Any Former 4-H Members Out There?

**forHISglory** · 12-06-2008, 10:08 PM

I belonged to a 4-H club for 10 years when I was growing up. The word "frugal" wasn't really used much, but the entire concept was on frugality and making do. I learned so much from being in that club.

I get the feeling that 4-H is not as big today as it was when I was growing up. Is it in your area? Were you ever a member?

Each year we had an emphasis: cooking, sewing, home furnishings. In each area, we worked our way up the project ladder, with projects becoming more difficult as we went on. By the time I was out of 4:H, I was sewing all my own clothes and designing some. We learned about fabric care, how to care for the sewing machine, how to do laundry, how to iron, etc., besides sewing.

When we studied foods, we learned about the food pyramid and nutrients, how to garden, can, freeze, how to plan menus and shopping lists, how to store and rotate food, how to set the table, how to time a meal so that everything was done at the same time, etc. And that's in addition to learning how to cook!

Home furnishings was where we learned to clean house, how to make our own cleaners, how to make slipcovers, pillows, curtains, how to refinish furniture, how to arrange flowers and furniture, etc. I even built a dresser and a bookcase! We learned how to make our own art work for decorating the walls. I learned how to paint, stain, and wallpaper.

We also had other projects that we could do: photography, pet care, farm animal care, farm crops, bookkeeping and finance.

At the time, it was just something to do, and we had fun at our meetings. We used parliamentary procedure and Roberts Rules of Order. We gave demonstrations and speeches about our projects and had a chance to compete with others across the state. We planned themed parties, all the way from invitations to decorations to food and games. We enjoyed hay rides and roller skating. I hope that you see it was a big part of my life. But I did not really think until recently about how it trained me all along to be more frugal and successful.

Have any of you had 4-H experience? What did you learn that still is helpful today?

**hestlauss** · 12-06-2008, 10:31 PM

Yes, my Mom made sure that all of her kids took sewing and cooking (the girls and the boys) because she didn't want us to be helpless when we got older and were out on our own. But we also got to choose individual subjects to study. Fond memories trying to hand sew the hem of a dress on the way to the Boonville Fair without getting car sick and of going to summer camp in Mendocino. 4-H is still very active in our county and I love to go watch the kids do reports and do demonstrations of what they have learned.

**Rebookie** · 12-07-2008, 03:20 AM

I LOVED 4-H!

I loved entering the cooking contests!

**rottiegirl** · 12-07-2008, 08:04 AM

yup did the 4-H thing from 7 to 19 :-) I showed horses, sheep, chickens, and most of all dogs.

**winner** · 12-07-2008, 09:09 AM

No, I didn't belong to any clubs. Whatever skills I learned was from people I was surrounded by, from books, internet. Sewing I picked-up from my mom, knitting I learned from a friend when I had my first child. Whatever skill you learn in life is good, because one day you will use for sure. Being "frugal" wasn't in fashion a few years back, but look what happens now. It might not solve our problems a 100%, but having all these skills will help us to get throught this difficult time. Who knew 10 years ago, that I will go back to knitting, canning, baking bread, recycle my empties. Being member of Frugal village is such an inspiration, daily I learn so much and all new tips gets me motivated to be even more frugal.

**freebs** · 12-07-2008, 09:17 AM

I was in 4-h but the clubs now seem to be few and far between. when we started looking for our kids we found that they really push FFA here but the cost was HUGE! we did have to go to the extension agent to find local 4-h clubs and we found af ew but they all require a hr drive each way so was thinking about starting my own little group! You can just have to have 5 kids!!

**SaucyCranberry** · 12-07-2008, 12:04 PM

I was a total suburban kid and had no 4H experience, but would have LOVED it given my love of self-sufficiency and frugality. I've been thinking now that my kids are older (almost 7) that I would get them involved in it. I think it would be a great club as homeschoolers to be involved in.

For those of you who were in it--any success tips for me, Mom, as to how to introduce my kids to it and how to be good members? Thanks so much!

**madhen** · 12-07-2008, 12:16 PM

I was not in 4-H, but I was in FFA. About all I remember from that experience is how to castrate a lamb.

**Stella** · 12-07-2008, 12:42 PM

I was in 4-H. I raised sheep and beef. i also showed my horse. We used to live on a cattle ranch that my dad managed. I loved it growing up. I was able to buy my first car with the money I earned from selling my animals.

**Katybird** · 12-07-2008, 01:05 PM

I loved 4H when I was a kid. I loved the home part of it, the cooking, sewing and learning to keep a home running. I was not big into the animals but lots of the kids in our group showed chickens, rabbits and sheep. There were not a lot of kids that showed the larger animals like hogs and cattle until they got into FFA in my area. I loved the camaraderie of the getting together after school for it.

**kabin63** · 12-08-2008, 11:25 PM

I did 4-H for one year, but my dd has been in 4-H for 6 years. It's huge in our area and one thing I enjoy going to every year. I am currently a leader too.