Who’s ready to do the monster mash? La Plata County 4-H would like to invite all local youths to our inaugural Halloween Ball.
This free event will take place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 21, in the Extension Building at the La Plata County Fairgrounds, 2500 Main Ave. The ball will include themed activity booths, games, food and a dance. We will give away door prizes and awards for Halloween cookie-decorating and costume contests. Please come dressed up and ready to have a bunch of fun.
We will be using this as a recruitment event as well. We encourage 4-H members to bring non-4-H members to introduce them to our positive youth-development program. We will have 4-H projects and enrollment information on display.
I would like to share some the key objectives of the National 4-H Strategic Plan: “4-H Grows: A Promise to America’s Kids.”
In 2025, 4-H will reflect the population demographics, vulnerable populations, diverse needs and social conditions of the country. This vision has elements of inclusion, caring adults, the goal of serving at minimum 1 in 5 youths and volunteers and staff members who reflect the diversity of the population.
To achieve these goals locally, regionally and nationally, we must find ways to provide resources to diverse audiences of all social-economic levels. 4-H is often considered just a rural youth program. However, we must work harder to change people’s perspective of this stereotype.
4-H is so much more than cows and cakes. We offer essential leadership and life-skills education to prepare young people for the future. However, we need to engage our community in more creative ways. Maybe the traditional club program is not for you and your family?
I encourage anyone who would like to discuss how to make 4-H more inclusive to contact me. I would be inspired to develop methods to reach a broader audience.
In addition, I would like to make families aware of how affordable the program can be. Enrollment in our county 4-H club program is $25. This is one of the lowest in the state and allows members to take advantage of a variety of projects that come with an instruction manual, access to local project resources and involvement in county leadership events. We also offer scholarships for enrollment and state leadership events.
If you are interested in animal projects, they do come with costs. However, we have great support from our community partnerships to assist with these costs. American AgCredit offers the AgYouth Program, which helps members with financial aid and educational assistance to cover some of the initial costs for buying and caring for an animal.
If you are interested in learning more, contact me or Terry Jeffries at the local AgCredit office in Durango at 259-1540.
For more information, you can also stop by the Extension Office at the fairgrounds or talk to me at the Halloween Ball. I will be checking people in and dressed up as my favorite country music legend, Willie Nelson.
Greg Felsen is the La Plata County 4-H youth development agent. Reach him at gregory.felsen@co.laplata.co.us or 382-6463.
Greg Felsen
