4-H Week In Review – October 15th, 2010

Another week is done and we’re 7 days closer to Halloween…scary. But what isn’t scary is how you guys and gals continue to do tons of great things in your groups and communities.

We know you’re all busy keeping up with your 4-H activities and doing your best at school, so here’s a recap of some of the news you may have missed this week. And if you have a story we missed, let us know in the comments below!

• Ben Young started out raising alpacas in his high school 4-H club. After that, he turned his attention to raising chickens – and hasn’t looked back since.

  Every week, he brings several dozens fresh eggs, that his 200 chickens laid, to his local farmer’s market where they sell out within a matter of an hour or two. Not bad!

  But Ben doesn’t want to stop here, he plans on expanding the business and taking it to the next level soon. And from what we can see, he shouldn’t have any problems! This is a great example of the amazing head-start that 4-H gives kids, allowing them to reach their potential and to emerge as leaders.

  Local Farmer’s Eggs Fly Off The Shelves




• They’ve taken creativity – and hay – to a whole new level all over Phillips County in northeast Colorado. Commemorating their 100th anniversary, 4-H clubs across the county were given the challenge of taking a single hay bale and turning it into a work of art.

  I, for one, am completely impressed by some of the creations these clubs produced. Bugs, cakes, hats, pigs – out of a bale of hay! There are some very creative thinkers in Phillips County Colorado. Great job Everybody!

  Click on the link to see some photos of some of their decorated hay bales – 4-H Gets Creative with Hay Bale Decorations.




• And here’s a nice story out of Lancaster, Ohio. Justin Bachman and Taylor Justice met a few years ago in 4-H and have become close friends since then. In fact, they’re now roommates at Ohio State both studying animal sciences.

  What’s really cool is that this year they individually raised the grand champion steer and the reserve grand champion. Awesome job guys! But what is even more awesome is the fact that they are both using their auction money to help fund their college education.

  Kudos to both of you for being such great examples to kids everywhere.
  Click here to read the whole story, and find out who bought the grand champion – Friends Use Livestock Auction for College Cash.




• As we said above, Halloween is getting closer, and you can use it to your 4-H Group’s advantage if you act fast. Organizing and creating a “haunted trail” or a “haunted house” is a great way to raise funds for your group and/or a charity of your choice. You can even sell baked goods, candy and other things at the entrance (or at the exit if you don’t scare your guests too badly).

  Not only can you raise money, but you and your Group will have a great time planning and preparing the event as well.

  Take a look at what the 4-H club in East Brunswick, NJ has planned – 4-H Teens Host “Haunted House” Fundraiser in East Brunswick.

That’s it for this week, folks. We know there are some stories we missed, so if you have a story or news event you’d like to share, just leave it in a comment below.

Now It’s Your Turn! Leave a comment below and let us know what you think!

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you next week!