What is 4-H

Hey!
you're young--
you're hyped--
you're committed--
you want to make a difference.

So what are you going to do?
Make a difference in 4-H!
4-H is a bunch of kids just like you--kids who have a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm, and a lot of fun. And they make a big difference in the lives of people they know.

In 4-H, you can really do something important for your community. You can help the environment by doing a cleanup along a highway, at the beach, or in the city park. You can help older people by adopting a grandparent and leading a sing-along or other activity at a nursing home. You can help brighten up your town by planting flowers, trees, and gardens in parks, vacant lots, and public places. You can help people in need by collecting donations of food, eyeglasses, clothes, and books. And you can make lots of good friends, learn important skills, and have tons of fun, too!

Make a difference in 4-H--and 4-H will make a difference in you!

4-H is . . . Head, Heart, Hands, and Health
Head: Thinking
4-Hwill get you thinking. You'll learn how to think as a team member and how to work with others to accomplish
your goals. 4-H helps you build the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you'll need to be a strong, productive adult. You'll find
new ways to see the world and to see yourself.
4-H is learning and achieving!

Heart: Feeling
It can be tough growing up today. To sort out your thoughts, ideas, and feelings, you can talk with 4-H members
and leaders about things that are important to you. You'll probably find that other people in 4-H feel the same way
you do! In 4-H, you develop relationships with other kids and with caring adults. You'll build friendships and memories
that will last a lifetime!
4-H is sharing and caring!
Hands: Doing
In 4-H, you'll do fun things and learn skills you can use for the rest of your life--on your job, at home, or with your
friends. 4-H'ers work to improve their communities, share their skills and ideas with others, and get hands-on
experience for the future. You'll learn new skills and explore careers that interest you.
4-H is serving others!

Health: Living
4-H helps you learn to make healthy choices about exercise and eating. Being healthy means feeling good inside
and outside, with school, friends, and family. In 4-H, you'll learn how to develop a healthy lifestyle, and you'll find out about the consequences of unhealthy decisions. Your physical and emotional well-being are important, and in 4-H you can achieve your fullest potential!
4-H is making healthy choices!

4-H is you!

To be part of 4-H, first call your county office of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service. You can find the number in the county government section of your phone book. Look under the name of your county.

You can join a 4-H Club.
Joining a club is a great way to get involved in 4-H. 4-H clubs have regular meetings and officers, just like any other youth organization. You will get a chance to meet other kids, learn leadership skills, go on trips, have parties, and be part of special activities and projects.

4-H club members don't have to wear uniforms or pay membership fees, but they do enjoy wearing hats, t-shirts, and other stuff with the clover on it!

In a 4-H Club, you can:
      Learn about making decisions with a group.
      Develop skills in expressing your ideas and speaking before a group.
      Try new ideas and ways of doing things.
      Develop citizenship and leadership skills.
      Find out about special things you're interested in, like photography, the environment, animals, food and nutrition, or public speaking.
      Develop self-confidence.
      Build a sense of pride in yourself and your club.
      Learn to be part of a team to get things done.
      Go to a summer camp or leadership workshop, show your work at a fair, travel to other counties or states, attend meetings and events with other young people, earn scholarships for college, and much, much more!
      Make new friends and have tons of fun!

You can learn something new in a 4-H Special Interest Program.
A Special Interest Program is a workshop or series of workshops on a topic you're interested in. You can learn about managing your money and how to choose things you want to buy, like clothes, CDs, rollerblades, bikes,
and other stuff. You can also learn about careers in science and health, and you can learn about space exploration.
Your county Extension agent can tell you which special interest programs are available in your area.
You can be part of a 4-H School Enrichment Program.
4-H School Enrichment Programs are special projects that can add a lot to your school curriculum. You might learn about white-tailed deer, endangered species, fish, or wildlife predators.

Your county Extension agent can let you know about school enrichment programs available in your county, and you can pass that along to your teacher.

But 4-H is more than just a club or a single activity--4-H is young people helping others and getting ready for the future. So make the best better with 4-H!

The four-leaf clover is the emblem of 4-H. The clover has an "H" on each leaf, representing Head, Heart, Hands, and Health. The clover was adopted way back in 1909!

The green clover symbolizes growth and youth, and the white color of the H's represents sincerity and honesty.
4-H involves the whole person--head, heart, hands, and health--and gives kids a chance to give their very best to their families, their communities, and the future!

The 4-H Clover is protected under guidelines established by the United States Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture. Permission of its use and affiliation is required by the Director of Texas Cooperative Extension.

To find out how you can be part of 4-H, call your county Extension office. You can find the number in the county government section of your phone book, or go to the directory page on the agprogram site to email your county office.

So you and your friends want to make a difference in your community? Here are some more great ideas--you have the power to make them happen!

4-H Motto and Pledge
In support of the 4-H Club Motto, To Make the Best Better,
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.

4-H Creed
I believe in 4-H Club work for the opportunity it will give me to become a useful citizen.
I believe in the training of my HEAD for the power it will give me to think, to plan, and to reason.
I believe in the training of my HEART for the nobleness it will give me to be kind, sympathetic, and true.
I believe in the training of my HANDS for the ability it will give me to helpful, skillful, and useful.
I believe in the training of my HEALTH for the strength it will give me to enjoy life, to resist disease, and to work efficiently.

I believe in my country, my state, and my community and in my responsibility for their development.
In all these things I believe, and am willing to dedicate my efforts to their fulfillment.

Check out what 4-H has to offer!