ALIDA - The Alida and Area 4-H Beef Club has continued to experience growth, thanks to the opportunities it provides for young people in the area.
Club leader Sheldon Kyle said the club has 29 members, up from 27 last year. Not only does it boast members from the Alida area, but there are young people from Redvers, Storthoaks, Maryfield and even Moosomin. The club meets monthly in Redvers, usually at the archery club's venue on a Monday or a Wednesday. Days and times are flexible to accommodate members' other commitments, such as hockey and dance.
Kyle believes there are several reasons the club has continued to grow. One is the multi-generational nature of 4-H. Parents who were 4-H members see the value of the programs and get their kids involved. When the children get involved, they enjoy it and try to get their friends involved.
"4-H is a very unique program. It's not like a sport where you just need to be good at one thing," said Kyle. "There's so many more things about 4-H. There's community involvement. Some members really seem to enjoy that and give up their time."
Other young people enjoy interacting with other youths.
"Some of them [the younger members] get to interact with teenagers, and the teenagers get to interact with younger members as well. Some of the kids enjoy that. There's the public speaking aspect. You learn to become a more effective communicator, which some kids excel at."
Other young people enjoy the beef program. They like raising a steer and being part of the agriculture sector.
"Right now is an exciting time in the beef industry, so some kids are excited about that stuff as well, where it's actually profitable and they're making a little bit of money that they're putting towards their education or their first vehicle," said Kyle.
He believes Alida and other 4-H clubs help build community leaders as well.
"A lot of the families that we have involved are the people that are the volunteers within our community, so they understand that, and they're trying to foster that within their children as well by becoming a member of the 4-H club," said Kyle.
While Alida is listed as a beef club, it has other offerings for its members, including a sheep project that isn't available in all locations. They also offer various projects, such as poultry and even small animals like rabbits.
Kyle tasked the older members to come up with a fun and educational activity that they plan and organize once the business meeting is finished.
He stressed one of the benefits of 4-H is individual competition. Members work as a team, but they are ranked in the top three in different categories, such as showmanship, confirmation, record keeping, judging and more.
"Family members tell me they like the 4-H program as well because their kids are still ranked and placed," said Kyle.
Members learn they might be great at public speaking or grooming their steers, but maybe aren't as good at showmanship.
"It allows them to test-drive everything and find out what their strength is or where their passion lies. It's a good life skill at a young age, because it teaches them that in life there are other things. You don't need to be good at everything. It's good to be a well-rounded person and at least try everything."
The members spend some time volunteering in the fall and Kyle is a big believer in giving back to the community. In the past, the club has held food drives and battery collections. They recently donated money to health care. When members apply for a job, employers will often be impressed if 4-H appears on a resumé.
At the end of the year, the kids ask people to come to the regional 4-H sale and purchase their steer.
"Our community is really good to us as far as donations and support and stepping up to the plate during our regional sales to support the members through the purchase of their 4-H calves."
Kyle believes the club wouldn't be as strong as it is without the families and their support. It's one thing to be a member, but parents get the kids to and from the meetings and pitch in when an event is happening.
"I'm blessed with a really good group of families," he said.
