submitted by Betty Gutermuth
October 7-13 is National 4-H Week, and Rensselaer County is celebrating the 4-H youth who have made an impact on the community and who are stepping up to the challenges of a complex and changing world. On October 9 at the Berlin Free Town Library, 4-H youth had a display featuring the local Stephentown/Berlin 4-H club. They also plan to connect with the community later in the month by planting daffodils in each of the Veterans Memorial gardens located in Stephentown and Berlin.
“Giving back to our community gives me a sense of pride and ownership when I drive by to see what we have accomplished,” said a Rensselaer County 4-H Member/Volunteer of the Cantering Cowpokes.
Recent findings from Tufts University’s 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that young people in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their communities than youth not participating in 4-H. Notably, the Tufts research discovered that the structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that 4-H’ers receive play a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities.
4-H youth are a living breathing, culture-changing revolution for doing the right thing, breaking through obstacles and pushing our country forward by making a measurable difference right where they live.