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■ e ■ • Durham By Brenda Larson Learn to do by doing. That's the motto members of 4-H clubs across the country and around the world try to live by. In Durham East, there are 240 young men and women learning special skills and increasing increasing their knowledge of agriculture and homemaking in 4-H clubs. The agricultural clubs coordinator, coordinator, Brian Hall, says that the clubs increase the self- confidence and improve the presentation skills of the young people - involved. He says that 4-H has a wide variety of clubs to join and the members participate - in accordance accordance with their interests. "Each club is led by two leaders. They meet once a month through the summer to discuss projects. They visit a variety of places - various farms, veterinary hospitals, fairs, and they participate in interclub activities," he says. "We have friendly competitions competitions with clubs from other districts and this teaches them judging skills and increases their knowledge of agriculture." agriculture." Most of the agriculture clubs are open to young people 12 to 19 years of age. Sometimes Sometimes the clubs are divided into junior and senior cate-, gories due to the nature of the work involved. In the agriculture program, members can choose to participate participate in junior or senior dairy clubs, beef, sheep, swine, poultry and hope-calf clubs. There are clubs examining farm machinery, veterinary services, farm safety, horticulture, horticulture, field crops and livestock livestock evaluation. This year, there is an additional additional project, says Brian. "It's a new leadership program program for senior members of 4 -H. It teaches the seniors about leading clubs of their East 4-H own. It teaches them public speaking and all about parliamentary parliamentary procedures." Brian says the farm safety club requires members to pass the St. John Ambulance Course. He says the veterinary veterinary club instructs the rural youth in the proper medication medication and treatment of farm animals. "The programs are geared to the rural youth," says Brian. "Although these programs programs would be valuable to someone who has access to farm or who is interested in farming one day. They learn a lot about the work they are choosing to do." There are 90 members in the agriculture program in Durham Durham East. The homemaking section of 4-H has 150 members and Linda Caldwell, the home economist, says the participants participants develop practical skills related to homemaking. "The subjects vary between food, crafts, outdoor education and consumer education," she says. "I hold a two-day workshop workshop for the leaders. They learn all the information and then go back and organize their individual groups." The section the members are working on right now is called Looking Great, Feeling Great and it focuses on personal personal grooming and consumer education. There have been sections on outdoor living and breadmaking. Linda says each club is responsible responsible for a presentation of their findings at an achievement achievement program, a special evening evening dedicated to the display and explanation of new skills and facts. "We've had a tremendous tremendous response to achievement achievement programs," she says. "We've had 300 people turn out and we had to split the group." Linda says that members are eligible for several special Section 2 of The Canadian Statesman, Newcastle Independent, Wednesday, April 6,1983 3 Clubs Motto Is 66 Learn to Do by Doing 99 conferences, provincial and federal, and that 4-H is connected connected with an excellent college college and scholarship program. "There are so many scholastic benefits to 4-H, it's incredible," incredible," she says. Linda attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, studying studying Home Economics, and she has been at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food since her graduation in 1977. "I've been here a while," she says. "It's really nice to se some of the kids who started the program at the time I came here developing. You see them getting their county honors - mat's six clubs completed. completed. And you see them getting getting their provincial honors -- that's 12 clubs and it takes them six years. It's interesting interesting to talk to teachers and they say they see the benefit of the 4-H program in their students. It's amazing to see a 12-year- old get up in front of 350 people and speak. It's really something." something." The 4-H program originated in the United States between 1900 and 1915. The first Canadian Canadian club was organized in Roland, Manitoba, in 1913. Today, there is a national program and each province is responsible for developing its own programs, so there are differences throughout the country. There are clubs in more than 80 countries, with a worldwide membership of approximately seven million. The four Hs stand for head, heart, hands and health and the 4-H pledge is as follows: I pledge my Head to clearer thinking; my Heart to greater loyalty; my Hands to larger service; my Health to better living for my club, my community community and my country. For information on any 4-H program contact Brian or Linda at the Ministry of Agriculture Agriculture and Food, 623-3348. Brian Hall, agricultural coordinator, and Linda Caldwell, home economist, are the two key people running the 4-H program in Durham County. There are 240 participants, in both programs in the area. iW HOLLAND Farm Equipment • Hay Balers • Automatic Bale Wagons • Forage Equipment • Combines • Grinder-Mixers • Manure Spreaders rs£W HOLLAND Call or drop in for Pre-Season Specials! Hymet Farm Supply R.R. 2, Bowmanville Ltd. Telephone 623-2279