Carissa Akpore, Extension Educator for 4-H Youth Development at
the University of Illinois Extension office in Lincoln, shared some
history of 4-H. She said for more than 100 years, 4-H has been "a
place where youth belong, youth lead and youth learn." The Logan
County 4-H program provides opportunities for both youth and
families.
Akpore said a fundamental 4-H idea of "learning by doing, encourages
youth to experiment, innovate, and think independently." She said,
"Logan County 4-H is growing competent kids who tackle issues that
matter most to the community."
Akpore then introduced three team leaders who are "growing our
competent leaders" - Clayton Skelton, Kaitlyn Helton and Katie Lynn.
Each of them briefly discussed what they have learned from 4-H.
Skelton said 4-H has always been a huge part of his life. He said,
"We have always been very involved with our community through our
4-H club in Middletown" through activities like donating canned
goods to the food pantry and singing at the nursing homes each
Christmas.
Skelton said 4-H has "given me an opportunity to communicate better,
learn how to lead a group, and present myself and my ideas in
another way."
Skelton will represent Illinois at a 4-H leadership conference in
Georgia later this month.
Helton said she has been in 4-H for as long as she can remember and
has been a part of many different projects, but "the most important"
is leadership. Helton said, "Through 4-H, I have really grown in my
leadership skills." She has done team teaching where they teach kids
how to make healthy living choices and build better character.
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Helton said investing herself in kids and helping out people has
helped her decide she wants to be a pediatrician. She said one of
her most important experiences were at the National 4-H Leadership
Conference. Helton said it was one of the "greatest opportunities
I've experienced" where "I was able to learn how to communicate with
people I didn't know."
Lynn said 4-H has helped "develop confidence in myself to be able to
come up and give speeches like this one." She has been involved in
service projects, learned how to help the community, and has done
team teaching. Lynn has found her passion is teaching Ag.
Lynn said she is in several teaching programs in 4-H "teaching kids"
from low income families "about healthy eating." Through the program
she has met many kids, including some from Petersburg. Lynn said, "I
got to see different points of view of how they see the world
through what they are living through and how I see the world."
Lynn said through Ambassadors, I have flourished and learned to
better communicate with others and express myself more.
Akpore thanked the board for their support and for listening to the
youth, who are "our future."
Board members present were Chairman David Hepler, Vice Chairman Bob
Farmer, Chuck Ruben, Gene Rohlfs, David Blankenship, Pat O’Neill,
Emily Davenport, Kevin Bateman, Miles Craig, Rick Aylesworth, Scott
Schaffenacker and Adam Schmidt.
[Angela Reiners]
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