Program draws 4-H members from large region

Cass County 4-H and County Extension Service held its first multi-county youth lab Saturday at the Fairview Community Center near Linden.

The daylong event was planned by local volunteers serving on 13 committees and supported by 41 sponsors, Extension Agent John Ferguson said.

The program to highlight healthy living, environmental awareness and leadership development drew about 100 attendees.

“In the past, we’d had an annual, one-day summer program of different titles, such as ‘Back to Nature Day Camp.’ But attendance had dropped, so we began planning, changed the focus and name, and decided to invite all 4-H clubs from surrounding counties,” Ferguson said.

The four tracks of archery, robotics, gardening and healthy decisions were chosen as the learning courses. A noon lunch and a fashion show, in which 4-H members modeled heir own clothes made from recycled materials, were highlights of the day.

Three staff and faculty members from Prairie View A&M University attended to assist in with learning stations, Ferguson said.

“Our local leaders worked along with them,” Ferguson said. “Kay Burton of the Hope 4-H Club helped with the archery instruction, George Rowe and the Douglassville 4-H’ers did the same with gardening and the new Booker T. Washington 4-H Club in Atlanta helped with robotics.”

Ferguson said 4-H Youth Ambassadors Demetric Jacobs and Hal Hogan have an interest in robotics and helped the Booker T. Washington Club.

Cass County 4-H clubs participating included Classic, Champion, Lodi; Booker T. Washington, Douglassville; Hughes Springs Heros for Health Spin and Cass County Sharp Shooters. The Silas Hunt 4-H Club from Arkansas also attended.

Staff photo by Neil Abeles The 4-H Youth Lab event ended with a “trashion” fashion show Saturday at the Fairview Community Center. The show featured 4-H members as models who had created their own garments using recyclable items and things found around the home.