4-H on the South Shore

Learn by doing–that’s the philosophy over 6 million young Americans experienced this past year as members of 4-H.

Historically and stereotypically a rural organization, rural youth now make up a minority of 4-H participants nationally, with 30 percent of 4-Hers living in big cities or suburbs and 22 percent in cities over 10,000. In 2006, four families founded the South Shore 4-H club in Bay View. Today it meets monthly at the Beulah Brinton Community Center and serves 20 kids from nine families.

“I like 4-H because there are so many projects to choose from. Everyone can find something that suits them,” said Allie Barker, 12, who with her sister Rachel, 14, is a member of South Shore 4-H.

Allie’s recent projects included a framed picture created by quilling–folding fabric into little cylindrical forms–in the shape of flowered hearts and a sewing project where she made pajama pants. Rachel’s projects included photography–she snapped an artistic photo of Miller Park reflected in a fan’s sunglasses.

“My favorite part of 4-H is making projects to enter into the county fair for judging,” said Rachel, whose photo was shown at the Milwaukee County Junior Fair in July and won the honor of advancing to the Wisconsin State Fair for the next round of judging.

The Barker family is one of the original founding families of South Shore 4-H, along with the Boyle, Marek, and McInnes families.

Laura Barker, Rachel and Allie’s mother, said sometimes it’s a challenge to make people aware of what 4-H is, and that it’s not just a rural-based organization. “Some people don’t even know what 4-H is,” said Barker. “It’s nice to get the word out. It’s a nice club for both boys and girls.”

How 4-H Works

Each October, 4-H clubs sign up to work on projects their kids find of interest. How many and which ones depend on what kids want to do. Over the next nine months, they meet four to six times with volunteer adult project leaders, experts in a field who teach a hands-on skill.

Using what they’ve learned, 4-Hers then complete a final crafted piece demonstrating their mastery or document their experience via a poster. These projects are displayed at the local county fair, where they receive a ribbon and may advance to the state fair.

As kids get older, they may work on the same projects but at a more sophisticated level. Eventually, they may become youth leaders, teaching what they’ve learned by mentoring younger 4-H members or assisting adult project leaders.

In 2009, the South Shore 4-H club pursued several project areas. In arts & communication, kids did arts & crafts, scrapbooking, and photography projects. In family home & health, they sewed clothing. In mechanical sciences, they carved wood, built scale models, and even built two small engines.

The material results included a dress, poncho, rubber-stamped scrapbook, model horses, a carved bird, and motors for a go-kart and mini-bike.

The intangible results are the reason 4-H was founded–personal development of head, heart, hands, and health.

“As a child it inspired me to learn a lot of life-long skills, survival skills, that kids do not learn today such as sewing, cooking, woodworking,” said Sue Boyle, a member of 4-H as a youth. Her children, Mitchell, 12, and Samantha, 14, have been active in 4-H for four years, currently in South Shore 4-H.

“It’s as fun-filled as a cream puff from the fair,” quipped Samantha Boyle. Added Mitchell, “I like to compete at the fair to see how good you can do.”

Experiential Opportunities

Some kids take 4-H-organized national trips to destinations such as Washington, D.C., where they meet with policymakers and tour the monuments. Upon return, they demonstrate what they’ve learned by engaging in role-playing to make a policy and get it passed.

4-H has a presence all over the globe. Sue Boyle said South Shore 4-H is considering a foreign exchange program with 4-H kids in Japan as one of their future activities.

Last year for a service project, “Operation Christmas Child,” South Shore 4-H collected small gifts and school supplies and shipped them in decorated shoeboxes to destitute children overseas.

South Shore 4-H also served as bell ringers for the Salvation Army and made hats for the poor.

While urban clubs typically don’t have the opportunity to work with crops or animal husbandry like their rural counterparts, Laura Barker said South Shore 4-H benefited from the Urban Horse Project, which involved learning the characteristics and care of horses. Some urban animal projects have involved smaller animals like dogs and cats.

4-H is administered by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, with the mission of “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development.” Founded in 1902, it has its origins in corn clubs for boys and tomato-canning clubs for girls.

4-H today focuses on citizenship, healthy living, and places a new emphasis on science, engineering, and technology programs. Youth from ages 5 to 19 participate in approximately 90,000 coed clubs nationwide.

Michelle Gonzalez, 4-H program coordinator for the Milwaukee County UW-Extension, said 4-H has had a presence in Milwaukee County for 81 years and presently has 11 charter clubs.

Expanding the membership pool is one of the main goals of 4-H, Gonzalez said.

Events like monthly Explore 4-H Saturdays, held at the main office on the county grounds at 9501 W. Watertown Plank Rd. in Wauwatosa, allow young people to see what 4-H is like and to participate in different activities like juggling and ceramics. Gonzalez said the 4-H presence at the Wisconsin State Fair also generates interest in the organization, and the office receives inquiry calls after the fair’s run.

Gonzalez said even if there is no current project kids are interested in, they can create one and make it what they want, involving hands-on learning experiences, teamwork, and citizenship skills–the hallmarks of the program.

She stressed the emphasis on science, technology, and rocketry projects, as well as theater arts.

“4-H projects have been adapted to different life skills that transcend rural life,” Gonzalez said.

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.”

An Affair with Fairs

This year, South Shore 4-H children showed their projects at the Milwaukee County Junior Fair, held at the Waukesha County Fair grounds in July 2009. In 2010, Milwaukee 4-H members are invited to display at the Milwaukee County Junior Fair held next September at the Wisconsin State Fair grounds; qualifying projects will be displayed at the 2011 State Fair.

4-H projects must be entered and judged at the county fair level before they can advance to the Wisconsin State Fair. 4-H members and other youth may also participate in the Open Class Fair held at Wisconsin State Fair Park grounds Sept. 25-27.

4-H at Bay View Bash

4-H will also have a booth at the Bay View Bash, hosted by South Shore 4-H and Terese Peterson, who will demonstrate recycling projects for kids, such as how to make potholders from old T-shirts on weaving looms. Peterson said the project is reminiscent of the children’s potholder kits with metal looms and fabric loops, which are woven into square designs. The T-shirts will be cut into loops and woven through a large loom.

Peterson said used T-shirts are needed for the weaving demonstration. Donations can be dropped off at the 4-H offices. 4-H Thursdays

4-H Thursdays

In October 2006, Terese Peterson started another local 4-H club, named the Bay View Samplers. Though they won’t be renewing their charter this fall, Peterson remains active in 4-H as a project leader.

She hosts Explore 4-H Thursdays and helps with Explore 4-H Saturdays, both at the county grounds. The Thursday event is adapted to the schedules of home-schooled children, and upcoming projects will involve building birdhouses. Another scheduled project is “dismantling things,” Peterson said. Small appliances such as toasters and inkjet printers will be taken apart for children to study the mechanics and inner workings.

To Start a Chapter or Volunteer

The 4-H main office is located at 9501 W. Watertown Plank Rd. in building A on the Milwaukee County Grounds. Those interested in starting a 4-H club can submit their goals and an education plan for consideration and to use the name and clover emblem.

Adult volunteers are welcome as project leaders. Adults need not be formally trained educators, but must consent to a background check and attend orientation and training to provide a safe environment for everyone, Gonzalez said. Interested parties can contact the main office at (414) 256-4626.

Photos courtesy South Shore 4-H