Prairie Partners lending a hand and making things fun for 4-Hers countywide
By Dave Mast
July 18, 2016
661
Every year Holmes County 4-H youth bring projects to the Holmes County Fair to compete against one another in a large number of different categories. Part of the judging process is creating a project book that specifically explains what a 4-Her has done to build and complete their project.
As a 4-H club, Prairie Partners 4-H Club has always gone above and beyond in preparing their club members for the fair. The idea of helping each and every one of them through their respective projects is a big part of what 4-H is all about. Yet going above and beyond is something that Prairie Partners exemplifies in more ways than simply within their club.
As a way of reaching out to 4-H youth across Holmes County, Prairie Partners 4-H Club and Holmesville Clover Club will be hosting a 4-H Family Fun Night on Wednesday, July 20 from 7-8:30 p.m. at the Prairie Township Library in Holmesville. Both Holmesville 4-H clubs will have rotating stations with hands-on activities representing the 4-Hs slogan of Head, Hands, Heart, & Health. These activities will include outdoor games; make it, take it crafts; snacks; and a petting zoo with rabbits and a goat. Any child not in 4-H who participates will have an opportunity to win a raffle bucket filled with 4-H-related items plus a one-week pass for the 2016 Holmes County Fair.
The open invitation is a time for 4-Hers and even non-4-Hers to enjoy fellowship while learning more about 4-H.
They will also host a 4-H book project day Thursday, July 21 from 10-11 a.m. at the Prairie Township Public Library in Holmesville, in which any 4-Her from a Holmes County club can come to the library to get advice or help on their project books.
Not only do we set aside a time for 4-Hers to work on their books and projects, but it is important to set aside a specific time they can dedicate to working on them without outside distractions, said Delores Schlegel, Prairie Partners advisor.
While 4-Hers can ask questions and work on their project books, the event also helps promote relationships between clubs and encourages youth to help one another, something 4-H promotes heavily.
Weve learned over the years that a lot of new 4-H kids really arent sure what to expect with their projects and how to best go about it, Schlegel said. This just gives kids a chance to ask questions and to get some guidance that will help them complete their project books. Sometimes kids come into this thinking that it is going to be something where everyone is working on the same thing, but in reality these projects are very individual, and they may have a lot of questions that we can offer them guidance and help supply answer to.
Snacks will be provided in a gathering that will be both educational and fun as 4-H youth have the opportunity to bond with members of other clubs.
We really got a great response last year for our Family Fun Night, and when we reach out to help others, it really helps promote what 4-H is all about, Schlegel said.
