4-H Week, One Day 4-H bring community service to Bexar County
4-H members, adult leaders participate in countywide projects
SAN ANTONIO – Throughout 4-H Week and culminating with One Day 4-H on Oct. 10, more than 70 members and adult leaders from 4-H clubs throughout Bexar County participated in several projects to benefit their community.
“These projects were part of national and statewide efforts during 4-H Week,” said Greg Myles, Texas AgriLife Extension Service county agent for 4-H and youth development in Bexar County. “During that week, all over the state, more than 11,000 4-H members participated in more than 350 different projects to benefit their communities.”
4-H is the youth program of AgriLife Extension, Myles said, and Bexar County 4-H members were involved in community service activities as part of this statewide and national effort.
“The projects included activities developed by area 4-H clubs, as well as those in which 4-H members participated to assist other civic-minded organizations,” he said.
4-H activities in Bexar County are administered through the local AgriLife Extension office and are coordinated through county clubs and the Bexar County 4-H Council, Myles added.
“I love helping people and being there for people,” said 18-year-old Kaci DeCock, who helped transplant trees, prepare and plant flowers and build a containment wall for a reflection and meditation garden at Fisher House on Lackland Air Force Base.
DeCock, 18, who has been in 4-H for eight years, is parliamentarian for the Bexar County 4-H Council and a member of the Health Careers High School 4-H club, said she enjoys the community service aspect of 4-H.
“We get involved in lots of community service activities through 4-H,” she said. “I’m hoping that when the people here at Fisher House use the new garden they will feel happier.”
DeCock’s father, a landscaper and adult 4-H leader, helped plan and coordinate the Fisher House activity, while he and other 4-H adult leaders participated and provided direction for about 15 teens and pre-teens working on the project.
“I like that we are helping people by what we are doing here today,” said 10-year-old Hannah Logan, who has been a Lackland 4-H club member for about 2 ½ years. “We’ve also helped at the food bank and with dances and during Trick or Treat Street here on the base.”
Tina Stickles and Amanda Sanchez of Lackland Youth Programs said their clubs’ other projects have included arts and crafts, a rabbit project, making ‘thank you’ cards for the military, as well as helping paint and clean up a state hospital located near Brooks Air Force Base.
“The kids also help cook and visit with people who are staying here at Fisher House,” said Stickles, who coordinates activities for Lackland's pre-teen 4-H members.
On another side of town during One Day 4-H, Travis Cole, 13, a member of the Encino 4-H club, helped at the Archeology Fair at Mission San Jose.
“We’re showing people what life in the mission was like during its heyday,” said Cole, who, along with his teen-leader parents, showed visitors the foods and lodgings mission residents had in times past. “We’re showing what people had to eat and how they prepared and cooked their foods, plus how and where they lived while here in the mission.”
Cole, who has been a 4-H member for three years, said other 4-H experiences have included helping at the 4-H booth inside the Texas Experience pavilion during the annual San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo, assisting with a volunteer appreciation event and helping in community clean-ups.
“I really like the science part of 4-H,” he said. “I’m interested in things like entomology, photography and atmospheric science, and I can be involved in those through 4-H.”
Through 4-H, young people not only can be involved in community service, they can be involved in animal projects and other agricultural pursuits, as well as science, technology, communications, the visual arts, literacy, fashion, nutrition and more, added Myles.
“Of course, there are always great 4-H club opportunities where young people can help their community while learning about teamwork and responsibility and developing character,” he said.
Myles noted that additional community service activities in Bexar County during 4-H Week and One Day 4-H included:
- Assisting with registration at the first San Antonio International Farm and Ranch Show.
- A graffiti clean-up at a skateboard park at Lackland AFB.
- Newspaper and pet supply collection and donation to area animal shelters.
- Preparing cards and gift bags for Wounded Warriors at Brook Army Medical Center.
- Helping at an area horse rescue facility.
“Community service is a really big part of 4-H,” Myles said. “Part of the 4-H pledge is that 4-H members give their hands to larger service and their health to better living for their community. These efforts demonstrate that the 4-H’ers in Bexar County are serious about that pledge.”
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