Any former 4-H members here?

[forHISglory]

While I got a lot of my frugal ways from my parents and grandparents, I also credit being a 4-H member for 10 years with many of my frugal practices.

One thing they made us do was keep an account book that listed all of our income and expenditures. We had to write an explanation of each item. I hated it. But now I am thankful for the training.

Another project was to make a list of every item of clothing that we owned, and then write out the condition of the garment. We had to decide whether or to to clean, repair, use as is, or toss/give away. We also had to make up combinations of the existing garments to create new looks. Just another way to teach us to be frugal.

Would be interested in any of your experiences with 4-H and frugality.

[madhen]

I wasn't in 4H, but I was in FFA. I don't know if that even exists anymore!

[forHISglory]

OH yes, FFA is still a vey strong organization in the more rural parts of America.

[Molemommy]

I was in 4-h in rifle club , and also a baking club. I learned to shoot and gun and bake a cake.

[moasmom]

I was a suburban 4-Her from age 9 to age 18. I loved it, got a lot out of it, but I don't remember any experiences specific to frugality.

I never raised animals for 4-H, although lots of my friends did, even in suburbia. As a pre-teen I did cooking, sewing, photography, public speaking, cake decorating, etc., projects.

As a teenager, I was heavily into the leadership aspect of 4-H, at the county level, with organizing our county's yearly summer camp as our year-long goal. I was camp director my final year in 4-H and that was a wonderful, enriching experience.

Kara

[bookwormpeg]

I was in 4-H...loved it...did alot of baking, cooking, and sewing..remember we had to make a sewing box out of a shoe box...cover it with material, and in it we placed out pin cushion we made, and all those other things you needed to sew with. That was a good 55 years ago...

[FrabjousDay]

I loved 4-H. I especially liked the leadership opportunities and citizenship projects. I would say that most of my frugal ways came from my mother, but 4-H provided many wonderful opportunities for personal growth and development.

[Sundae]

Was in FFA. Now a 4H leader...2 of the kids show livesock, just cattle and chickens now and infact their first cattle show is this week. Sioux Falls, SD Its not a 4H show but alot of the kids that do show are either 4H or FFA.

As far as the record books go, we don't bother with them, Some times just to much going on to keep them up.

[Rebookie]

I loved 4H! My son is in 4h now!

[momof42003]

I was in 4-H. Learned how to sew, cook, bake, can, use a solar oven (and make one too), camping, table setting, and make center pieces. I am very happy with my 4-H involvement. Our county no longer provides it on any level due to budget cutbacks. That really stinks!! Any how great hearing about all your adventures in 4-H.

[frugalfranny]

I was in 4-H and loved it........ but probably just for the 'social function' of it........living on a farm can isolate you when a teen!!

My mother was the sewing leader for a couple years and while I did learn to sew from that.........and from the outside experience of it..........I was expected to get NOTHING LESS than a blue ribbon!! I did a fair amount of "ripping" to do it.

Took lots of classes and didn't take me long to learn that the more classes I took, the bigger check I got at the end of the year!! (my mother also put a limit on that!!)

IT WAS ALL GOOD TIMES THOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[erinalexmom]

I was in 4H and I will say one thing I learned was to keep going once you have made a commitment! There were sometimes late nights finishing up a project before the fair but I learned to just suck it up because its what I signed up for. I think that "stick-to-it-ness" has helped me because I signed up for these bills and I have to pay them off, even when its hard