Beyond the 4 H Pledge
 | Author:
Allison Kosto, MSY Extension Agent
MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent |
MSU EXTENSION CORNER
Allison Kosto, MSU Broadwater County Extension Agent
Beyond the 4-H Pledge
"I pledge my head to clearer thinking, my heart to greater loyalty, my hands to larger service, and my health for better living for my club, my community, my country and my world." These are the words of the 4-H pledge that are instilled in the minds and hearts of every person who is or has been in 4-H. They are the words that represent the core beliefs of the 4-H program to give back and make our world a better place. Each of the components of the 4-H pledge has a special meaning.
HEAD
Through 4-H, youth gain many valuable life skills and knowledge providing the pathway for clearer thinking and decision making. Members are involved in 4-H projects. A 4-H project is a hands-on learning experience in a topic area. Members can choose from over sixty different project areas such as robotics, beef, photography, interior design, foods and nutrition, and much more. Through the project work, members set goals, learn new skills and have the opportunity to showcase skills at events like the County Fair. Youth also gain life skills such as communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, record keeping and much more.
HEART
4-H members are encouraged to develop strong moral character and personal values. 4-H establishes a supportive environment with a caring adult to create a safe place for youth to learn. Youth learn the value of being loyal to a cause and an allegiance to an organization and a community. They learn concern for others by engaging in service-learning projects such as beautifying public spaces, helping those that are less fortunate and supporting community events.
HANDS
4-H utilizes the experiential learning model which means “learn by doing”. This model emphasizes that youth must physically engage in an activity or learning opportunity, reflect on the experience and apply it to future experiences. This is done consistently through 4-H project work as well as in 4-H clubs. A 4-H Club is a group of members of a variety of ages and interests who meet regularly to plan club activities for community service, recreation and learning. A 4-H club is the foundation of the 4-H experience and creates a safe inclusive environment for youth to foster life skill development. There are currently seven 4-H Clubs in Broadwater County.
HEALTH
Lastly, the 4-H program promotes healthy lifestyles, strong mental health, character and ethics. Competitions such as the County Fair have a long history in the 4-H program. However, there is a strong emphasis on sportsmanship and maintaining ethics at all 4-H events. 4-H members actively engage in helping each other and participate in leadership opportunities. 4-H youth learn many skills that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.
It's National 4-H Week. This is the time of year when we celebrate the accomplishments of 4-H members from the past year and open our door to new members. If you or your child is interested in joining 4-H, contact MSU Extension in Broadwater County at 406-266-9242 or broadwater@montana.edu or stop by the office in the Flynn Building at 416 Broadway (former Opportunity Bank Building). 4-H is the youth development program of Montana State University Extension.
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PhotoCredit: Allison Kosto
Image 1 Caption: Broadwater 4-H Kids
