The Montgomery County 4-H organization’s official pledge says: “I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and my HEALTH to better living, for my club, my community, my country and my world.”
4-H Extension Agent Michael Lankford said the local branch of the nonprofit organization is primarily a youth development program.
“We use clubs, project groups and camps, things like that to imprint life skills on the youth of today. It has changed a little bit from what it was before,” Lankford said.
Many people mistakenly believe the program is just about showing animals, but Lankford said there is more to it than that.
“There are poster contests, speaking contests, and anything that we can do to help kids prepare for later on in life and the work force,” he said.
Melanie Aiosa, also a 4-H Extension Agent, shared more about what the program offers.
“There are programs for home economics which would be family consumer science. They teach everything from dietary lessons to counting change, sewing, cooking, and anything you can do in your home,” Aiosa said.
4-H programs can be found in a number of local schools to provide students in grades 4-12 the chance to develop and explore real life applications taught in the classroom. Aiosa said the programs are based on state curriculum with lessons geared toward leadership and citizenship.
The 4-H programs are also available to private schools and home school students. Opportunities are still offered for young people interested in animals and agriculture, including the popular Better Beef Show and horseriding programs.
The 4-H program works out of the UT/TSU Montgomery County Extension Office at 1030 Cumberland Heights Rd.
To find out more about all of the exciting things happening with the Montgomery County 4-H program call 931-648-5725, visit extension.tennessee.edu/montgomery, email Melanie Aiosa at mellaios@utk.edu or Michael Lankford at mlankfo1@utk.edu.
