Why Do You Volunteer With 4-H? |
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 Dorothy Elsner, Skagit Co. (pictured with daughter, Michele) |
I volunteer with 4-H because, as a youth, 4-H was a big part of my childhood and teen years. It was a huge part of my education and socialization. It made me who I am today! As a girl growing up in rural Arizona on a cattle ranch the chance to go to 4-H activities was an excused absence from ranch work. I found camps, local, county and state conferences all reasons to be out and about! I raised pigs and cattle for projects, did self-determined projects on Leadership and Citizenship. I had leaders and Extension staff that spent time with me, mentoring and setting high standards for me. Those people are now gone but I owe it to them to carry on. They put up with a lot from me as a loud, silly and enthusiastic teen! I earned a trip to Chicago for 4-H congress in 1978, sponsored entirely by International Harvester. |
My children began 4-H with horse projects when they were old enough. Both were successful with their projects and they became respected teen leaders and mentors to younger members. They have helped me lead our club and might just be 4-H leaders themselves someday! I became a leader 10 years ago and started our large Horse club. I had the opportunity to assist leaders who were inspiring and hard working. I am currently the main Leader of our project club, Vice President of our county Leaders Council, President of county Horse Leaders, Coordinator for our County Know Your Government delegation and Superintendent of Public Presentations. I spend a lot of hours, know I am appreciated and know that these kids will make a difference. My Husband learned to join in (or he would not see me or our children much!) and became a leader as well. He works an amazing record keeping program for the Western Games Division in the county and supports 4-H on the county Fair Advisory Board. We were honored to be Skagit County Leaders of the Year in 2007. I can see the difference 4-H makes with youth. Watching kids grow and learn is very rewarding. The relationships I have built with members and their families are priceless. The future sometimes looks bleak when you look at the youth of America. But look closer, look at 4-H. It is pretty bright here in Skagit County! People say to me “Why do you spend so much time on something you don’t get paid for?” I reply “It is what I do.” Some people support sports teams, are active in church programs, hunt, fish, bike, etc. I do 4-H, and I do get paid. It’s just not to my bank account -- it is direct deposited to the future! |
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Ann Vonderau, Pierce County |
My journey with 4-H started about sixteen years ago when we got our two kids a horse. We needed to learn how to take care of him, so we joined a 4-H club. The kids were in 5th and 8th grades at the time. They are now 25 and 27 and my husband and I are still involved in 4-H. One question I get asked at least once a year is “Why are you still here? You don’t have kids in the program.” My usual answer is, “When did that become a requirement?” The non-smart aleck answer is simple. I enjoy being around 4-H kids. They encourage me and bless my life. I look around at some of the really long time 4-H leaders with admiration and hope I can be around as long as some of them. 4-H provided our kids with some great experiences and we learned there was more to it than just caring for our horse. |
My personal experiences have included coaching horse bowl, chaperoning state Teen Conference, our county horse board, county fair horse superintendent, and state 4-H Fair board. What I enjoy about serving on the boards is working with others who share the vision. I especially like being at state fair meeting with kids, parents, and leaders from all over the state and learning about their projects.
I have to say, though, horse bowl is my favorite. It seems every year there is a ‘memorable answer’ that causes so much laughter I get tears in my eyes. There were three years when our team won state and we got to represent Washington in Kentucky. What a blast it was to take a group of teens on a trip like that. We combined the national competition experience with horse county tours, historic sites, and regional foods. My hope was always for the kids to have memorable experiences, but I always came home with a wealth of special memories.
I love being part of an organization that provides so many opportunities for kids to grow and develop important life skills. It’s a kick to not only watch those changes happen but, hopefully, be part of the process.
I like to help educate the kids about their projects and watch them grow and succeed.
It’s great to see young people as they build their confidence levels when they practice a new skill. I like being able to watch the kids interact with each other and see the older youth mentor the younger ones. I also enjoy the camaraderie with youth and adults. --Cindy Aston, Chelan County
I truly enjoy volunteering. I work with the State Ambassador 4-H teens on technology. It keeps me up to date and a little ahead. I like working with teens because it’s stimulating. They don’t think inside or outside of the box because they don’t even know there is a box.--Chuck Todd, King County
I love the youth involvement and that 4-H teaches by example. 4-H demonstrates self-accountability and gives youth purpose, community and a healthy group to be in. It’s a very positive experience and offers a sense of belonging. I’m a volunteer at heart and passionate about education and children so it fills that desire to mentor and be involved in helping create meaningful futures for young people.--Susan Linn, Clark County
I enjoy working with 4-H families and teaching, learning, and sharing in unique ways. I like looking at projects from different angles and problem solving ways to add interest or make them even more fun. Taking situations and creating a hands-on experience for youth is important to me.
--Kay Hibler, Kitsap County
I volunteer for 4-H because I believe in the basis on which it’s formed: to Make the Best Better, to give your whole heart, head, hands and health into it. I have volunteered in numerous youth service capacities andbeing a 4-H Volunteer has been the most productive. I realize we have changed drastically from the funded extension personnel to provide program to our youth. Volunteers are necessary for 4-H to survive now but we still need staff support to be successful. I have been impressed with the cooperative effort possible between 4-H volunteers and staff, from the county level to the state, enough so that I work diligently to promote 4-H to others. I believe in the program.
I did not come from a 4-H background. I led several untraditional 4-H programs, from computers to life skills. I know these have grown in the 4-H program now, but when we started we had to write our own project outline. But that’s part of why I think 4-H is the best -- you don’t have to have a cookie-cutter program. And every time I have watched youth grow through their 4-H involvement, I have also grown as a person. I have increased my awareness of the needs of other people, I have gleaned knowledge from teens and adults, and I discovered I can stand up in front of a group and speak. So, while I was working to be a good 4-H leader, 4-H was working in my life. That’s why even though my role in 4-H may change, I hope to be a 4-H volunteer for the rest of my life. --Joy Wilken, Lincoln County
Some people fish, some boat and some garden. I choose to help young people grow, learn, and change and become our future. I enjoy working with youth, sharing my knowledge, and watching them figure out all the ways of learning. It’s great to see them develop into their own personalities, put their knowledge to work, and become teachers to others.
--Chip Taylor, Pierce County
Volunteering – An Opportunity to Learn, Lead, and Grow
By Don Ballard, Snohomish County
Between my mother and my parochial school upbringing, I learned at an early age that if you expect something to be done, you had better be willing to help.
Knowing practically nothing about 4-H, I became a volunteer leader 15 years ago when my children’s club leader unexpectedly passed away. Someone had to step up and lead the club to ensure the members could attend the local county fair. Thus began my 4-H volunteer career.
Through the years I’ve had the 
privilege of working with many 4-Hers, helping to guide them through their Rabbit Project. There is no finer feeling than to watch shy, unsure youth develop into an outstanding, skilled, articulate and self-confident young adults capable of doing whatever they choose to do.
4-H participation was very beneficial to my children. The skills they learned while participating in several projects have aided them in becoming the outstanding, articulate, self-motivated adults they are today. Although my youngest graduated out of 4-H eight years ago, I have remained heavily involved in order to help ensure that other county youth have the same opportunities my kids had.
As I have expanded my 4-H involvement from Project to Club to County to State to Western Regional, I have met and worked with many other volunteers and 4-H parents with common interests and goals. I am proud to count many of them as friends.
My expanded 4-H involvement has truly given me a sense of belonging, an opportunity to learn, lead, and grow. 4-H is not just a youth development program but an adult development program as well.
Volunteering truly has been a lot of fun!
Don Ballard serves on the Washington State 4-H Advisory Board where he was president from 2006 – 2009. He also chairs the 2011 Western Regional Leader’s Forum.