Special Youth Campaigns for 4-H Program

When Dr. Mains challenged us to involve under served audiences, our 4-H Council reviewed our 4-H Programming to determine how we can expand the program and were thinking on this issue.  We had 4-H of some type in every school in the county. As we were walking down the hallway of a school, John, a special needs student said, “Why can’t we have 4-H?” He had been in 4-H when he was in a mainstreamed classroom.   He did this to me and a staff assistant. Out of the mouth of babes... cometh strength and praise to wisdom.- Psalms 8:2.   John helped us to come up with a idea to meet our state director’s challenge.

The Pike County 4-H Program now has two Functionally Mentally Disabled units in two different high schools. These youth not only receive club meetings but one unit attended the local 4-H Fair. The teacher stated, “As you know, it can be lonely and isolating in our classroom and 4-H is our ray of sunshine.” These special 4-H Clubs are learning to make the best better through hands on activities in food, nutrition and life skills.