Mark Zeigler stepped to the front of the fifth-grade Riverside
Elementary School class in Suwanee, Ga. The curious students
listened closely as he described fun field trips and community
volunteer opportunities.

Zeigler, a Gwinnett
County Extension Service agent, then taught the finer points
of making a good speech. This was the class’ first 4-H Club
meeting, making them a part of the world’s largest youth
organization.

“Look over this form,” Zeigler said, passing green and white
sheets of paper around the room. “Write down a topic listed here
that interests you.”

After careful study, the children began to write.

“What did you see that you like?” Zeigler asked.

Not Cows and Plows

Hands popped up all around the room.

“Bike safety,” one girl said.

“Dog care,” a boy said.

“Horse,” several others chimed in.

Not what you imagined as 4-H projects? As the 4-H Club turns 100
this year, it’s still going strong. It’s stayed that way by
keeping up with the times, adjusting its program areas to fit the
changing interests of America’s young people.

It began in 1902 as a club to teach rural youths about
agriculture and preserving food. 4-H now offers more than 7
million members the chance to learn more about projects ranging
from the traditional (poultry, dairy, beef) to the
not-so-traditional (computers, environmental science, consumer
education.)

Leadership, Citizenship

Today’s 4-H also focuses on developing leadership, citizenship
and community service skills in America’s youths.

“Today, more than ever, young people need to maximize their
potential and develop their skills and knowledge to forge ahead
into the 21st Century,” said Alma Hobbs, deputy administrator for
the Families, 4-H
and Nutrition division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperative State Research,
Education and Extension Service.

“Young people are often told they are the future,” Hobbs said in
a recent address to the 2001 National 4-H Congress in Atlanta.
“Indeed they are the future, but they are also the present. The
theme for the 4-H centennial celebration, ‘4-H The Power of
Youth,’ is a confirmation of both of these concepts.”

Serve Communities

Hobbs challenged 4-H’ers from across the county to use their
leadership and citizenship skills in their communities.

“You can get involved in public life as a citizen, being active
to help fix problems, change the way things are done, have a say
in what happens and advocate for youths and youth issues,” she
said. “You can get involved in community service.”

During the congress, she praised the 4-H’ers attending the
congress for bringing books to give to needy children and working
at the Art of the
Season, a fund-raiser for Children’s Healthcare of
Atlanta.

Power of Youth

Hobbs told the 4-H’ers they can provide service to their
communities in a variety of ways: helping a food bank, collecting
clothing, books and other items, cleaning up a park, adopting a
grandparent, teaching technology skills and so much more.”

“4-H The Power of Youth is a powerful phrase,” Hobbs said. “It
captures the essence of 4-H and the 4-H Pledge: ‘I pledge my head
to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my health to
better living and my hands to larger service to my club, my
community, my country and my world.’”

To learn more about the 4-H Centennial Celebration, visit their
Web site (www.4hcentennial.org).