Trouble joining 4-H (South West WA)

[JennsPeeps]

I posted a link in this thread to see if we coudl help get to the bottom of this for you: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=461&p=234

 

[silkiechicken]

Good luck. It "never existed" for the everett area... and snohomish/monroe was just too far away. I've heard that in some areas, "kids clubs" turn into parent contests with more back stabbing than it's worth.

Perhaps you could try FFA? Future Farmers of America?

 

[Slightly Cracked]

Here in this area the 4 H leader did not share the intrest of the kids that had animals. She wanted to do more speechs and plays and stuff (which is fine just not my bag of worms.

).

So I went to the extention office and told them I wanted to start a 4 H club and they gave the paperwork to fill out and that was that.
I did lots of research on what to do at the monthly meetings and so far so good. It has been a year in September and we have alot of fun so far.
We did Hydro Rockets, Indian Heritage, Fire Station, Fall Party(Halloween), Sent Card to the Troops, Water Conservation, and other thing I can't remember right now!!

Every month our extention office holds a parent and leaders meeting. It is open to anyone that has a kid intrested or in 4H. See if your county has something like that

Good Luck!!
SC

 

[Poultry Master]

I think there is a poultry 4-H club in onalaska.

 

[L&Schickens]

Thanks for all the replies.
It definatly seems that when I mention "Poultry" everyone I talk to runs for cover. So I have been looking up the 4-H showmanship for poultry on line and taking my son to open shows instead. But I really think the whole 4-H experience would be good for him and me.
My son is not home schooled but I am a stay at home mom. I think I will go to the extention office and try to start my own club. I know a lot of kids who would love to join up for poultry.
OR I may have to move to Utah!!

 

[Greg Richardson]

WOW! I must be missing something here. If people are judging you by what you drive, who you know, etc, to determine if you get in why would anyone want to participate with those type of people?

I'd rather go get a root canal then be around a bunch of snobs!

 

[L&Schickens]

Quote:
Who do I contact to find out about that one?

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
4H ain't what it used to be. At least that's what I discovered with the horse clubs when my kids were younger. It was all politics. It didn't matter if your kid rode the best. It didn't matter if your kid's horse behaved the best or how well it performed. It didn't matter if your kids actually took care of their own horses. It only mattered who you were or what trainer the judge was kissing butt to. Backyard horses were shunned. In a pleasure class (that is where the horse is judged more so than the rider) I saw a kid come into the ring and the judge actually got on the loud speaker and announced it like he thought the kid and horse were rock stars. He told everybody that the horse was trained by so & so and was a spectacular animal.

While in the ring, the horse bucked 3 times. There were about 15 kids in the class. No other horse acted up. My daughter & her thoroughbred performed very well. One of my boarder's kids was riding a Morgan and they did very well. Both girls did great and their horses were flawless. The judge placed the kid on the bucking horse and neither of the girls! This judge only placed quarter horses and paints all day long. He would not place any other breed. We found that to be a consistent pattern with the majority of the judges. They are so entrenched in their breed registries and cronyism with their trainer friends that it was a waste of time for anybody not in their inner circle. I think problems like this are destroying 4H.

 

[EweSheep]

I used to do 4H back in the early 80's and seeing shows today really sucks, particuarly the horsemanship shows. I dont see that in poultry shows yet in my area.

Makes me wonder if I should put my DD in 4H classes and shows for FUN or am I going to play politics with them?

 

[horsejody]

Quote:
Give it a try. If the politics are there, walk away and find something better for yiour DD. That's what we finally did with our kids.