Two Minutes in October

We’re just wrapping up National 4-H Week (October 2-8), although some celebrate October as 4-H month, the official start of the new 4-H year, much like in the area I live in. I just enrolled my daughter, Lily, for her first year as a Cloverbud. She is excited to be a “real” 4-H member next year where she can join the dog club, take the fishing project and continue showing pigs in the youth and junior shows and not only the open show. 

As I was sharing with Lily why she should want to join 4-H, which seemed like a harder sell than necessary for a 7-year-old, I didn’t dwell on the time in the show ring, the nights before the fair arguing with my mom about the number of cookies to plate for the judge or even about the pages and pages of record books I kept every year. Instead, I focused on the experiences and people that shaped me into the person I am today.  

Chances are a few of you were also involved in 4-H and shared similar experiences. I’d like to reflect on just a few of the memories I shared with Lily that enticed her to join the Alexis All Stars, and I imagine these memories might jar a few of your own. 

  1. Lifetime friendships. Even though I started 4-H in the 80s, two states and over 700 miles away from where I currently live, it was an opportunity to build friendships that I still have. Thanks in part to showing and judging livestock and now working in that industry, I’ve remained in contact with my peers that I competed against and with. My college roommate was even a girl from a neighboring county that I judged against, and she remains one of my closest friends. 
  1. Practical skills and overcoming challenges. I will never forget 1984 – it was the year that Chicken Pox popped out on my face DURING the 4-H public speaking contest, and I was very itchy during that entire four minutes! The Winter Olympics had just happened, and my speech was about the clover and the rings. Did I love giving speeches back then? Not really, but today I am comfortable presenting in front of a crowd and can accept most any obstacle that comes along. 
  1. Goal setting. Thanks to the 4-H program, pushy parents and inspiring leaders, every member of the club had to set goals for each project every year. As a very young person, I would tape or magnet my goals to the refrigerator or bathroom mirror where I could see them daily. Setting goals is something I still do, and I feel it helps me in both my professional and personal life. 

My list is endless. I could continue to discuss decision making, expressing gratitude through writing thank you notes, working with others, keeping records, balancing feed rations, developing a love of photography, getting my first writing gig as the club reporter and more. However, I think in this Two Minutes, you’ve figured out, I’m pretty passionate about 4-H. So are approximately 6 million others who have chosen to join America’s largest youth development organization. I’m excited to officially be a 4-H mom and watch my little progeny gain lifetime experiences and friendships! 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *