When the Stanislaus County Fair came to a close last week, local 4-H members topped off their 47th consecutive milk shake fundraising effort, according to an article in the Modesto Bee.

Written by 'Teen in the Newsroom' reporter Annie Matthews, the article said the 4-H Milk Bar was started in 1963, and is still going strong, with nearly 1,000 milkshakes sold on the first Saturday of the fair.

Matthews reported that 4-H is "most popular with young people who have an agricultural background," but is also open to "city kids and teens."

"My kids are in 4-H, and they're really outgoing, they're real leader-types," Matthews quoted parent volunteer Raydene Avila. "4-H is an excellent program because it makes kids into leaders and prepares them for life."

California has recently had a surge in 4-H enrollment, according to the USDA Research, Education and Economics Information System. In 2009, there were 154,350 participants in California 4-H; 38,053 of them in club programs. The 4-H participation statistics were used in a Capital Press article about the incongruity of increasing 4-H enrollment and decreasing 4-H financial support.

As examples, the article noted that in Polk County, Ore., the program is run entirely by volunteers. In Lane County, Ore., 4-H and extension were eliminated when residents there voted against a property tax increase that would have saved the programs.