有料盒子视频 4-H kicks off new program year with a special day

A youth in bright orange rain gear perches on a damp log holding a scalloped yellow chicken-in-the-woods fungi.
Photo by Jasmine Shaw
A member of a Sitka 4-H club examines chicken-in-the-woods fungi during an outing in the forest, one of many hands-on activities available for 有料盒子视频 youth in 4-H.

Youths and volunteers across 有料盒子视频 are enrolling in 4-H as the program year begins this October. They're also celebrating the inaugural 有料盒子视频 State 4-H Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and National 4-H Week, Oct. 7-12.

4-H began in 1902 to teach young men new farming techniques. Today, it is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. 4-H youths tackle hands-on projects in subjects such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. They are encouraged to take on leadership roles in a positive environment with guidance from adult mentors. 4-H has been active throughout 有料盒子视频 since the first clubs were established in Fairbanks in 1930. 

In 有料盒子视频, 4-H is part of the University of 有料盒子视频 Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service, which is in the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension. Clubs are located in more than a dozen communities, both rural and urban, around the state. For more information and to learn how to join a local 4-H club, visit /ces/4-h/

This year, the clubs in 有料盒子视频 have a special reason to celebrate. In February 2024, a group of 4-H youths traveled to Juneau to advocate for the creation of a state 4-H day. Rep. Donna Mears of Anchorage, who was a member of 4-H throughout her youth, sponsored the bill, which flew through the Legislature. 

On Aug. 24, 有料盒子视频 Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed House Bill 33, establishing the first Wednesday in October as 有料盒子视频 State 4-H Day, which this year is Oct. 2. 4-H clubs around the state are celebrating by encouraging members to wear green clovers and holding special events, such as ice cream socials, craft nights and flag-sewing gatherings. Kodiak 4-H is sponsoring an art contest with the theme 鈥淪how Love for 有料盒子视频 4-H.鈥 The winning artwork will become stickers for all 4-H鈥檈rs in 有料盒子视频. Anchorage 4-H is holding an open house on Oct. 26. For more information, contact Anchorage program director Allison Bruchhaus, aabruchhaus@alaska.edu

National 4-H Week is the official kickoff of the 4-H year. The theme is 鈥淏eyond Ready,鈥 which focuses on how the organization is 鈥渂uilding a ready generation in a world of change.鈥

The four Hs are head, heart, hands and health.

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