October 7-12, 2024 was National 4-H Week, and Pope County celebrated the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community, and are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. On October 8th club members and volunteers across Pope County set up their 4-H displays throughout the community. 

These displays, centered in this year’s theme of Beyond Ready, can be found at the Pope County Fairgrounds, outside of Lowry, Villard, Farwell and Brooten. Clubs create these displays to bring awareness to the 4-H program.

The 4-H youth development program provides experiences where youth can “learn by doing,” which encourages youth to experiment, innovate, and think independently. 4-H programs are offered through school-based, after-school, and camp settings, as well as within community clubs, where groups meet regularly to work on projects, perform community service, and develop leadership skills. Through this unique process, youth obtain essential life skills such as problem-solving, decision-making, coping, and communicating. 

“4-H provides positive non-school learning opportunities that are critical for the development of young people,” said Jennifer Skuza, associate dean for the Department of Youth Development and Minnesota 4-H state director. “As a result, 4-H youth are able to contribute and make a difference in positive ways in their homes, schools and communities throughout Minnesota.”

Today’s 4-H projects still include the traditional (and popular) agriculture and animal science projects, but youth also work on cutting-edge technology projects, such as aquatic robotics, digital photography, community service and environmental projects– like maintaining local hiking trails and testing water in area streams for contaminants.

“As a club, we strive to have tractor loads of fun while being involved in our community through service projects. Together, we’re building the next generation of leaders,” said one of Pope County 4-H’s Busy Beaver Club Leaders.

Recent findings from Tufts University’s 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H’ers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities. In Pope County, more than 175 4-H members and 74 volunteers are involved in 4-H.

Learn more about 4-H in Minnesota and how you can get involved at www.4-H.umn.edu or contact Jacob Halper, 4-H Extension Educator at 320-634-7735 or halpe120@umn.edu