4-H Club Days Helps Youth Builds Skills

by Nickie Harding
4-H Youth Development Agent

Few things are better than hearing, "I'm not as nervous in front of an audience anymore!" from a 4-

H'er after they complete their prepared presentation. Self- confidence, presentation techniques and many other forms of growth and skill development is what our 4-H Club Day are all about!

In our house, we spend several months thinking about how each of our 4-H’ers will showcase their skills at County Club Day. I have one 4-H’er who loves to talk and teach others about his variety of 4-H project work. I have another 4-H’er who would rather be a part of a conversation or group discussion while exploring her 4-H project work throughout the year. Thankfully, 4-H Club Day offers multiple ways my 4-H’ers can showcase their talents in a comfortable and positive environment.

What is 4-H Club Day? County 4-H Club Day is an annual event that allows 4-H’ers to demonstrate the benefits and opportunities provided through 4-H by showcasing themselves. Club Day offers 4-H’ers an opportunity to learn skills and gain confidence in their abilities to exercise parliamentary procedure, speak effectively, and give creative performances in the arts. Presentations offered at Club Day allow 4-H’ers the opportunity to participate as individuals, as a group, or even as a club.

4-H Club Day is an important event for our family. Our son Hunter started his 4-H Club Day journey as a Cloverbud, demonstrating how to make chocolate chip cookies. Today, he competes in multiple public speaking events as an individual but also in group events. For our daughter, Sadie, Club Day is an experience that really puts her outside her comfort zone. However, she participates in a club event called Model Meeting where she can be a part of the conversation while working to build her communication skills and learn from others. 4-H Club Day has allowed them the opportunity to build their parliamentary procedure knowledge, lead effective meetings, and communicate effectively and comfortably with an audience of all ages.

For youth who have a competitive edge, this event is for them too! Recognition is an important piece of the overall experience. Ribbons are awarded to participants by comparing their performance against a standard of excellence system and positive feedback provided by individuals judging the events. This feedback helps our 4-Hers grow and fine-tune their skills as they continue to advance in their abilities and grow their confidence.

The community is invited to come and watch our 4-Hers perform, speak, and lead while showcasing all their hard work, knowledge, and talents. Douglas County 4-H Club Day is scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2025 and will be on the Douglas County Fairgrounds. For more information about Douglas County 4-H Club Day and all the events it offers, go to: https://www.douglas.k-state.edu/news-events/4h-news/4h-events/4-hclubdays.html.