4-H is a volunteer based organization that utilizes funds from donors, sponsors and fundraisers to offer copious amounts of programing, clubs and activities to youth at the most affordable prices possible.  Pendleton County 4-H has been blessed to contract with the Kentucky Wool Festival to sell drinks for the event.  It takes numerous hands to make this run efficiently given the quantity of folks this festival brings in. 

This year, the wool festival brought in nearly 28,000 individuals!  The festival operates on an October weekend with Friday and Saturday being 10am-10pm and Sunday being from 10am-6pm.  Each day, 4-H has four 3 hour shifts for 4-Hers, parents and volunteers to sign up to help sell drinks.  Pendleton 4-H operates out of 2 separate drink tents as well as maintains the tea booth, thus requiring 16+ workers each shift to run smoothly. Every year when lining up workers, it is amazing to see just how much this event brings 4-H in this community together.  With the help of 105 youth and 67 adults (parents and volunteers), Pendleton County 4-H sold over 34,950 drinks at this year’s Wool Fest!  The contract is set up with Wool Fest that Pendleton 4-H receives 60% of the profits from the drink sales which helps fund much of the 4-H programming and clubs for the year.

Success in this event can be categorized in numerous aspects.  One, is that Pendleton 4-H is able to generate a substantial profit from an amazing fundraiser!  Another would be the work ethic that is promoted through hands-on fast responses needed to move enormously long lines of people through the drink booth.  There is also the aspect of teaching youth about money handling procedures. One parent at this year's Wool Fest said, "My daughter has been learning to count money.  I am looking forward to her being able to practice what she's learned."  Perhaps the more important underlying success is that of the community togetherness that must happen in order to maintain this intensive 3 days of drink sales. Males and females, from all ages (clover bud to grandparents) and of all races (blacks, whites & Hispanics) come together willingly to take on the demands required just during a 3 hour shift. Rain or shine, cold or hot, this event thrives. It is so humbling to see the passion for 4-H from so many youth and adults who help out year after year to ensure that 4-H programs are funded for continued year round operation at the prestige that currently exist.