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Many people think that 4-H is something that kids who want to be farmers participate in, but the 4-H movement has expanded well beyond the rural farming communities of yesterday. Today, it is the largest youth development organization in the country with more than 6 million participants. The kids who are involved in today’s 4-H Club come from urban areas, suburbs, rural areas and everywhere in between.   The week of October 3-11, 2014 is National 4-H week which provides a great opportunity to learn more about this amazing organization and to encourage everyone to get involved.

For those already involved in 4-H, this week offers an amazing opportunity to spread the word about the great work the organization is doing in your community and to inspire others to join your club. To help you get in the spirit and to reach out to others, here are 15 ways you can celebrate national 4-H week.

1. Sign-up to participate in or assist with your local 4-H club.
2. If there isn’t a 4-H club in your area, find out what you need to do to start one.
3. Wear green every day in support of the 4-H movement.
4. Invite someone from 4-H to come and speak at your church, your child’s school, or another community event to help others learn about the organization and what it offers.  If you are a member, volunteer to speak at these community events to spread the word.
5. Host a 4-H cookie bake-a-thon and distribute the cookies to those who support your local community like police officers, fire fighters, and teachers.
6. Throw a 4-H Family Fun day and invite the families in your community to come and learn more about your club. Plan fun activities, games, and demonstrations that show all the great things about 4-H.
7. Host a chili cook-off where 4-H families and members of the community can show off their chili making skills while raising money for a local charity or community group.
8. Hand out 4-H clover stickers to people you meet throughout the week and use the stickers as a way to start conversations about the great things 4-H does for its participants and its communities.
9. Do something special for the local sponsors of your 4-H club like writing thank you notes or taking them a bouquet of green and white balloons.
10. Encourage everyone in your club to wear a 4-H t-shirt or button everyday during the week to promote 4-H across your community.
11. Give out shamrock plants to special donors as a thank you for their support.
12. Hand out bags of green and white jelly beans at the community park or sports fields as a way to spread awareness of 4-H.
13. Make 4-H clover shaped cookies and take them to your local nursing home to hand out to the residents.
14. Leave a basket of treats in the teachers’ lounge at your school as a thank you to the teachers, custodians, and staff that support your education.
15. Make a sign to hang in your school celebrating the 4-H Centennial that says “4-H, more than 100 years of helping teens!”

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