Volunteers: The backbone of a 4-H program

“If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever.”

— Kofi Annan

In the Garland County 4-H program, volunteers truly are priceless. Without the help of our numerous volunteers, we would not be able to offer all the programs, activities, clubs, and other learning experiences that our 4-H members enjoy each year. Volunteers come from all different backgrounds, ages, and interests, but all have one thing in common — they want to help our 4-H members be the best they can be!

Volunteers help our county 4-H program to offer a wider variety of educational programs to a greater number of young people. A volunteer’s involvement helps to provide a higher degree of individual attention for each child. There are many reasons to volunteer for 4-H, the most obvious being to help guide and mentor the future citizens and leaders of our country. The 4-H volunteers help

4-H’ers to learn by doing. They help youth to develop life skills, to give back to their community, and to build connections with other people.

Volunteers personally benefit because they meet new friends, develop leadership skills of their own, and experience a world of new adventures. Special volunteers in the Garland County 4-H program are called volunteer club leaders. These

4-H leaders are responsible for the individual 4-H community clubs. These leaders plan activities, schedule meetings, supervise club records, guide project selection among members, and attend leadership training provided by the Extension Office. Many 4-H Clubs have several leaders that work together to make the club successful. Not all volunteers participate in the club leader role. Many volunteers enjoy assisting the club leader in a variety of other ways.

Adult volunteers can:

• Teach shortterm workshops of interest to club members.

• Serve as a club project leader.

• Serve on a planning committee.

• Help to provide transportation to various events.

• Arrange for tours or field trips.

• Coach a judging team.

• Help organize special events and activities.

• Act as a judge for 4-H events. There is also a fun group called the Teen Leaders. Teen Leaders are 13to 19-year-old 4-H members that go above and beyond in their community clubs and want to grow Garland County 4-H. Teen Leaders may not have the same responsibilities as adult volunteer leaders, but they help with organizing the 4-H banquet, club-wide community service projects and help younger 4-H’ers with their 4-H projects.

The 4-H program is also supported by indirect volunteers. Indirect volunteers are those who support the program both financially and through guidance. The Garland County 4-H Foundation is made up of volunteers that help guide the 4-H program by raising money and discussing areas needing to be focused on, programs that should be offered, and how the money would best be utilized. The County Extension Council looks at the extension program as a whole and advises areas where needs have not been met.

The Garland County Quorum Court serves as indirect volunteers by supporting all Garland County Extension programs and helping to spread the word about services offered, including the 4-H program. The Garland County 4-H program would not be successful without the support of our leaders and volunteers. If you would like to become a volunteer or leader for the Garland County 4-H Program, we would love to have you. Please contact the Extension Office at 501-623-6841 or cmcafee@uada.edu.

Master Gardener information

Master Gardener meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month online. The meetings are open to the public, and guests are welcome. For more information, call the Extension office at 623-6841 or email Alex Dykes at adykes@uada.edu.

Are you interested in joining an existing Extension Homemakers Club? EHC is the largest volunteer organization in the state. For information on EHC, call 623-6841 or email Alison Crane, family and consumer sciences agent, at acrane@uada.edu. Follow Alison on Facebook @garlandEGF and @Garland FCS, and EHC on Facebook @GarlandCountyEHC.

4-H information

For information about Garland County 4-H Club membership or program benefits, contact Carol Ann McAfee at the Extension office, call 501-623-6841, or email cmcafee@ uada.edu. More information is available at http://www.uaex.edu/garland.