End of An Era

Tonight is the end of an era for me and my family. This will be our last official involvement with the 4-H program. We started the 4-H journey back before our kids were even old enough to be involved in it. They showed bottle lambs between the ages of 5 and 9 and then moved up to 4-H. Over the years the kids have exhibited sewing, cooking, woodworking, restoring, and photography projects, and they have also exhibited dogs, rabbits, horses & pigs.

When I was a kid, one of my friends was in 4-H and I wanted to do it too. It was explained to me however, that I couldn't be involved because I was a "townie" and 4-H was only for farm kids. That has changed and there are almost as many townies involved as there are farm kids. When my girls first started, I knew absolutely nothing about the program. I also knew that my daughters would never remember to bring home important information to me, so I started going to every meeting. I brought along a notebook and took notes, so that I could learn right along side them. At the end of that year, one of the club leaders asked if I would join them as a leader. I said "sure, why not" without any hesitation. I figured that if I was going to be at the meetings anyhow, I could at least help out. Plus, I have always felt that if my kids are going to involved in a club that survives entirely on volunteers, then I should be willing to volunteer as well. I spent the next 8 years as one of the leaders of our 4-H club.


There were many wonderful memories and some not so wonderful ones as well. But for the most part, it's been something I have really enjoyed doing. Not because I have become passionate about the 4-H program (although I do think it's a good program), but because this is one thing I did with my kids. The only other thing all my kids enjoy doing at the same time is showing pigs and participating in sports, neither of which I'm any good at, so 4-H gave me something to participate in with them. I have loved watching them grow in experience and confidence. I have loved watching them have such compassion and caring for all of their animals, including their pigs, as you can see in this picture. That is of Ashley's first year and she was sad the project was coming to an end. She understood that we raise pigs to help feed people all over the world, but it was still sad when the time came to say good-bye. She was in the pen with them and ended up crying herself to sleep while laying on her favorite pig "Grunty". This is a picture I will always treasure, because I could just as easily see her doing that to this day, 9 years later. I could see any of them doing this, and for that I can thank 4-H.


The kids have had their last club meeting. They said their good-byes and enjoyed the farewell pizza party. Another leader and myself are stepping down as leaders because our kids will no longer be in 4-H. Austin could be in for 4 more years, but all the extra "stuff" that goes along with 4-H (presentations, tons of paperwork, record books, etc) are just not his thing. He's a true farm boy that just wants to show his pigs and not do all the other things that are a part of 4-H, so he'll be in FFA instead.

Anyhow, tonight, the other leader and I will judge all the kids' record books. They earn a ribbon for their record books just like any of their projects that get taken to the fair. We will judge them, award the ribbons for them and then we'll turn them in to our local Extension Office. Then we will be done. No more 4-H. No more last minute typing of meeting agendas. No more animals getting lose during club presentations. No more late night leaders meetings. No more making plans to be sure everything gets done on time. We'll be finished. And a part of me will always miss it.