Almost everyone is familiar with the green clover with the white letter H on each leaf. It's been the symbol of the 4-H Youth Development Program for well over 100 years.
But do you know what the four H's stand for?
This is an often-asked question and has even been posed on Jeopardy. People are usually familiar with the logo, but many don't know what the organization really does, or the meaning behind the four H's.
The four H's stand for head, heart, hands, and health as recited in the 4-H pledge: I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service and my health to better living for my club, my community, my country and my world.
The program originally began as clubs to teach boys and girls skills related to agriculture and farm life. Today it reaches more than 6.8 million young people across the country -- and not just in rural areas. In 2017, the average 4-H'er lives in the suburbs and may belong to a club that focuses on science, technology or shooting sports.
Many still believe that you must live on a farm or own a farm animal to participate in 4-H. The program here in Sussex County (and nationally) offers a wide variety of project areas for youth to become involved in.
If a child is interested in an animal, but doesn't own one, or doesn't have the room to own one, there are still ways for them to participate in 4-H.
Each 4-H club centers on a subject area, so club members share a common interest. With guidance from knowledgeable adults, youth have opportunities and experiences to build their knowledge of the project. Instruction in 4-H takes a learn-by-doing approach with youth getting hands-on experience with projects as they learn skills and take on new responsibilities. The larger goal is for youth to develop valuable life skills enabling them to lead productive lives that will them to contribute to their community.
One such skill learned through 4-H is public speaking. Most 4-H clubs require members to make a presentation once a year in front of their fellow club members or as part of a county program. Through this process, 4-H members learn more about a subject in which they already have an interest, as well as how to organize a presentation and develop public speaking skills. Members' presentations are evaluated individually using established criteria.
This provides constructive criticism for improvement. The ability to organize and present their ideas is a skill 4-H members will use the rest of their lives.
4-H clubs are open to children in grades 4 through one-year out of high school and 4-H Cloverbud programs are available to children in grades 1 to 3. Sussex County 4-H involves close to 700 youth as well as over 125 adult volunteers.
If you'd like to find out more about 4-H clubs in Sussex County, please contact the 4-H office at 973-948-3040, visit our website, www.sussex4h.org or email Dave Foord at email@example.com