Although I’ve grown up on a farm my whole life, I didn’t come from a 4‑H family. In fact, it wasn’t until I was in third grade that I even began to understand what 4‑H was. Some family friends encouraged me to get involved with some of the programming that 4‑H has to offer, and after talking to them, I knew I wanted to get involved. I went to their house, and I immediately fell in love with all of their cute, fluffy cows. That one positive experience with them turned into a 10-year career that was filled with a broad variety of programs, competitions, and even starting a family livestock business.
While I have been stuck at home during this pandemic, I find myself wondering how I can continue to impact those around me. There is one specific resource that has still allowed me to be involved in 4‑H, and that’s 4‑H at Home. This provides activities on a wide variety of topics that can be done with friends and family. For example, you can do a hands-on activity involving agriculture, which isn’t a topic that is covered in the classroom at some schools. 4‑H at Home can introduce young people to new areas of interest, and once an activity is completed it will recommend other activities for you so you can continue your learning journey.
Here are some of my favorite activities that kids can enjoy at home, while exploring different aspects of agriculture:
You can visit 4‑H at Home and use the filter tool to find activities related to agriculture, animal science, and so many other topics. It’s a great resource for young people, and I am thankful for my friends, family, leaders, and organizations for finding new and innovative ways to get involved in 4‑H programming, even while I’m stuck at home.
