The University of Wyoming Extension invites new and returning Wyoming 4-H members and volunteers to celebrate National 4-H Week Sunday, Oct. 4, through Saturday, Oct. 10.
Administered by UW Extension and supported by volunteers across the state, Wyoming 4-H helps youth ages 5-18 build lifelong leadership skills through project-based learning, mentorship, and community engagement.
4-H programming is available in every Wyoming county and on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The program reaches thousands of Wyoming youth annually through clubs, camps, after-school programs, local and state fairs, national leadership experiences, and even international trips.
Participants explore project areas ranging from livestock showing, woodworking, and cooking to public speaking, robotics, and photography.
“Wyoming 4-H is a fun and dynamic program that allows youth to experience healthy competition and community,” says Mijal Altmann, UW Extension’s youth development specialist. “For many youth, [4-H] is a space for exploration and discovery outside of the traditional educational context.”
National 4-H Week provides opportunities to welcome new participants into the 4-H community and highlight the accomplishments of current members.
This year’s activities include a holiday card competition, service project recognizing local firefighters, and a statewide Bingo competition that concludes with prize drawings from the Wyoming 4-H state office.
“It’s a great way for members to connect, have fun, and encourage new youth to join 4-H,” says Rylie Ogden, state 4-H events coordinator. “Each community throughout the 23 Wyoming counties and the Wind River Indian Reservation all bring something unique to the Wyoming 4-H story and highlighting the small things helps shine a light on those who are a part of our program.”
The event’s theme is “Beyond Ready,” a nod to the many ways that 4-H provides youth with the tools they need to succeed—now and in the future.
“Wyoming 4-H is a unique program because it allows youth to explore their ‘sparks,’ encounter mentorship and support, and learn resilience and lifelong skills long before they know they are doing such a thing,” says Altmann. “By the time they graduate and launch into their adult lives…they have explored what motivates and excites them and learned how to connect that to making the world a better place.”
To join Wyoming 4-H or get involved in National 4-H Week activities, visit www.uwyo.edu/4-h or contact a local UW Extension office. Contact information for county offices can be found at https://bit.ly/uwe-counties.
