Top Ten Reasons to Join 4-H

The new 4-H year started October 1 and is off to a great start. If haven’t re-enrolled yet or are wondering if 4-H is a good fit for you, consider these top 10 reasons to join 4-H:

1. Open doors to new experiences. New interests, new ideas, new places.

2. 4-H is not just for youth. It is a place for the family (and community) to become involved and learn together.

3. Explore different career areas through projects and opportunities.

4. 4-H believes in learning by doing. Hands on learning is “what we do”.

5. 4-H is a safe place to fail and succeed. It is ok for it not to work the first time. You will learn from those mistakes and be better the next time you try.

6. 4-H teaches practical skills. Youth will learn skills in public speaking, working with others, and master project related skills.

7. 4-H teaches kids to be self-reliant by supporting them in their success and mistakes.

8. 4-H members give back to their communities. 4-H members are 4x more likely to be involved in their community.

9. 4-H members make lifelong friends. Friends from your club to friends from across the state and country. They will be with you along the way.

10. 4-H prepares youth for life.

Some of these things may not be clear when you first start in 4-H, or in the first few years, but when you look back on your 4-H career you might see that because you were a club officer or because you gave reasons in livestock judging you are a better public speaker. You might also look back and see that your closest friends were ones that you met through livestock judging.
Missouri 4-H is about projects and clubs but there is so much more! It is about young people making new friends and memories while preparing to be future leaders - from both rural and urban areas! 4-H is part of University of Missouri Extension and is publicly supported by county, state and federal governments. Private resources, both human and financial, are used to enrich the learning experiences of youth and adults.

If you are at least 5 years old (as of December 31, 2020) 4-H has a place for you. We welcome all youth to find their place and explore their interests in a community club or SPIN club (as they develop). There are five community clubs located in Ralls County and six clubs in Monroe County that you can join. The Ralls Clubs are in Center, Perry, New London, and Vandalia areas. The Monroe Clubs are in Monroe City, Paris, Holliday, and Madison areas.

Adults, 4-H has place for you too! 4-H is successful because of the adult volunteers that support our clubs and projects. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact our Extension Office in New London at 573-985-3911 or Paris at 660-327-4158 to talk about your interests and goals for being involved.
4-H programs empower youth to reach their full potential while working and learning in partnership with caring adults. Ralls County Extension Office email: rallsco@missouri.edu. Monroe County Extension Office email: extension2.missouri.edu/counties/Monroe/4-h