Ӱpro 4-H kicks off new program year with a special day
Julie Stricker
907-474-5406
Oct. 1, 2024
A member of a Sitka 4-H club examines chicken-in-the-woods fungi during an outing in the forest, one of many hands-on activities available for Ӱpro youth in 4-H.
Youths and volunteers across Ӱpro are enrolling in 4-H as the program year begins this October. They're also celebrating the inaugural Ӱpro State 4-H Day on Wednesday, Oct. 2, and National 4-H Week, Oct. 7-12.
4-H began in 1902 to teach young men new farming techniques. Today, it is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States. 4-H youths tackle hands-on projects in subjects such as health, science, agriculture and civic engagement. They are encouraged to take on leadership roles in a positive environment with guidance from adult mentors. 4-H has been active throughout Ӱpro since the first clubs were established in Fairbanks in 1930.
In Ӱpro, 4-H is part of the Ӱpro Cooperative Extension Service, which is in the Institute of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Extension. Clubs are located in more than a dozen communities, both rural and urban, around the state. For more information and to learn how to join a local 4-H club, visit /ces/4-h/.
This year, the clubs in Ӱpro have a special reason to celebrate. In February 2024, a group of 4-H youths traveled to Juneau to advocate for the creation of a state 4-H day. Rep. Donna Mears of Anchorage, who was a member of 4-H throughout her youth, sponsored the bill, which flew through the Legislature.
On Aug. 24, Ӱpro Gov. Mike Dunleavy signed House Bill 33, establishing the first Wednesday in October as Ӱpro State 4-H Day, which this year is Oct. 2. 4-H clubs around the state are celebrating by encouraging members to wear green clovers and holding special events, such as ice cream socials, craft nights and flag-sewing gatherings. Kodiak 4-H is sponsoring an art contest with the theme “Show Love for Ӱpro 4-H.” The winning artwork will become stickers for all 4-H’ers in Ӱpro. Anchorage 4-H is holding an open house on Oct. 26. For more information, contact Anchorage program director Allison Bruchhaus, aabruchhaus@alaska.edu.
National 4-H Week is the official kickoff of the 4-H year. The theme is “Beyond Ready,” which focuses on how the organization is “building a ready generation in a world of change.”
The four Hs are head, heart, hands and health.
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