Extension
The anticipation is building for National 4-H Week, during which millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will be celebrating everything 4-H. Hopkins County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by showcasing the experiences 4-H offers young people and will highlight the 4-H youth in Hopkins County communities.
The theme of this year’s National 4-H Week is Inspire Kids to Do, which highlights how 4-H encourages kids to take part in hands-on learning experiences in areas such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. The environment provided by 4-H mentors is intended to provide kids from urban neighbourhoods to suburban schoolyards to rural farming communities encouragement to take on proactive leadership roles and empowerment with the skills to lead in life and career.
During National 4-H Week the Hopkins County 4-H members will come together for a project called “One Day 4-H,” which is a day set aside for the 4-H club to give back to their community in some form. This week, 4-Her’s adopted the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office, because it has recently undergone renovations. They have chosen to spruce up the outside flowerbeds and grounds since it is the 4-H headquarters for the county. There will also be a 4-H component in the Ag-in-the-Classroom event being held at the Hopkins County Regional Civic Center, which exposes fourth graders to the impact of agriculture in their everyday lives.
“4-H plays a vital role in agriculture and society because it teaches kids very important life skills starting at a young age — skills such as decision making, public speaking, how to win, how to lose, how to support and help others, and how to take care of their minds and bodies.,” said Jessica Taylor, Texas A&M AgriLife assistant extension agent. “The 4-H Project Show will be an opportunity for our local 4-Hers to display their talents to the public.”
Some of the more popular Hopkins County 4-H activities are Foods and Nutrition, Fashion Design/Clothing, Archery, Vet Science, Photography, Public Speaking, Community Service, and Livestock program. One of the newer projects is the Equine Program, which gives kids who have interest in horses an opportunity to explore that project.
The clubs offered in Hopkins County include Infinity 4-H Club, Hopkins County 4-H Equine Club, Miller Grove 4-H Club, Vet Science Club and PAWS 4-H Club, which is a school-based club at Sulphur Springs Elementary School.
To get involved in 4-H, to go to https://texas.4honline.com to enroll. For questions, call the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension office at 903-885-3443.
In Hopkins County, more than 1,600 4-H youth and 75 volunteers from the community are involved in 4-H.