Elizabeth Ludwig of Saulsbury 4-H Club and Kailynn Anderson of Lubeck Lucky Clovers 4-H Club complete a service project at the 4-H Camp planting flowers that are pollinator friendly. (Photo Provided)

MINERAL WELLS — Youth in Wood County have an opportunity to participate in National 4-H Week, held Oct. 1-7.

The week in Wood County will kick off with club displays throughout the area for membership recruitment.

“The 4-H program provides so many opportunities for young people to learn and grow in their communities through leadership, service to others, friendships, skill development, and more,” said Jodi L. Smith, 4-H Extension Agent.. “In my nearly 20 years with WVU Extension, I’ve witnessed so many young people growing up in the 4-H program and continuing their involvement beyond membership and becoming volunteers and mentors to the next generation.”

The week will wrap up with the Wood County 4-H Camp Annual Ox Roast fundraiser.

The Ox Roast will have a great meal with local, 4-H and FFA raised beef roast prepared in a pit with all of the sides for $15 a meal, Smith said.

Cyleigh Sampson, winner of the Spirit of Camp, lights the candle of Emma Daley, winner of the Hands H, during the final Council Circle at Older 4-H Camp. The council circle is a historic location at the 4-H camp where campers gather around the campfire each night to share songs and skits, and on the final night of camp is where awards are given. (Photo Provided)

All proceeds support the historic 4-H campground. Volunteers and teen leaders will be at the event to answer questions and talk to anyone interested in joining 4-H.

National 4-H Week is an event hosted nationally each year to encourage young people to join a local club where they will meet other youth, participate in meaningful learning opportunities, serve their communities and enjoy the host of activities offered by the nation’s largest youth development program, Smith said.

This year’s theme centers around the love and passion young people find with 4-H, she said.

“Our state theme this year is ‘Growing with 4-H’ and it is very fitting and describes the real essence of the program,” Smith said. “Many kids today aren’t learning essential life skills, and 4-H participation teaches those skills through fun, hands-on activities, projects, and leadership opportunities.”

West Virginia 4-H is a free youth development program of West Virginia University Extension that reaches more than 10,000 young people each year through clubs, camps, schools and other specialized programs, like science, technology, engineering and math education. Faculty, staff and volunteers provide unique environments where young people can grow and learn about a host of activities and educational programs, including annual projects.

4-H is an opportunity for those in the area to join an organization that is helping to empower youth to become true leaders within their communities, officials said, adding there are 4-H clubs in all of the surrounding counties and throughout the state.

By signing up for the Wood County 4-H program, clubs also provide youth with new experiences, important leadership skills and enhanced confidence.

In West Virginia, one in every four youth is involved in 4-H. Youth between 9 and 21 can join 4-H with a parent or guardian’s permission. Younger children, ages 5 to 8, who are interested in the practices of 4-H can join a pre-4-H program called Cloverbuds, which focuses more on fun and social activities that set the stage for future learning. Older members can become active in any of the seven collegiate 4-H clubs in the state.

While 4-H programs of the past have focused on agriculture and farming, today’s 4-H programs are more diverse, exposing kids to hands-on learning experiences in areas such as leadership, science, engineering, technology, citizenship, land judging, shooting sports and healthy lifestyles. Club members may also learn about higher education opportunities and even be eligible for scholarships available through WVU Extension.

For more information about 4-H opportunities in your community, contact the WVU Extension office in Wood County at 304-424-1960 or visit extension.wvu.edu/wood.