"I want to join 4-H because it's fun!" said Annie Niemeyer, 8, a Clover Kid at the 4-H's annual activity day for second- and third-grade kids.
Niemeyer's enthusiasm for 4-H is exactly what Linda Cline, Webster County 4-H program coordinator, and other local 4-H officials were hoping for with a theme-filled day of activities Tuesday, this year named, "Time Flies When You're Having Fun in 4-H."
Clover Kids is a 4-H program for younger children who aren't eligible for 4-H until the fourth grade. With a day of activities celebrating the year, Cline and Jodie Burke, Clover Kids coordinator, hope to generate interest for 4-H among the kids and make sure kids have a lot of fun with learning activities.
"It's learning; it's exercise; it's nutrition; it's about interacting with others," said Burke.
The Clover Kids kicked off the day with a New Year's Eve party, made crafts, and did hands-on activities, as well as learn something new about each season in the year with Erin Ford, a shared naturalist with Webster County Conservation and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The kids learned about snowflakes, eggs and the animals that lay them, went through an exercise where they were water droplets in the water cycle, and learned about animal habitats.
They also had fun doing numerous activities such as charades, singing songs, and making valentines for veterans with local high school 4-H members.
"Some of these kids have older brothers and sisters in 4-H, so they're excited to be a part of it too," said Burke.
The 4-H members represented many area 4-H clubs, including the Washington Winners, the Johnson Jaguars, the Fort Dodge Falcons and the Douglas Dreamers.
Jeff Fosbender, a 4-H member from the Fort Dodge Falcons, explained why he was helping out.
"It helps them feel more comfortable with people they don't know. Plus it's a learning thing and a fun thing," said Fosbender.
Contact Ian Schmit at (515) 573-2141 or ischmit@messengernews.net
