Wheatland County 4-H clubs focus on leadership development

By Christine Foshaug Times Contributor

November is National 4-H Month and, contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to live in the country to participate. Anyone between the ages of nine and 20 can join, whether they live in the heart of the city, on a sprawling ranch, or anywhere in between.
Wheatland County is home to seven 4-H clubs, offering horse, sheep, heifer, beef and canine animal projects, as well as archery and active living projects. They are the Arrowwood River Wranglers 4-H Horse, Cheadle 4-H Club, Crowfoot 4-H Multi Club, Hussar 4-H Club, Rockyford 4-H Beef Club, Standard 4-H Club and Strathmore Rusty Spurs 4-H Horse.
“The 30-plus projects 4-H Alberta offers represent a variety of subjects, interests and opportunities,” said Cameron Horner, communications specialist with Alberta Agriculture and Forestry. “From archery and horticulture to foods and veterinary sciences, there is something for everyone.”
Projects are just one facet of the program. In essence, 4-H is a youth leadership development organization that also involves club activities, public speaking, life skills and community service. The 4-H motto is Learn to Do by Doing, and for the Strathmore Rusty Spurs 4-H club, that means owning and caring for your own horse.
“Our project members learn all aspects of working with horses through seven different levels, starting with the basics of riding, safe horse care and stable management in levels 1-3,” explained club leader Lynn Wolfs. “Once mastering the basic skills in levels 1-3, they may move on to horsemanship 4-7 and participate in other varied horse projects such as reining, jumping or rodeo. Our club goes to 4-H on Parade in Calgary and also the Regional Horse Show in Red Deer.”
Clubs typically meet once or twice a month, depending on their projects and activities. Members run the meetings. They elect a president, vice-president, secretary and treasurer, and learn how to make motions, vote and take minutes.
“I love watching members grow over their years in 4-H,” said Shelly Neal, leader of the Crowfoot 4-H Multi Club. “From being shy or quiet to developing their leadership and communication skills from their involvement in the program. It’s all about learning and individual growth.”
Neal explained that members must attend 70 per cent of club activities, complete a communication project, complete a record book, participate in achievement day and complete a community service activity. The Crowfoot Multi Club helps with the Strathmore United Church thrift sale every year. For their achievement day, which is held in the spring, members prepare a display featuring their projects and invite friends and family to join them for a potluck.
For most people, public speaking induces stress, fear and dread. That is not the case for young 4-Hers. Fourteen-year-old Josie Herriot, a member of the Crowfoot Multi Club, is in her fifth year of 4-H. She’s taking archery this year, and has done Explore 4-H, sewing and foods in previous years.
“Public speaking is one of the highlights,” she said. “I’ve gotten to go on to districts and regionals and have won at both. Public speaking will make interviews easier. 4-H looks good on post-secondary applications and there are also scholarship opportunities. The biggest things I’ve taken from 4-H are the life skills and it has helped me gain the confidence needed to succeed.”
The 4-H Alberta club year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, with individual clubs running at varying lengths within that time frame. The cost is $120 per member plus any project, club or district fees, which vary from club to club.
Find out more at www.4h.ab.ca.