Local 4-H volunteers receive recognition for continuing efforts
Keeping up with the ever-changing times is hard to do, but a number of local 4-H leaders try to stay on top by offering new and different programs for youths. Recently, those leaders were awarded for their merits.
At the annual banquet, held at the Fayette County Fairgrounds, more than 20 leaders were presented 4-H Centennial Crocks and a Volunteer Leadership Certificate for their efforts during the past year.
Cathy Brady, 4-H extension agent and 4-H youth development agent, says the volunteers are top-notch.
“The volunteers aren’t honored enough. They put a lot of hours in each year. They are a bunch of dedicated and devoted workers who are successful and positive,” Brady said.
“It was one special event,” she added.
Brady explained that the event was also held to celebrate the 100th Birthday of 4-H in America, a youth organization that consists of 7 million active youth, 50 million alumni, and more than 1,000 programs for its members.
“We try to keep up with technology and we maintain what we were founded on. Our programs range from robotics to biotechnology to skateboarding and agriculture,” Brady said.
She noted when 4-H was founded 100 years ago, the U.S. economy was largely agriculturally based and was the 4-H programming. But as time passed, so did the diversity of the programming for the children.
Today, according to Brady, 4-H works in partnership with the land-grant colleges and universities across the nation, enabling the organization to create researched-based programs for youths in areas such as science and technology.
At the local level, here in Fayette County, Brady says more than 180 adult volunteers work directly with the youth in Fayette County 4-H programs.
“There are more than 2,600 members enrolled in community, county and school-enrichment clubs, and we continue to grow,” Brady said.
Virginia Allen of Smock, a long-time member of 4-H, says she grew with the organization.
At 84 years of age, she recalled being a 4-H member as a child and smiled when she spoke of receiving her 2002 centennial crock for her years of commitment to the organization’s youths.
“I was a member when I was a child living with my grandparents. I used to go to meetings and learn a lot of things about the land, animals and so on. Then, I raised four children of my own and they were all active in 4-H.”
Allen says she remained active with 4-H and volunteered her time and efforts with the youth because it teaches children morals.
“It teaches them right from wrong, how to make choices for themselves and how to work with others,” she said.
Uniontown farmer and 4-H leader Ed Stanish Jr. agrees with Allen. “You get a wide variety of kids with a wide variety of backgrounds. When they get involved with 4-H, they make some great achievements,” he said.
Stanish said he’s been a leader for 13 years and he keeps coming back because he loves it.
“Being a leader allows me to give back to the community. I love helping the kids.
“Sometimes I’m stern and hard with the kids, but sometimes that’s the way it has to be. I just try to teach them to do things the right way,” he added.
And the right way must be the direction 4-H is headed. According to Brady, the organization is growing at a national and local level.
“It just seems to be growing and growing and that’s what we want,” she said.
Anyone interested in becoming active with 4-H can contact Brady at 724-438-0111.