Trouble joining 4-H (South West WA)

[L&Schickens]

Since October I have been trying to get my son in 4-H. I have called several leaders at the extension offices and at home and get no where. They say they will send me info and never do and they also tell me they don't have a poultry club in my area.

I have had nothing but trouble trying to get my 6 y/o son in. They tell me "O we just had a meeting, but we don't know when or where the next one will be" and "I will get the information right out to you" and it never comes. I am sooooo frustrated I could scream!

What do I have to do to get Loren in 4-H? Even the web site that say "Join Here" does not tell you how to join or who to contact. I don't get it.

Anyone here know what else I can do? I am in Centralia WA 98531
Thanks for letting me ramble.

 

[TennesseeTruly]

I was told that they have to be in 4th grade. I wanted to get my 8 year old grandson into 4H and that's what I was told. I was disappointed because he's only entering the 3rd grade in August.

Laurie

 

[vicki2x2]

That is weird! Have you tried calling the extension office itself and asking them what is going on? Perhaps just ask to join a club that does other small animals and he can do poultry on his own, but at least he will be in a club.

Not sure about your area, but it is now too late for this year, which is a shame, because you certainly started early enough to join.

Maybe put your area in the title, maybe someone from that area can help?

 

[vicki2x2]

Oh forgot to say, I would also start calling those leaders back until I got some results! Sometimes they think cloverbuds will lose interest and they might not follow up like they should. Just a theory, but I would stay on them.

Not sure about the rules in your state, thought they were all the same, but regular 4-H is 9 and up and cloverbuds is now 5-8 and it goes by their birthday as of Jan 1 of the show year. So for instance, when we signed up last fall (sept 08) my son was still considered a cloverbud, because he wouldn't turn 9 until Jan 6 and he had to be 9 by Jan 1.

Here clubs have the option of accepting cloverbuds if they choose or not. Some do, some don't.

 

[L&Schickens]

Here is the link on "How to join" and it is not very helpful.

http://4h.wsu.edu/EM2778CD/join.htm

It also says

Membership is open to anyone age 5 and in kindergarten through 12th grade for most programs.

 

[vicki2x2]

Did you click on the "People to Contact" button? It lists the contacts for each county. That would be the person in charge of the program for your county, that would be a good place to start.

On another note, I program goes to age 19 for non livestock projects (crafts, etc.) and 20 for livestock now. So we do have some college kids that participate.

 

[L&Schickens]

I did. The contacts listed are the people who have been giving me the run around.

 

[vicki2x2]

Are you close to another county? Try contacting them instead and going through their program. You don't have to go through your county and if that is how they are, maybe you are better off somewhere else anyway.

We have kids from 3 counties in our club alone and probably 5 counties that come to our fair. MOST are from our county, but sometimes they switch for various reasons, maybe they have family or friends, in another county, or are actually closer to the fairgrounds in another county, or like the program better, etc. Some kids don't have time to show everything they want at one fair because things overlap, so they will show at more than one fair. They might show their large animals at one county and their small animals at another for instance. This is fine as long as you don't show the same species more than once. At least these are the laws here in Michigan.

 

[PineBurrowPeeps]

Get ready for a long road. It took me THREE YEARS to get my kids into RI 4-H.
Same thing, no one would answer phone or e-mails or they would and say they'd send stuff out, never did.
Finally I met the right person and I was suddenly with the "in" crowd and was welcomed with open arms. It was bazzar.
They also hate homeschoolers out here, they shut down the RI homeschooler 4-H gorup because the kids were supposedly winning all the time

Alas, I still wanted my kids in the program.

 

[Jamsoundsgood]

Try going to the fair this year and talking up a storm to all the contestants. Bring your son. Have him be super friendly while you chat up the parents "wishing you could get your son involved with something like this to teach him responsibility, yada, yada, yada."

This is the best way to get a parent on your side and find the easiest way in. They then have a face to go with the name that has been leaving messages. Good luck! I'm waiting until my kiddoes are in fourth grade to start, but making appearances at the fairs and chatting up the kids (I also try and buy animals from them if we're in need of one) so that my face is familiar and they know who I am. Also, try talking to the kids that get hired at the feed store. I know at the Del's in Tumwater they mostly hire FFA members, who probably could give you some better information too. Good Luck!
Emily