Special To The Chronicle

For the 76th consecutive year, millions of youth, parents, volunteers and alumni across the country will celebrate National 4-H Week from Oct. 7-13. This year’s theme, Inspire Kids to Do, is a campaign that will give kids more opportunities to do, empowering them with the skills they need to succeed in life and career.

4-H was founded on the belief that when kids are empowered to pursue their passions and chart their own course, their unique skills grow and take shape, helping them to become true leaders in their lives, careers and communities.

4-H alumni around the country are always the first to acknowledge the significant positive impact that 4-H had on them as young people. In fact, research has shown that young people in 4-H are nearly four times as likely to contribute to their communities and are twice as likely to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs during after school time.

In Tama County, more than 250 4-H youth and 50 volunteers from the community are involved in 4-? H. Club locations include: Traer, Gladbrook, Garwin, Clutier and Toledo. You are not required to live on a farm or raise animals to be in 4-H.

Many members enjoy projects such as food and nutrition, sewing, photography, agriculture and natural resources, visual arts, wood working and more.

For more information about 4-H, contact the Tama County Extension and Outreach Office at jhulme@iastate.edu or 641-484-2703.