2020 Fall Farm Outlook

PAGE 28 2020 Logan County Farm Outlook LINCOLN DAILY NEWS October 28, 2020 CONTINUE X clubs and organizations focused by giving L ogan County residents in general are generous people. It is seen almost daily as the call goes out to help a friend in need or support a local charity. That giving nature instilled from youth is cultivated by parents, teachers and leaders of groups or clubs. Locally, the Logan County 4-H program and the Farm Bureau Young Leaders are fine examples of farm organizations teaching those values. For more than 100 years, 4-H has been a part of growing up for thousands of young farm children. The clubs began in the early 1900’s and were the successors to the Corn Growers Club and the Tomato Club. The two earlier clubs were exclusive to farm children with the Corn Growers being a boy’s only club aimed at teaching new farming techniques to the upcoming generations. The Tomato Club was for girls and taught home economics and homemaker skills. When the clubs evolved to 4-H they were still segregated between boys and girls and for farm kids only. Over the years 4-H has evolved and now includes many urban clubs with children who do not have agricultural backgrounds. Gender lines have also been erased and today a boy can sew or bake cookies and a girl can show livestock, something that would have been unheard of at the beginning of the organization. While 4-H has evolved, its pledge has remained the same – “I pledge... my Head to clearer thinking, my Heart to greater loyalty, my Hands to larger service, my Health to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world. Community service is a part of the “Hands” of the pledge and one that is taken seriously by local 4-H groups. Local clubs submit their annual applications for recognition to the Logan County Extension Office. Program Coordinator Patty Huffer shared some community service activities from three of the local clubs. Atlanta Ag 4-H Cindy Schempp noted, “Covid forced us to change how we serve our community in person. Although covid cancelled events we are typically involved with, covid also opened doors for 4-H members to be respectful of HEALTH and put HANDS into action to reach beyond our community.” Reported activities included help to farmers last year in September as the club partnered with the Olympia FFA to provided sack L ocal F arm