What is 4-H?
Senior 4-H'ers gathered together on MSU's campus during the summer for State 4-H Congress. (Photo by MSU Extension)
One of the best kept secrets out there is 4-H! Everyone has at least heard of 4-H, but very few actually know how awesome it is! 4-H is a youth development organization that offers programs and opportunities focused on four values: head, heart, hands, and health! You guessed it, those are the four H’s!
I grew up thinking 4-H was a program for youth who wanted to be involved in showing livestock. While there are plenty of 4-H’ers who show livestock, there are so many other activities to get involved in! Shooting sports is one of the most popular 4-H activities and rightfully so! There are opportunities for leadership, community service, arts, wildlife, STEM, and so much more. If you’re interested in a certain activity, there’s a good chance there’s a 4-H club for it!
Our 4-H’ers also have the potential to do a good bit of traveling when they become senior 4-H’ers. We recently had students go to Washington D.C., Nebraska, Iowa, Colorado, Louisiana, Georgia, and West Virginia to compete in competitions and attend leadership conferences!
So, what are the requirements to be in 4-H? Children must be between 5 and 19 years old to join 4-H . That’s the only requirement. Joining is free and easy! All you have to do is reach out to your local Extension office. Each county in Mississippi has an Extension office where clubs meet. Find your county office and sign your child or grandchild up today!
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