Author: Crystal Smith
Planning Unit: Letcher County CES
Major Program: Leadership
Plan of Work: Developing Responsible Youth and Families--2020
Outcome: Initial Outcome
In 2022 after the devastating flood, I wanted to do something to help the younger youth in my county to have something special to look forward to too. So, I had the opportunity to start a Cloverbud Club in Letcher County. I started with 4-year-old and up to 8-year-old children that had an interest in 4-H. Many of the youth would come to drop off older siblings to club meetings and want to stay to see what 4-H had to offer. The first club meeting happens to fall on election day which was great for me as I had the opportunity to explain what Election Day is and the importance of the election. We set up a fun Clover Election for the youth. In the running of the Clover Election the youth where able to decide the name of the club, hold and election of officers, and learn how to Champaign for the office of their choosing. The officer positions are game leader, flag leaders, and pledge leaders. The Letcher County Sunflower Cloverbuds club meets monthly. When I ask why their youth chose the name sunflower, they told me because they wanted something bright and colorful to look forward too. Out of the mouth of babes. Often as a 4-H agent we get caught up in the day to day going from one program to another and forget that we are making a big impact on these kids and the future of our community, county, and world. But what these youth that we get to work with do not realize is that they are making our loves as 4-H agents better. Cloverbuds help me to realize that the small things we are doing in our county make a big difference. Each month we have several parents and or grandparent volunteers that help with snacks and crafts in the club. A highlight of the Cloverbuds Club is that we have two faithful Teens and help each month without having to be ask these young ladies show up energetic and excited to help these young 4-Hers get a great start into the 4-H program. There are so many blessings that have come after the flood that at the time we were all drowning in our sorrows and did not even realize could come from something so devastating.
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