Extension intern organizes ‘show’ clothes drive in Malheur County

ONTARIO, Ore. – With animals to show and static projects to prepare, the fair is busy enough without having to worry about finding affordable “show” clothes for Oregon State University Extension Service 4-H’ers in Malheur County,

“It’s important to look and feel prepared in a show ring,” said Bennett Johnson, who is interning this summer for OSU Extension in the county.

A large part of that is wearing show clothes that fit.

Many youths are hitting growth spurts as they enter 4-H and prepare their projects, which makes finding show clothes difficult from year to year, according to Johnson.

That’s why Johnson organized a 2½ week show clothes drive that culminated in the fair, which ran from late July through early August.

In just three weeks Johnson developed social media posts, posters and sent notifications to 4-H families and community members, to kick off the donation period in Ontario.

Traditional 4-H show clothes include long-sleeve button-down shirts, crisp blue jeans and/or pants and belts. These were all donated in the drive.

“The community was amazing,” Johnson said. “It was a broad spectrum of community members — not just those involved in 4-H.”

Donors weren’t limited to the county on the far eastern side of Oregon.

“We had people come from across the state to come and help us,” Johnson said.

Donations were collected in early July and distribution began on July 22. Johnson hosted distribution hours at the Extension office over three evenings and invited 4-H’ers to exchange older show clothes or pick up what they needed.

Johnson is aware of how difficult it can be to get show clothes in rural areas. She attended Harper Charter School, in a town that has about 200 people and is 45 minutes west of Ontario.

“Show clothes are expensive and there are not a lot of places to get them in Malheur County,” Johnson said.

Johnson was in 4-H for 10 years, including showing swine for six. Johnson also participated in static projects and was a junior 4-H leader.

The clothing drive was not only a way for Johnson to serve 4-H’ers around the county, it was also her internship project for Extension’s Summer Internship Program. Johnson, who started her internship in May, spent most of her time working with 4-H and preparing for fair.

“The clothing drive and fair went hand and hand for me,” Johnson said.

Johnson will be wrapping up her internship soon to start her sophomore year at Whitworth University in Spokane, Washington, studying psychology with minor in leadership. Johnson plans to pursue licensed mental health counseling serving rural areas.

“I hope the show clothes drive becomes an annual event, even after I have finished my internship,” Johnson said.

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