Members learn value of 4-H

Many people understand 4-H to be a youth organization in which members participate in our Santa Cruz County Fair and other fairs to show their livestock. This is a very narrow view of the vast world of 4-H, a globally recognized organization in which youth learn leadership skills, experience community service and citizenship and demonstrate public speaking skills, all in an atmosphere full of support and camaraderie.
Community service is one of the most important parts of the 4-H Club. The Felton 4-H chair, 11-year-old Simone Bushard, recently created a community service project called Treasures for the Homeless Scavenger Hunt. More than 15 Felton 4-H members donated 25 to 100 items each. Several, including Teralyn Crill, Robert Adams, Michaela Crill, Danielle Crill, Becky Crill and Simone Bushard, all donated more than 75 items to help the homeless shelter on River Street in Santa Cruz, such as a child’s Christmas gift for the shelter’s gift closet, deodorant, soap, baby formula and toilet paper.
The Felton 4-H club also has a “For the Kids, by the Kids” newsletter that is written, arranged and edited by members. Reporters for the newsletter include club president Miriam Arghavani, co-events chairperson Jessica Jensen, recording secretary Joshua Porter and club historian Ryan Porter.
Club officers also conduct reports and speeches at club meetings. For example, treasurer Derek Jensen gives his monthly report about club expenditures and income, and Daniel Kraft, club liaison, gives a monthly report about his visit to other clubs in the county.
Led by adult leader Rebekah Crill, members also create, practice and give presentations at club, county, tri-county, and even state levels. Though members have to earn gold medals to move on from county to tri-county and tri-county to state, many make it to the California State Presentation Day at the end of May at University of California, Davis — and win.
Many 4-H’ers participate in and enjoy leadership, which is a character-building skill. Members learn record-keeping by presenting a 4-H Record Book each year for judges’ review. Recently, two 4-H senior members sent their record books through the club, county, and state levels. Michaela Crill was a state winner and won a gold medal, a certificate of recognition and $200. Miriam Arghavani was a state medalist and won a gold medal and a certificate of recognition from the state office.
Senior 4-H members Edee Wildman and this writer, both from Felton 4-H, will join Katie Amirsehhi from Corralitos 4-H to compete in the State Livestock Judging Qualifier at U.C. Davis in March. The team that wins first place will travel to the East Coast to participate in the International Livestock Judging event.
There are 4-H Clubs in Boulder Creek, Felton, and Scotts Valley. New members are welcome.
For information: fe******@ya***.com or http://cesantacruz.ucdavis.edu/Youth_Development/
Autumn Brushard, 14, is the club reporter for Felton 4-H. She has been a member of 4-H for 2½ years.