A new 4-H club is being launched in Cabool, and an informational meeting is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 6, in the Cabool High School ag room.
The meeting is for all families and volunteers interested in joining the 4-H program.
“4-H is involved in many parts of the community and gives every child a place where they can belong,” said University of Missouri Extension regional youth development specialist Janice Weddle. “Did you know that youth involved in 4-H are 76-percent more likely to attend college and 80-percent less likely to engage in risky behaviors as a teenager?”
And 4-H isn’t just for farmers, Weddle said. It offers projects like cake decorating, scrapbooking, shooting sports, photography, international foods, robotics, small engine repair, gardening, livestock and quilting.
“The positive development of youth that 4-H instills has also been proven to increase confidence, increase problem solving ability and increase the likelihood that they will be a contributing member of their community,” Weddle said. “It is a very exciting time to be a 4-H member and there are options for everybody!”
The new club’s volunteer leaders will be Ashleigh Nye and Kirsten Watson.
Nye is a 2016 graduate of Cabool High School and is attending Missouri State University majoring in agriculture education.
“As an active member in almost every club CHS had to offer, Ashleigh truly understands how much of an impact clubs can have on children,” Weddle said. “She looks forward to helping youth in her home community recognize their full potential.”
Watson became passionate for agriculture at a young age while helping her grandpa on his dairy farm in south-central Missouri. She was an active member of the FFA through all four years of high school and served as both a chapter and area officer. During her membership, Watson found a calling for helping her fellow FFA members and learning new information about how agriculture is constantly changing. She is also attending at Missouri State University and majoring in agriculture education, and plans to teach at a local high school after graduating.
“Both volunteers have a strong foundation and are very passionate about helping our local youth,” Weddle said.
For more information, email Weddle at weddlejd@missouri.edu or call her at 417-349-4134.