National 4-H Week Celebrated

Lincoln County’s 4-H program is gearing up to celebrate National 4-H Week, which kicks off October 6 and runs through October 12, with a renewed focus on youth development and community engagement. A the October 1st Lincoln County Board of Commissioner's meeting, Heather Tower, the 4-H program coordinator, shared updates on the program’s growth and upcoming events, emphasizing the importance of volunteers and innovative programming. “4-H is a positive youth development program that began in the Midwest in the early 1900s,” Tower explained. “Our projects are about creating opportunities for youth to find their spark, igniting a passion that will pave a positive path to their future and encouraging the five Cs: competence, confidence, connection, character, and caring.”

While 4-H has its roots in agricultural education, Lincoln County’s program has evolved to reflect the community’s unique needs. “We’re actually 35th out of the 36 Oregon counties in ag production,” Tower noted. “Our largest project areas here are dog and shooting sports, and we also have a very growing STEM or STEAM program.” The program’s success relies heavily on dedicated volunteers, including Sue Giles, who is celebrating her 43rd year as a volunteer and leads the county’s longest-running dog club. This is their 50th year that they will have a club in Lincoln County.“That is pretty impressive, and without our dedicated volunteers, we would not be able to exist,” Tower said.

In addition to traditional clubs, Lincoln County 4-H offers robust after-school and in-school enrichment programs, bringing hands-on science and engineering activities to local classrooms. “The 4-H Fundays after-school program continues to thrive with increasing numbers of youth participating and engaging in STEAM-based activities,” Tower shared, highlighting projects like wax relief science using fall leaves and ice dye and glow-in-the-dark bubbles. The program is also expanding partnerships, working with organizations like the ABC Educational Center to reach more students. “It’s just Shelly and I that are employed by 4-H, so without those partnerships, we can’t get the reach broader into our county,” Tower said.

For those interested in getting involved, Tower encourages community members to consider volunteering. “Anything you are passionate about, we can turn it into a 4-H project, and I would love to talk to you. We are always needing volunteers. I have more kids that would like to participate than the volunteers that can sustain them, unfortunately.” The community is invited to the 4-H Open House on Sunday, October 5, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the animal barn at the fairgrounds on Harney Street. For more information about Lincoln County 4-H, visit the OSU Extension website or the Lincoln County 4-H page.