One very popular area with Pendleton 4-H has been 4-H Cooking. Six years ago, the 4-H Cooking Club was started due to interest of youth throughout the county. Its growth in numbers grew the club exponentially creating the need for 2 separate clubs. Both clubs consisted of 20-30 members which met monthly over the past 4 years. After COVID-19 shut programs down, other avenues had to be explored if continuation was to happen. 

Objectives

In an effort to keep kids cooking at home, a 4-H Cooking Club Facebook page was created as a way to share information with club members. Cooking series are created and posted each month. This includes a video of the 4-H agent cooking 3-5 foods involving recipes specific to a theme for that month. These “How To” videos allow club members to see different ingredients and foods in action as they are cut, mixed, and put together in different recipes. Not only do the youth see how the recipes are made, but they are given pointers on money saving strategies and nutritional facts that help them think smart about their food choices while being savvy shoppers and utilizing the resources they have available in their homes. 

Target Audience, and Current Population

Club members included with this group include 31 families with 4-H age ranges of primarily 9-14 years of age. Flyers are created and posted on the Cooking Club Facebook page for each monthly upcoming cooking series. Those flyers are shared to the Pendleton County 4-H Facebook Page which has nearly 600 followers to promote and attract new request to join. The monthly 4-H newsletter also includes information on video series to share with the newsletter audience of 250.  

Publisher Requirements, Methods Used, and Production Cost

Videos are produced monthly and correspond to a theme which can be related to the month or holiday. A camera, tripod, and wireless microphones are used for the production of the videos. Movavi is the computer software that had previously been purchased for video editing and is being used for editing the Cooking Club video series. Once the videos are created and edited, they are uploaded to YouTube for a link to post on the Pendleton County 4-H Cooking Club Facebook group. These are scheduled posts that are first advertised through the monthly 4-H newsletter and with a flyer (created through Canva) posted to the Pendleton County 4-H Cooking Club Facebook group and shared with the Pendleton County 4-H Facebook Page. Each video includes an intro about the current series. The name “4-H” is used throughout each video and promotional pieces and marketing apparel with Extension and 4-H logos are often worn. 

Impact Results

Videos posted generate many likes and positive comments. One parent reached out to say, “My daughter is so excited and has much to learn!” With this new educational cooking method through a virtual option being so easily accessible for club members, videos may continue even after COVID guidelines and restrictions lift. Grab and go bags have and may continue to be created with ingredients and resources for 4-H members to use at home while cooking through the screen with recorded and live cooking sessions.