Most anybody who has participated in 4-H at one time or another can probably remember what the four H’s stand for.
If you came up with Head, Heart, Hands, Health, give yourself a pat on the back.
And although its roots are based in agriculture-related programs, today’s 4-H clubs are pivoting to embrace the growing fields of STEM – science, technology, engineering and math.
Micah Sharpe is Vance County’s Extension agent for 4-H Youth Development. Sharpe said on Tuesday’s TownTalk segment that 4-H clubs tend to reflect the counties in which they operate.
“We still have farming, poultry,” Sharpe said, but 4-H’ers are also “coding robots, flying drones (and) using iPads to create digital marketing.”
4-H is for young people between 5 and 18, and Sharpe said programs and activities can look different, depending on the age group.
The 4-H Clover Buds, as the 5- to 7-year-old group is called, tend to get more hands-on, fun activities, Sharpe said. They’re eager to learn but their attention span is short.
Tweens and teens can sit still a bit longer, so they can handle discussions about topics including civic engagement and the importance of voting, for example.
Sheronika Sharp is the STEM specialist at Vance County Cooperative Extension, and Sharpe said he values their collaboration to create programs, trainings and more.
Sharpe said he has programs that can be taught in school settings, but it can be challenging to gain inroads in that program delivery method.
He said he likes to talk about his 4-H programs and curricula with school counselors, Career and Technical Education teachers, and principals; he trains teachers to carry out the programs as after-school activities, so even if he cannot be there, instructors will know what to do.
Sharpe did not grow up with 4-H – in fact, his first exposure to the program was last year.
But it hasn’t taken long for him to realize the benefits 4-H offers young people.
He tells them, “You’ve got to do what’s right for yourself,” but he follows up with “It’s cool to be knowledgeable.”
Whether they’re learning the basics of cooking through the Dinah Gore challenge or learning to fly drones, 4-H brings together head, heart, hands and health to support young people along their journey to adulthood.
To learn more, contact Sharpe at 252.438.8188, mosharpe@ncsu.edu or even just drop by the office at 305 Young St.
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