4-H lauded for helping district youth prepare for life

Countrywide, it’s the time of the year to get into the “learn to do by doing” spirit as November marks national 4-H month.
Locally, there won’t be much happening, noted Tracy Hyatt, the district’s 4-H volunteer co-ordinator, since this time of year is slower for the area’s 4-H clubs. The clubs and activities usually pick up more at the beginning of winter and into the spring, she said.

4-H always has been strong in the rural areas of Rainy River District, added Hyatt, even keeping up with the rest of the province for growth and numbers. There currently are 70 4-H members and 30 volunteers across the district.
In Canada, 4-H first began in Roland, Man. in 1913 and arrived in Rainy River District 10 years later. Forty boys were a part of the first official 4-H club, one focused on pigs, that began April 31, 1923 in Emo, said Hyatt.
Starting off as a youth program based around agriculture, Hyatt noted 4-H has grown over the years as a way for youths (aged 10-21) to be involved with the community and build upon many other life skills.
And while it hasn’t been as popular in Fort Frances, that’s something Hyatt would like to see changed.
“I guess the biggest myth is that people tend to think you have to be on a farm to be in 4-H, and that’s so far from the truth because a lot of the clubs aren’t farm-related at all,” explained Kim Jo Bliss, a longtime 4-H volunteer and leader.
While the beef club in the biggest in the area, there are all other types available, she explained.
“It’s not just for farm kids, or for rural kids. It’s for everybody,” Hyatt stressed. “We’ve developed programs from gardening to photography to community involvement, which helps the kids get their 40 hours for their high school graduation.”
Clubs available in the district are very much based upon what the youths are interested in pursuing, noted Hyatt, with popular clubs including ones for outdoor activities such as fishing.
Across the province, 4-H clubs have covered a wide range of topics, such as sewing, cooking, baking, crafts, heritage, line dancing, theatre, embroidery, health, computers, scrapbooking, quilting, bonsai, woodworking, forestry, landscaping, skiing, snowmobiling, and much more.
And if there isn’t a club on a certain topic, one can be created, Hyatt noted.
“It really is a good program and there’s just no end to the projects that you can do. There’s just everything,” echoed Bliss. About the only limit is the amount of time the volunteer leaders can dedicate, she said.
“Things in 4-H are a lot more flexible than they used to be,” she added.
While adult volunteers have to be screened, including a police check, “if you have at least six kids who are just in your neighbourhood and you would like to do a club on the weekend, it’s pretty flexible,” Bliss said. “So long as you get the hours in, you’re good to go.”
Membership also is “relatively inexpensive,” noted Hyatt, costing $50 per year, of which the Rainy River District 4-H Association pays $25.
“[4-H] helps develop self-confidence and learning to work with other people, teamwork, public speaking, all kinds of different things,” she said, adding one of the great things about the program is that the youths involved often don’t even realize they’re gaining these skills, and the next thing they know they’re up speaking in front of people and doing presentations.
District 4-H members have “gone everywhere,” said Bliss, travelling to participate in the Royal Winter Fair, “Go for the Gold” competitions (similar to the old “Reach for the Top” series), leadership programs, “Future Talk” (for speech and communication skills), camps, and membership conferences.
“It also provides all kinds of opportunities for you to meet people, particularly in Canada, but also in the rest of the world,” added Bliss. “It just really boosts you for the next stages of your life.”
Hyatt encourages anyone interested in learning more about the local 4-H program to contact her at 486-3479.