaims October 1-7, 2017 as National 40H Week in Sonoma County."
The Sonoma County 4-H program, established in 1926, helps young people, ages 5-19, reach their fullest potential as competent, confident individuals who contribute to and are connected with their communities.
Now is the time to Join! |
4-H alumni around the country are always the first to acknowledge the significant positive impact 4-H had on them as young people; the opportunities and experiences that 4-H provides youth empowers them to become true leaders. In fact, research has shown that young people in 4-H are almost four times as likely to contribute to their communities, and are twice as likely to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs in their free time.
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 110 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.
National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
/table>- Author: Steven M. Worker
Now is the time to learn more and join 4-H!
The Sonoma County 4-H program helps young people, ages 5-19, reach their fullest potential as competent, confident individuals who contribute to and are connected with their communities. Using an experiential educational model, 4-H helps youth develop essential skills that they will use throughout their lives, such as identifying and nurturing interests, desiring knowledge, setting goals, self-reflection, adapting to new situations, communicating, and responding to the needs of others.
Look at what Sonoma County 4-H accomplished during the 2015-16 4-H year. Or read about the powerful impact 4-H has on young people for each County Board of Supervisor District.
- Author: Judy Ludovise
An article in the July/August, 1938, National 4-H News entitled “Thrills for Camera Fans” recounts the experiences of delegates to the recent National 4-H Club Camp in Washington, DC, taking pictures of famous buildings, historic sites and camp life.
Photo from the July 2015 issue of the 4-H History Preservation Newsletter
National 4-H week is being celebrated all over America, just as it has been for the last 100 years. Look for window Displays and posters all over our County. Photograph (at bottom) shows Alexander Valley 4-H in front of their Window Display. This is the time of year that 4-H members and volunteer leaders take the time to give a special shout out to the program.
Sonoma County 4-H is a youth development program which allows young people a chance to learn new skills, gain self-confidence, and contribute to their communities. Backed by the knowledge and research base of University of California, extension educators' work with adult and teen volunteers to design educational, leadership and citizenship experiences for youth. These programs are delivered at the local and county level through clubs, schools, after school programs and other community venues.
Sonoma County 4-H empowers youth for the future by involving them in civic activity and actively engaging them in meaningful roles. Through volunteer leaders youth are taught how to assess and improve their projects and activities. In addition, youth learn to build interpersonal relations through communications, negotiations, group and personal decision making and how to deal effectively with conflict. Most importantly they learn how to improve their personal leadership skills and how to apply what they learn.
Did you know?
- 4-H helps kids to do better in school, learn to help others, feel more capable and responsible.
- 4-H is the largest out of school youth organization in the United States.
- 4-H members are more involved in community volunteerism than other youth their age across the state.
- They are also less likely to partake in alcohol, damage property, or smoke cigarettes than other youth in their same age group.
- 4-H'ers are more involved in sports and arts activities and were less likely to have spent six or more hours watching television or playing video games each day. (Tuft study)