Making the best better: National 4-H Week celebrated

WASHINGTON — 4-H members across the country celebrated National 4-H Week Oct. 1-7.

4-H is the largest youth development organization in the United States. It’s a network of 500,000 volunteers and 3,500 4-H professionals that provides mentoring to 6 million 4-H’ers.

Fun fact: The national 4-H emblem is a green four-leaf clover with the letter H on each leaf. The four H’s stand for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health, representing the four-fold training and development that 4-H members receive.

“This year’s National 4-H Week theme, “I Heart 4-H,” reminds us that every child has valuable strengths and real influence to improve the world around us,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack in a proclamation.

“For 120 years, 4-H has served America’s young people to make the best better, and is now the nation’s largest youth development organization.”

4-H connects young people and adults to their communities, preparing them for work and life through experiential and inquiry-based learning while providing emerging research for positive youth development, Vilsack said.

“Expanding from its strong agricultural roots, 4-H helps young people explore the world around them and grow into productive adults.”