4-H Youth and Development
4H membership is not just about raising animals! There are more than 100 projects available to youth ages 9 to 19, including small pets, gardening, citizenship, baking, rocketry, leadership, forestry, sewing, welding, rodeo, shooting sports, archery, woodworking, vet science, leathercraft, ceramics, public speaking, and photography.
4H is a family program and youngsters ages 5 to 8 enjoy their own 4H activities in Cloverbuds. These include Stomp, Splash & Blow: Soil, Air & Water; Our Animal Friends; Family, Friends & Community; and Having Fun With Art.
4H offers positive peer groups, school enrichment programs, and leadership experience; while developing life skills, fostering leadership; and strengthening families and communities.
Members take the 4H motto, “To Make The Best Better†seriously, individually pledging: “My Head to clearer thinking; my Heart to greater loyalty; my Hands to larger service; my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world.†Opportunities for participation by 4H members range from local leadership, events and contests; to serving and competing at the national or international level.
County, District & State service and participation opportunities include:
- County & State 4H officers are elected by their peers.
- Diplomats & Ambassadors plan and carry out county and state 4H events. State 4H Ambassadors attend the National 4H Conference in Washington, D.C.
- Schools offer hands-on training in the care and showmanship of horses, lambs, goats, swine, dairy cows, and steers.
- Novice Camp features three days of workshops and activities.
- County camps offer group educational and recreational activities for all members.
- County contests include fashion revue; judging; consumer decision making; presentations; identification of crops, wildlife and entomology; shooting sports; and quiz show format subject matter bowls.
- Novices and Juniors represent their county at the District Contest.
- Seniors represent the county at the State 4H Conference.
- Teen Get Away is a leadership development conference for 12– and 13- year-old 4H members.
- 4Hers participating in production livestock projects may participate in Jackpots, Sales and Shows.
- County and State Fairs are venues for 4Hers to exhibit their finished project work and livestock.
- Scholarships are available to senior 4H members.
National & International opportunities include:
- National 4H Congress;
- Citizenship Washington Focus;
- National 4H Conference;
- Western Region 4H Leaders’ Forum;
- National 4H Week;
- National Judging Contests; and
- International 4H Youth Exchange, in which 4H members and alumni live with families in other countries for an extended time.
The population of Lincoln county has increased dramatically in recent years. This is due to normal population growth plus an influx of people from other areas who have moved here for various reasons. Social problems that once were foreign to an area where a rural agricultural lifestyle and attitudes prevailed are now becoming more common (i.e. drugs, delinquency, gangs, etc.) among the youth. We in Extension are charged with providing an avenue through which these young people can direct their time and energies in a positive manner.
Volunteers
Volunteers are the core of 4H. While the Extension staff oversees 4H, organizational and project leaders are volunteers. In addition, community leaders offer specialized information and assistance.
Lincoln county has approximately 3500 students enrolled in four public schools. A growing number of children are being home schooled and privately funded schools are becoming more popular. The great potential to involve more youth in the 4H program will necessitate a greater number of volunteer leaders, without which 4H could not exist.
We currently have six 4H clubs in Lincoln County. The Mal Pais Colts, with veteran organizational leader Martha Bond, draw members in the Carrizozo area. Trish Cox oversees the Corona Chaparral club. The Billy The Kid 4H is under the guidance of Michelle Stearns. Our newest club, Ruidoso 4H, is organized by Rutalee Todd. Hondo Valley 4H members are led by Novelda Chavez. Capitan 4H leader Kristin Sultemeier enlists many of the older 4H members to assist the club with projects.
Expanded 4-H Programming
Lincoln County seems to be following a statewide trend. Traditional values common to a rural agricultural society are being degraded as an increasing percentage of the population has no historical ties to the area. People are attracted to Lincoln county by what they perceive as positive family values, low crime rate, low cost of living, and general quality of life.
Unfortunately, newcomers tend to bring the problems of their previous lifestyle with them. In addition to introduced factors, the general trend that indicates a loss of positive traditional values is becoming more evident. Generally, the population has little appreciation for food and fiber production and the commitment that agricultural producers make for conservation of natural resources.