I didn't want to hi-jack the other fair thread, but I thought it would be fun for us to list how our 4-H kiddos did at our local fair. Here in NW Indiana is how my two did: daughter's projects: music, creative writing, holiday ornament, foods, aerospace, wildlife, personality, drawing, and recycling. Her weather and forestry posters were champions and are going to the Indiana State Fair next week. son's projects: musics, creative writing, aerospace, model bridge,and electric. His geology project was Grand Champion and his model airplane project was Reserve Grand Champion and are going to the state fair.
INmom or anyone else can you explain to me the benefits/opinions of 4-H? It looks really fun but is it really just for farm kids or is it for all kids. I've never met anyone who was in 4-H and even though DD is still to little for it I'm very interested in it for her. Same with scouting. INmom it sounds like your kids had a blast I'm glad they won something. You'll have to tell us how they do at the State fair.
4-H is DEFINITELY not just for farm kids. As you can see from the projects my kids chose, there is no need to be on a farm. We find the general benefits for the kids to include learning about something new (workshops given on some of the topics), learning to make a project and work within deadlines, and having opportunities to perform service projects with other club members. Also, it's great to get recognized for the effort you put in. In Indiana, K through 2nd grade are called "Explorers" and do very simple projects that are only judged for completion, not against each other. For example, for foods they can show a PB&J sandwich or rice krispie treat they made. Or they can show a collection. Starting in 3rd - 12th grades is when they have projects that are judged. In Indiana, I think there are over 60 projects to pick from. I'm not sure what state you live in, but here's a link to the list of projects for Indiana: http://www.four-h.purdue.edu/projects/index.cfm Cheers! Carol
My kids: Bred and owned Market Lambs Bred and owned Market Goats Pure Bred Boer Buck (big male meat goat) Pure Bred Boer Doe (little girl goat) Nigerian Dwarf Dairy Goats Meat Chickens Bantam "show" chickens 2 pigs each Photography Alexis also entered Salsa I'll tell you how they do after we survive this week Awesome on heading to the State Fair! We have that option with our animals - but doubtful anyone will do that well....we breed the sheep and goats for the fun and for market - not for show (and there is a difference)
Oh no - 4-H isn't about just animals!!!! And I was trying to tell even my husband last night.... as a 4-H'er you don't HAVE to show an animal to be in the clubs!! Each state is a little different...so check your state and county. Compared to some I've been to - our little county fair isn't much - but it's ours and we like it But there are so many educational benefits to 4-H!!! Plus most of the kids are really good kids and really work together even in a competitive atmosphere. We find it in our area to be "good friendly competition" vs in most sports around here if you aren't good they dont want you on their team and make it known. As a leader and my husband got roped into being on the "fair board" we are learning a lot more about the whole thing. It's great talking to people about the animals... a lot of kids have never SEEN a live pig or chicken before!! And my dd I have decided is the little "4-H queen" this week as she is so totally in her element with her animals DS is happy just hanging out with friends playing cards. But today and tomorrow are super busy and they love the ribbons they get. Of course it's probably because they have money with them But they learn business by raising and selling these animals. THEY pay for everything - feed, animals, vet care etc. Then then sell them this week (we have an auction Fri night where the kids can sell 1 of each breed they brought) and that helps pay for everything and the rest of that money goes into their college fund. They also get "premium" money with the ribbons - and that money we will give them at the end of the week and they can buy something with it (both my kids want laptops this year - so we'll see)
Thanks for the info. We live in the city and would probably get in trouble for having a farm animal, though I wouldn't mind...lol.
WE ARE NOT DOING 4-H THIS YEAR!!! YEAH!!!! It was SO HARD to get my kids to work and finish their projects! It was such a relief to drop out! Stone, as the others have said, 4-H isn't for country folks. There's plenty of non-farm related projects kids can do. Nutrition, decorating, finances, sewing, photography, family history, dog training, electricity, rocketry.... And, of course, the "traditional" farming and animal projects!
Stone family- Our 4H club focuses on public speaking and community service. Another in our county (mostly teens) is all debate. There are lots of options. The thing I like about 4H is that it can be easily blended with your homeschool. I write more here: http://www.homeschool-by-design.com/homeschool_4-h.html http://www.homeschool-by-design.com/extracurricular-activities.html Best wishes! PS. Our fair isn't until September.
Well, yes and no. Our group was also a homeschool 4-H group. But 4-H technically has decreed that work you do for school IS NOT to be included in your project. For example, if you have to give a speech on electricty, you CANNOT count a speech you give to your classroom, even if your classroom teacher is teaching on electricty. Also, any experiments you do for that classroom teacher doesn't "count" toward your project. That gets REAL STICKY for homeschoolers!
I hope (for 4H's sake) that the local extension agents understand the nature of homeschooling a little better than whoever made this rule. Is that a national thing or state thing? Are you saying that if I teach my daughter to make bread (which I did this year) since I'm also her teacher it can't count for her project? That sounds a little like discrimination to me, since every project we do is learning which could be considered "school". I can see the speech thing. We don't count speeches given at home, they have to be done in front of the 4H or other community group. Maybe we shouldn't call any project a "school" project, but a learning project instead. If homeschool 4Hers didn't do projects because of this rule, our county would have about 4 projects a year turned in instead of over 100.
This is my understanding. Yes, it's from the nationals. As far as the bread goes, you can teach her to bake bread and use it for 4-H. BUT let's say you live in a state where you have to keep track of the time when you're actually "in school". If you write it off as "home ec" and record it for school, you can no longer count it for 4-H. If your child is learning electricity for a 4-H project, you cannot count the time doing it as part of his Science time. Crazy, I know! And I honestly don't know how many in the local extension offices keep track of such silliness! They've got more important things to worry about!
In Indiana, I don't know of any clubs that track that kind of information. The kids are judged on their final product and usually some sort of workbook activities they have to complete. Carol
We are joining 4-H this year. My daughter will be doing sewing and my younger son will participate in Photography. I'm sure there will be other things that they will do,but right now that's what we are planning. We'll be going soon to sign up and look at what all they have to offer. I always thought it was for farm kids too. But our homeschool group had a presentation about it and it was nothing what I thought it was. We are very excited about joining. Angela
