LIHU‘E — If you are a person anxious to share your knowledge with the next generation of leaders, the 4-H program on Kaua‘i is looking for you to “Make the Best Better” as the program approaches October, the beginning of the 4-H calendar.
The same invitation goes out to youth ages 5 through 19 years who would like to participate in the program.
“When you think of 4-H, many automatically think of farming and livestock,” said Hallie Cristobal, the Kaua‘i County 4-H Youth and Intergenerational Programs coordinator for the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa Extension, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
“The reason for that is because, in 1902, 4-H was designed for rural youth to improve farming and homemaking practices. But, if you have a motto that states ‘Make the Best Better,’ that applies to all aspects of the program.”
As the world changes, so does the 4-H program.
“Over the past 100 years, 4-H has extended its horizons into our nation’s fields by incorporating Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, or STEM, into all of its programs,” Cristobal said. “While striving to keep up with the times, 4-H has also added in different modes in which 4-H can be implemented into everyday life that includes community clubs, in-school clubs, after-school clubs, and military-organized clubs. As the world evolves, our programming must change so we can continue empowering young people with the skills they need to be leaders.”
Cristobal said this applies to 4-H programs on Kaua‘i.
“We strive to ‘Make the Best Better’ through our various 4-H programs offered through the University of Hawai‘i – Extension Services,” Cristobal said. “We continue meeting the needs of our community with cooking classes, junior Master Gardener programs, livestock clubs, chemistry in the kitchen take-home kits, and community service projects as well as our newest horse club on the Westside of Kaua‘i.”
Miss Carrie Harrison, a botanist for the Bureau of Plant Industry, in 1927 proposed the 4-H Motto of “Make the Best Better,” and for 94 years, this has been part of the foundation of the 4-H program.
4-H is global with millions of members. In the United States, 4-H is the largest youth development organization to empower young people with skills to become leaders in their respective communities and the world.
For more information on how an individual can continue Kaua‘i’s 4-H tradition of Making the Best Better, email halliec@hawaii.edu.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
