University of Missouri Extension - Ste. Genevieve County

...if you want to know how to join, organize, sponsor, or lead a 4-H club, read the answers to these

4-H is a volunteer-led organization that reaches boys and girls through small groups called clubs and sometimes in classrooms. 4-H members decide for themselves which of more than 40 projects they want to learn more about. Most projects use hands-on learning experiences to teach subject matter and life-skills such as cooperation, leadership, and decision-making - skills that can be applied over and over for a lifetime.

They have FUN with friends at meetings, social activities, tours, trips, camps, and fairs. They learn to do interesting things such as take care of animals, plants, redecorate their rooms, fix their bikes, take pictures, practice cooking, and collecting rocks. And, they help others to learn more about their 4-H projects, provide leadership to younger kids, as well as serve others through community service activities.

Call your County Extension Office -- In Ste. Genevieve County (573)883-3548 or a local 4-H leader (if you know one) to see if there is room in a club near you. If not, several interested young people with an adult or two to help them may start a new club. Check with the Extension Office to find out what projects and activities are available.

4-H is for boys and girls who will reach their 8th birthday and will not reach their 19th birthday by January 1st of the current year. It is open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, color, disability, gender, or place of residence. Most Missouri County 4-H Programs offer a pre-4-H program called Clover Kids for youth 5-7 years old.

4-H in Missouri is sponsored by University of Missouri Extension, University of Missouri and Lincoln University. Nationally, it is part of the Extension Service of the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Local leadership is provided by 4-H Youth Specialists in the county offices of University of Missouri Extension, which is supported financially by county, state, and federal tax dollars.

The members of the club do--with guidance from their leader and 4-H Youth Specialist.

Have a meeting with the young people who are interested and the adults who are willing to help. Publicize it through the school or any place where young people and their parents can be reached.

Get acquainted and have fun with a group mixer and/or some refreshments. Show and talk about some projects the group might like. (Give this some thought in advance and invite the 4-H Youth Specialist or an experienced 4-H leader.) Discuss when, where, and how often the group will meet.

Many 4-H clubs do charge minimal annual dues. A portion pays the State and County dues. The remainder is used for club activities and community service projects. Clubs may conduct fundraisers to supplement their programming needs. Dues cannot be used as a barrier to keep someone from joining 4-H.

4-H clubs elect officers and whatever committees they need to conduct their business. 4-H has instructional materials available for presidents, vice-presidents, secretaries, treasurers, news reporters, recreation leaders, historians, song and game leaders. The club may have any number of officers, depending on its needs. It is a good idea to wait until the second or third meeting to elect officers so members know each other better.

Some clubs meet every month year round and others meet every week for a month or two. This depends on the needs and desires of the group. 4-H clubs organize between September and December each year.

Any place is acceptable if it is large enough and is convenient for the members of the group. Some clubs meet in leaders or members homes. Some meet in a central location such as a community room, school or church.

This depends on the age of the members, the space available for their meetings, and the leadership available. The ideal club is big enough to have fun together, but small enough for everybody to feel a part of the group. The average club in Missouri has 10 to 20 members and two or three leaders. But a club can have as few as 5 members and 1 club leader.

Yes. Some adults teach members how to do things and are called project leaders. They usually have a special interest or skill such as photography or clothing or gardening. Adults who help a group get organized and run its meetings are called volunteer club coordinators. Can the same person be a project and an organizational leader? Sure--if they have the time and interest. Sometimes big clubs divide these jobs and have several project leaders and teen leaders to meet all the interests of 4-H members.

Youth leaders are 4-H members who usually work under direct supervision of an adult leader to assist with a project or special club activity.

That depends on the size of the club and the ages of its members. 4-H guidelines suggest a minimum of two leaders per club and clubs with an enrollment of 40 or more members have three to five leaders to share the workload and give individual attention to the members.

Your main help would come from the County University of Missouri Extension Office. The 4-H Youth Specialist can discuss with you your interest in working with youth and your previous experience. The University supports recognized volunteers. Missouri 4-H is providing safe environments for everyone involved in youth activities. Volunteers are asked to complete the Missouri 4-H Volunteer Enrollment Form (LG636.)

A 4-H project is a series of learning experiences for members. More than 40 projects are available in the Missouri 4-H Program. Most projects have manuals to assist the 4-H leader and member with their project.

A project manual contains help and direction needed to complete the project. Some projects have a manual for each division. Others have one manual which is used for several years.

It varies. A member enrolled in Visual Arts might use supplies from around the home to practice the skills he or she is learning and have no additional expense. A member who buys and keeps a horse might invest several hundred dollars. Members should consider cost as they select a project. It should be realistic to the family situation.

Yes--with help. 4-H is a learning by doing program. Leaders, youth leaders, and parents may tell or show a member how, but members are expected to learn how to do things themselves.

An exhibit is an object or display designed to help a member show what he or she has accomplished. Ideally it motivates a youth to learn and to have fun in a 4-H project. An exhibit is not an end in itself, nor does it measure all the learning that takes place from completing a project.

Both. Some projects like Geology are more fun when done as a group. Others like making a dress or baking cookies will be done individually.

4-H clubs usually do five general kinds of things: project work, conduct business meetings, recreation or social activities, community service work and special interest programs.

Sometimes they have a little business meeting, work on their projects for a while, then have recreation. Occasionally the whole meeting is devoted to one thing. For example, members may bring their dog, practice obedience training, or they might elect officers and plan the club program, have a pizza-making party, or tour a local business. Variety is important.

Members of the club. This might be done at a meeting of the club or ideas are collected and a committee puts together a program.

This depends on the group. Many clubs meet after school, in the evening or on Saturday. The most important thing is to have a regular time to get together, one that can be remembered.

It's important to understand that leaders are unpaid volunteers. Parents should attend a meeting or volunteer to hold a meeting in their home so they can see how the leader works with club.

Ask them. Be specific about jobs the club needs help with. Think positively. People who expect help usually get it. Offer a choice of jobs as parents can provide different amounts of time and abilities. Ask the young people to ask their parents to help.

Counsel your child in the selection of 4-H projects that are interesting and can be conveniently financed. Continue to show interest and enthusiasm after the projects have been selected. Help your child understand how to carry out the various phases of the project. But don't do the project for them. Your job is to teach, not govern; to guide, not control. Learn to give increased freedom as your child develops.


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		Ste. Genevieve County University of Missouri Extension Center stegenevieveco@missouri.edu Last revised: 06/10/08