What 4-H Really Means | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Lifestyle

What 4-H Really Means

It is more than just our head, heart, hands and health.

28
What 4-H Really Means
kieraevebutler.com

To some people, it's just one week of the summer where kids show off their animals and then sell them to get money for them. To an extent that is true, but there is so much more to it than that. 4-H changes your life in more ways than you will every know.

Some people just don't get it. They don't get the feeling you get when you win that first-place trophy with your animal. They don't understand why you are waking up at the crack of dawn to feed your animals. They don't get why you are on the verge of tears when you walk into the sale ring and have to say goodbye to your animal you have come attached to for the past months. They don't get what 4-H really means and that is OK.

1. It is more than just our head, heart, hands and health that are stated in our pledge

4-H is a lifestyle you live and breath. Not just for a week but all year round. It changes you for the better and sometimes for the worst when you are in the ring and your competitiveness comes out. You learn more with taking care of your animals than you will ever in your life to come.

2. It means social skills, leadership skills, and responsibility

4-H teaches social skills and how to communicate with people, whether it is the judge asking questions about your animal or the other kids in your club. 4-H also teaches you leadership skills you will use later in life, you may not think being secretary of your club for three years taught you anything but it did no matter how many times you complained about it. You also learn to be more responsible because you are the one who has to feed your animals and take care of them, your parents don't do it for you.

3. It means you have to work for it

You don't get first place without working for it. It requires working and making your animals the best they can be. You know you have to put in the effort to get what you want. It teaches you the value of hard work.

4. It means meeting new people

You will meet so many new people and become friends with people you never thought you would be friends with. You will make friendships that will last. Trust me, I am out of 4-H now and I am still friends with the people I met during my 4-H career. You will meet people from other fairs too, whether they are visiting your fair or you are visiting theirs.

5. It means you will never forget it

4-H is something that never really leaves you. Even when you are out of it, it will still be a part of you. It is something that makes you who you are, and you will be thankful for it your whole life.

6. It means making the best better

Like our motto says, "To make the best better," 4-H makes you a better person. It makes you realize the kind of person you want to be and how to be that person. It shows you that everything can be improved even if you think it is already good enough.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

179414
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

6547
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

452024
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

23031
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments