National 4-H Week has come and gone. This year it was a little different in Vernon County than in most years. This special observance is held during the first week in October. Since the Annual Chicken Barbecue is held the first Saturday of the month, it is thought of as kicking off National 4-H Week. This year the first day was on Sunday and as a result the barbecue was the anchor event for the week.

Last week during National 4-H Week, a special emphasis was placed on the publicity and promotion of 4-H. This was done by a variety of ways throughout the nation. Nationally there are 6.5 million 4-H members -- it is a large youth movement. The week was also the beginning of the membership drive. This is the best time for families to join 4-H and a good time to organize new clubs.

In the way of promotion, there were 11 clubs in Vernon County that had window displays. This is a good way of promoting the program and was well done by the clubs participating in this manner.

Last week, when stopping on the Square, I saw a window that promoted safety in the work area on the highway. After noticing the window, I realized it was a window display in observance of the special week. The windows were judged and this window displayed by Ellis 4-H Club was awarded first place.

Several people have commented to me during recent months that 4-H is a good program and is good for the kids. Indeed it is. It is impossible to relate the impact that I have observed by 4-H on youth and on families.

The theme that was used for this year's National 4-H Week is, "4-H -- A Pathway to the Future." This will also be the theme for the year. There are a great number of 4-H Alumni who have gone though this pathway and were helped by the program. It was a great benefit to them in life.

One evening while working in a concession stand, Cindy Johnson mentioned that you can tell the 4-H kids, because they know how to work and are good workers. A great number of teachers through the years say that they can tell which students have had 4-H training, because it has benefited them.

At present there are 14 clubs in Vernon County. Carol Parmenter, 4-H youth specialist, said that a new club is being organized. They have yet to decide on a name, where they are going to meet and when the meetings will be held. One of the most exciting times when working with the 4-H program is when a new club is organized. New clubs are one of the ways to include more kids in the program.

There are a great number of learning experiences and the members develop many skills. One of these is the experiences that they have in leadership, including holding club offices. A story on the front page of the Oct. 5, issue of the Nevada Daily Mail included a quote by a first year member of the Walker 4-H Club, 8-year-old Kelsey Willson. She is looking forward to being an officer in her club. Conducting their own meetings teaches the members citizenship and responsibility.

Many of the older members enroll in a leadership project. For his leadership project Spencer Thompson is organizing a new 4-H Club in the Fairground Estates. This will become a valuable learning experience for Spencer and it will also give some boys and girls the opportunity to experience 4-H. Without the new club, they would not benefit from this youth program. That-a-boy, Spencer. You deserve a bouquet of four-leaf clovers.

During the few hours that I was at the state fair, a little time was spent looking at the exhibits in the 4-H building. The quality and variety of exhibits were impressive. This is another indication that youth throughout Missouri are learning a great deal in their projects. Each member of a 4-H Club must enroll in at least one project and there is a great number offered.

Many think of 4-H being for farm kids. Traditionally that is true, but now there are more off-farm members than those living on the farm. In Missouri, 16 percent are farm youth.

You are familiar with the 4-H motto " To make the best better;" the 4-H slogan "Learn to do by doing;" the 4-H's "Head, Heart, Hands and Health;" but most of us are not aware of the 4-H Club Creed. It is as follows: "I believe in 4-H club work for the opportunity it will give me to become citizen."

"I believe in the training of my HEAD for the power it will give me to think, plan and to reason."

"I believe in the training of my HEART for the nobleness it will give me to become kind, sympathetic and true."

"I believe in the training of my HANDS for the dignity it will give me to be helpful, useful and skillful."

"I believe in the training of my HEALTH for the strength it will give me to enjoy life, resist disease and work efficiently."

"I believe in my country, my state, my community and in my responsibility for their development."

"In all of these things, I believe, and I am willing to dedicate my efforts for their fulfillment."