4H: An Extended Family

When you come to the Benton County Fair you might visit the clothing & art building and see a 4-Her showcasing their exhibits or you might visit the animal barn and see a 4-Her shearing a sheep or grooming a rabbit. What you might not see is the strong family and extended family aspect of this program.

The 4-H program is a family affair! Parents support their children throughout the year by taking them to 4-H club meetings, helping them to complete 4-H projects and hauling animals to different events. But I bet you didn't know that the whole family gets swept up in the excitement, learning and fun of 4-H at the County Fair! If you look a little closer you will see younger siblings helping their older sister or brother haul equipment, sweep an aisle in the barn or get that clean shirt out of the trailer. You will see mom or dad volunteering in the 4-H fair office, running shows and helping with the auction. You will see youth from different 4-H clubs helping each other and becoming friends.

County Fair is really a family reunion! Because so many 4-H members stay in the program for many years, the youth and their families get to know and care about each other. It doesn't matter if they live in Monroe or Philomath, North Albany or Corvallis, Alsea or Blodgett; they are all one large 4-H family. Each person's success is everyone's success. Each person's pain is everyone's pain.

"I have several memories of hard times experienced by 4-H members, volunteers or their families during County Fair," recalls OSU Extension 4-H Faculty Tammy Skubinna. "Whenever a 4-H member is ill or has an injury, fellow 4-H members step in to help them take care of their animals or even show their animals."

Likewise when fun things happen to 4-H members, such as making it through their first showing experience, everyone is excited and shares in the joy of growth for that youth. "The best part for me," says Skubinna, "is seeing young children grow up to be caring, responsible adults. I've seen many shy children become the teens that announce animal shows, organize activities and teach younger children. I also am so proud when I have an older youth tell me how much fun it was to see a child they worked with do well."

Last year 502 youth participated in 4-H classes at the County Fair & 4-H Horse Fair. This year should be more of the same, a family created for a week at County Fair that lasts for a lifetime!

For information on 4-H call the OSU Extension Benton County office at 766-6750 or go to the web site (http://extension.oregonstate.edu/benton) after County Fair.

Written by: Tammy Skubinna, OSU Extension Service in Benton County 4-H Agent