3 Ways to Make the Most of Your 4-H Experience
I’ll never forget my first 4-H “speaking” experience. It wasn’t very pleasant, and if I’m honest, tears were shed. But I survived. I learned. I gained confidence. I moved on. I got better, and that’s what I love most about 4-H.
On that same note, I’ll never forget my children’s first speaking experiences in 4-H. For a 4-H alum, there’s just something special about seeing your child step up to give their first talk before a group of their peers. I’ve been able to watch them develop as communicators and gain comfort speaking in front of others over the years.
I think that’s why I was bent on hearing our oldest daughter Olivia give her last 4-H talk a couple weeks ago. Despite a crazy day of activities and reasons why I shouldn’t and couldn’t go to hear her talk, I found a way to make time.
Ten years went by like a flash as I have watched her grow through 4-H. She’s tackled a variety of topics in her annual 4-H talk from what to pack in your showbox for the county fair to Generation Z meat preferences. For this last one, she offered up tips on how to make the most of your 4-H experience. It was pretty rewarding to see her speak from the heart this time. She didn’t need a textbook or website for this one.
I thought her three main points were spot on for all 4-H members (and parents) to remember, but especially for the newer members just getting started.
1. Try a new project every year.
“A lot of people go their whole life without finding something they are passionate about,” she said. 4-H provides tons of opportunities to try new things. From robotics to sewing and from finances to photography, 4-H offers young people a way to explore a wide variety of areas to uncover their passion.
Let’s face it, we live in a social media world where trends win the day. In 4-H, you don’t have to hope an influencer uncovers your passions…you can figure it out for yourself by trying new projects and taking advantage of workshops, clinics and other learning events.
For her last year of 4-H, my daughter is challenging herself to do new projects. As she likes to remind me, she’ll be going out in the world on her own soon. Why not try a few more new things before she needs to start determining a tighter focus in college?
2. Take on a leadership role.
Look for ways to get involved by taking on a leadership role, she said. One of the best things Olivia did in 4-H was volunteer to be the community service chairman of her club – even when she wasn’t sure she was ready to take on a role like that.
Leadership roles help you learn responsibility and commitment. When you step up to lead others, it helps build confidence and other important life skills. She encouraged her club that they don’t have to be the club president to make an impact. Every leadership role provides an opportunity to make a difference.
She shared leadership research that says having any title title, rather than having a specific position attached to a role, can help a person increase their leadership capacity. Basically, it doesn’t matter what you do, but having a title increases leadership capacity because titles provide a greater sense of responsibility.
3. Compete.
Get involved in competitive events, she advised. 4-H offers many ways to compete from speech contests to skillathons to quiz bowls and more. Find something to become engaged in competitively – maybe it’s a contest or maybe it’s the projects you take to the county fair. It’s all about the process and the passion that develops along the way.
“I’m a big fan of competition. When you put time, effort and hard work into something, and you learn how that translates into success, it sets a precedent for your adult life,” she said.
Check out the 4-H website or talk to older 4-H members to learn ways you can engage in competitive activities to take your learning experience to a new level.
Having an active 4-Her isn't always easy -- it takes time, travel, investment and parent support. But as I look at all the different things our kids have participated in, there is no denying 4-H builds skills that can't be learned in a classroom or on a screen. In my opinion, the confidence, character and personal development 4-H helps develop in young people is absolutely worth the full schedule.
Read More:
The Beginning of the Last: Her Final Year of 4-H
The Importance of Waiting: 4-H Teaches That Some Things Can't Be Rushed
