At each 4-H meeting, members recite the 4-H Pledge which states:

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.

Learning to show compassion for those around us is an elemental skill for 4-H. Learning to make good decisions impacts our engagement with our neighbors and friends. Learning what loyalty looks and feels like helps us to increase our awareness of the needs of our neighbors and friends. Putting those pieces into action through community service provides an outlet for youth to understand how their small involvement impacts a much bigger world for the better.

National 4-H Week is Oct. 4-10 and Kansas 4-H exemplifies community service by encouraging clubs and 4-H councils to actively engage during this time. The Barton County 4-H Junior Leaders will be heading up teams of 4-H youth of every age to handle a clean-up of the old 4-H grounds on Highway 281 on the first weekend in October. In previous years, the community service projects have included volunteering to rake leaves at the zoo and clean up highways. Several of our 11 4-H clubs will also have individual community service projects during this time. 

Having leaders to serve on volunteer boards and committees is important for the long-term success of our rural world and these 4-H members are getting a great start on why it matters to take care of our neighbors and friends and how to develop some very practical ways to do just that.

How have you contributed to your community recently? How can you set an example, especially for young people, in how to be engaged in the community and give back for the greater good?

Over the next few weeks, you will hear from several of our 4-H Ambassadors as we talk about 4-H and the 2020 National 4-H Week theme of Opportunity 4 All. They will be sharing some of the opportunities they have experienced with 4-H and how they give back to their communities!

Keep learning. Keep showing grace and kindness!

Michelle Beran is the 4-H and Youth Development Agent for the Cottonwood District, Barton County office. For more information on this article or other 4-H Youth and Development related questions email Michelle at mberan@ ksu.edu or call 620-793-1910.