CHIPPEWA FALLS, Wis. — With the start of the 2018-19 4-H year, additional new families and new members are encouraged to join the Chippewa County 4-H Program. The 2018-2019 4-H Program year officially began on September 5th, 2018; however, the Chippewa County and Wisconsin 4-H Program adheres to an open membership policy throughout the year, and new members and families are accepted at any time. For best program experience enrollment is encouraged to be completed by November 1, 2018.
4-H offers something for everyone, and now is the time to join. Youth and their families can learn about photography, caring for pets, arts and crafts, model rocketry, and many other projects when they join a 4-H club. Presently, there are 14 community 4-H clubs in Chippewa County, providing membership to over 425 youth and 170 adult volunteers.
Youth can choose from a wide variety of projects already available, or make up their own. Enrolling in 4-H allows youth to choose projects in subjects that interest them. The more popular animal projects include: cat, dairy cattle, dog, horse, livestock, and rabbits. Other popular projects include: arts and crafts, gardening, food and nutrition, sewing, clothing design, houseplants, child development, home environment, aerospace, photography, woodworking, and shooting sports.
4-H membership is available to all youth in Chippewa County, and in areas adjacent to Chippewa County where no club is present. Ideally, youth should have an opportunity to join a club near them. The best possible situation would be that every township or community, town, and city would have at least one community 4-H club. That would also allow families more choices as to which club would meet the needs and interests of their own family.
In many areas of the county, including the city of Chippewa Falls, there is an opportunity to support more than one club. There is always a need to start new community 4-H clubs to allow more families the opportunities provided by 4-H membership.
To be eligible for Wisconsin and Chippewa County 4-H membership, youth must be at least 5 and in 5K as of September 1st, 2018. Youth will continue to be eligible for membership through the 4-H year following their graduation from high school. Membership/participation in 4-H is open year-round to all interested youth regardless of race, color, gender, creed, disability, religion, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, pregnancy, marital or parental status. Participation in 4-H is more successful with family support. Parents and other adults can become volunteer leaders, assist in helper roles, or encourage learning at home through daily activities. All of these roles give parents and other adults a chance to share time and activities with children.
The Chippewa County 4-H Leaders, Inc. and the Chippewa County University of Wisconsin Extension Office are pleased to salute and recognize the following 4-H clubs and their respective Club Advisors. Additional information can be obtained by calling local 4-H club volunteer leaders in your community.
— UW-Extension Chippewa County
For more news from Wisconsin, click here.