A critique on current 4-H clubs, competitions, and the millennial generation in the 21st century
…and on the eighth day God created the horse in perfect image, to romp, graze, gallop, play, and make manure wherever it darn well pleases, in divine grace.
The 4-H Clubs and organizations for youth competitions in a variety of fields are a network of youth-based groups and components that originally began in rural America, for rural youth to improve farming practices and homemaking skills.
The H stands for Head, Heart, Hands, and Health, with the motto of “Making the Best Better,” and the slogan being “Learn by Doing.” (1)
The foundation for the group began in 1902 and has expanded to include a wide variety of activities well beyond farming. Activities such as sewing, bee keeping, home economics, special interests, and community service name just a few. (2)
The 4-H Clubs offer youth a very enriching, caring and safe atmosphere, interaction with other youth in a common interest, and they all teach responsibility.
Some states offer youth programs for Kindergarten through 3rd grade, ages 5- 8. Most states prohibit this age range from competition, since research has indicated early childhood development has proven that competition is “unhealthy in kids in ages 5-8.” (3)
Some states nowadays do have 4-H programs for ages 5-8, these are called “Cloverkids,” “Cloverbuds,” or “4-H Prep.” (4)
Ohio had the “Cloverbuds” programs but there was a need to have precise research-based information so a development of a 10-point thesis or composition on fundamental parameters targeting pre-teen and children was created, along with educational design research. (5)
This was intended to help 4-H Leaders and Extensions to make decisions regarding youth programs.
They follow “K through 3rd grade Youth 4-H Guidelines for Programming,” “ the National 5-8 Curriculum Task Force of 1991,” and the “National Association for the Education of Young Children” position statements on “developmentally appropriate practices in primary grades, serving 5-8 year olds.” (6)
This is to promote healthy development, social interactions, self-mastery, etc., with activities in short-term experiences and in attention-span-appropriate (20 minutes or less) formats, in small groups and not alone, and in a non-competitive activity. (7)
Little children do not comprehend or grasp the meaning of competition, and have difficulty understanding the concepts of winning, losing, and good sportsmanship.
Now in modern-day 21st century, it appears that 4-H competition, in specific, the agricultural pursuits of horse, cattle and dairy, and other animal performance shows at 4-H and county fair levels, has far exceeded what used to be “back yard” activities.
It has all but “priced-out” average farm families on shoe string or small budgets, who used to come out and compete with what they had, usually a back yard animal and home-sewn show outfits.
Nowadays if you don’t have a Congress-worthy Quarter Horse to come to the Fair or a 4-H show, you may as well stay home. It seems that parents have upped the ante, raising the gambling stakes so they can vicariously live through their children.
When did it go from a nice back yard horse and a couple of shows with other locals to qualifying for Congress, and exhibitors having matching suits, hats, sparkles and boots at the 4-H and county fair level?
These days it looks like a fashion show in the rings and nobody wants the average back yard cow or equine.
Someone should ask our own Bill Agnew out of Harmonsburg what happened at last year’s Swine competitions at Fair and the Judge therein….Do this, do that, no, don’t do that, but go do this other thing instead, now go over here…..
Things sure have changed, but no one can quite pinpoint where or how.
It is modern youth again, having everything handed to them? Why should they learn responsibility or good sportsmanship when mommy and daddy are there saying they’ll buy them an even more expensive animal and show outfit? Why should good sportsmanship be honored when mommy and daddy are screaming from the rail that the Judge is blind?
The New York Post published an article with the headline, “Here’s what Millenials can do to fix their terrible manners,” on April 26, 2017, by Johnny Oleksinski.
In the article he speaks about Millenials and their “Generation Y-Bother,” with a picture of eight Millenials at a dinner table with their drinks, and all of them with their noses in their Smartphones. (8)
I’m quoting the New York Post, and Oleksinski is quoting Emily Post.
Oleksinski quotes the all-time-good manners guru-ess Emily Post’s great, great grand daughter Lizzie Post and grandson Daniel Post-Senning, who speak about Millenial’s annoying social media addictions and usages of Smartphones. (9)
“ (Smartphones)…and there is a danger (with) these devices.” (10)
Daniel says, “Manners are really reflections of core principles: consideration, respect, and honesty.” (11)
I say it all starts at home.
Should youngsters at the age of 3 be given a device?
Let’s look at the Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition, a technological device, a tablet.
Says Amazon, “Not a toy, it is full-featured Fire HD 8, 1.5 GB of RAM, 32 GB internal storage, add a micro SD card and get up to 400 GB expanded storage. Gives kids 20,000 popular apps, games, videos, books, audible books, and educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more, etc.,”
The devices are given to 3 and 4 year olds, and granted, there is educational content therein.
But, is this really necessary? In my opinion, it is the start of tech addiction.
I am SO HAPPY that I was raised outdoors fishing, camping, swimming, playing in the creek hunting for tadpoles and minnies, and going horseback riding with no technological devices. I am so happy that my daddy made me pick rocks out of a corn field when it was 90 degrees in the summer, made us pull weeds, run a farm stand to earn our spending money, and say grace at every meal.
We wore hand-me-down clothes from our older cousins, only took 1 family vacation ever, and learned to drive on a standard shift farm truck.
The standard shift is now referred to as a “Millenial car theft prevention device,” since none of them seem to know how to work a clutch and stick.
I look you in the eye when I talk and you better be doin’ the same…
There’s something wrong with a kid who ain’t never played in a creek, hunting for minnies and crayfish.
And yes, I do believe stronger character is built when you have to earn something. When something is just handed to you, like a fancy show horse or show cow, a new car, or money for nothing, that’s exactly what it means - - - nothing. (12)
America should wake up now on how things have slid downhill in society. Parenting should be looked at for teaching common social skills such as courtesy, respect for all life, or saving up money to earn something.
Kids should be made to work with hand and farm tools, in the dirt, in the mud, and in the manure, and build some character.
Technology addiction should be looked at and education on common sense should be taught.
Where has common sense gone? Where have God and prayer gone? Is keeping up with the Jones’ and the Kardashians really what it’s all about?
Leaving you to ponder these many splendid points I make to the immortal words of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, “Happy Trails to You.”
1, 2: Internet/ Wikipedia
3-7: “The Journal of Extension, JOE,”, “Programming Parameters for 5-8 year old Children in 4-H,” June 7, 2010
8-11: The New York Post, “Here’s what Millenials can do to fix their terrible manners,” by Johnny Oleksinski, April 26, 2017
12: Roseanne’s Rules for What’s Right & What Ain’t