4-H Week: Support our youth; learn more on Oct. 15

Our thanks and congratulations go out to the participants, and to the adults who organize and lead the programs. 4-H has seen steady growth in recent years as its umbrella organization, OSU Extension, has embraced numerous new possibilities for getting young people engaged and involved in learning new pursuits.

These certainly involve the traditional livestock and other agricultural-related efforts, but 4-H has steady evolved beyond that to cooking, gardening, rocketing, sewing, and more.

4-H is, for most participants, a year-long involvement. What is important is the process of learning, not the outcome.

Just as a play performance or football game are just one part of the entire experience for an actor or athlete, the county fair is not the entirety of 4-H involvement for young club members.

4-H supports youth from elementary school through high school with research-driven programming that enhances hands-on learning activities in the areas of science, citizenship and healthy living.

4-H teaches youth life skills that will help shape future leaders and innovators by providing hands-on activities. Hood River County 4-H has 72 active adult volunteers who work to provide educational opportunities to youth through 4-H clubs.

4-H also partners with local schools to create after-school and in-school opportunities around science, citizenship and healthy living. Programs include cooking, art, and science.

As is the case with any volunteer, there is a time commitment involved in fostering these skills and interests in our youth, and in turn, the kids must apply themselves.

The centerpiece for the Hood River County 4-H celebration is the 4-H Family Orientation evening at OSU Extension Service on Oct. 15 at 5:30 p.m.

Attend if you can, whether you have children who could join a club, or if you have the time and interest to lead a group.

It’s an opportunity to learn about learning.