聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 The Crossroads Multiple 4-H Club hosted its celebration of 4-H Saskatchewan鈥檚 100th anniversary and the club鈥檚 annual achievement day on Saturday, June 3.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he 4-H program helps young people discover where they shine by letting them explore what they love, discover what they don鈥檛 and try new things until they become a natural!鈥� 4-H Saskatchewan describes their program online.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The event was hosted between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the Stoughton Fairgrounds. It began with project judging at 10 a.m. and was followed by an impressive police dog demo at 11 a.m., which attendees were extremely impressed by.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚t was a combination Achievement Day, 100th anniversary of 4-H in Saskatchewan, and Canada鈥檚 150th,鈥� Gayla Gilbertson, one of the organizers, explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Crossroads Club then served its 鈥淔amous Beef on a Bun鈥� for lunch while local musicians entertained including the Caragana Ramblers, Morgan and Donna Turk, Michele Amy, and WoolTree Grove.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Beef Club show at 2 p.m. was held for youth to display their beef project animals.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e held a cow plop lotto, and the cow went on a square which was unpurchased, so the proceeds, over $300, was given to the Legion for their new roof,鈥� Gilbertson explained.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 A photo booth, carnival games, and old time races were also enjoyed before a steak supper was hosted at the Legion followed by a dance, making for a day of fun and entertainment in celebration of Saskatchewan 4-H.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e were getting back to the roots of 4-H and decided to host old time games like the three-legged race, gunny sack races, wheel barrel races, and an apple bobbing competition, which was a highlight for many of the kids,鈥� Gilbertson said of the activities.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The top five in each event had their names pulled for door prizes from local sponsors.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Stoughton 4-H was first organized in 1933 under Stoughton, Heward, and District 4-H Club through the leadership of D.A. Bowen, with 24 members partaking. In 1967 Beef was phased out due to a lack of interest, but was reorganized in 1978. In 1950 Robert Goudy organized the Rock Lake 4-H Grain Club, and in 1965-66 the Stoughton Multiple 4-H Club came together. Eventually the clubs morphed into one as member numbers ebbed and flowed.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he year went very well,鈥� General Leader Anne Kernaleguen said. 鈥淲e had kids participate in Wood Working, Clover Buds, Light Horse, Beef, Canine, and Photography.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚n the past we鈥檝e had welding, archery, sewing, scrapbooking, and more,鈥� Gilbertson added.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The club has a total of 15 youth from Stoughton and surrounding area who participated this past year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淎 big thank you to all of our sponsors,鈥� Kernaleguen added. 鈥淲e always welcome new members, anyone six to 21, and there are unlimited projects 鈥� so, anything they鈥檙e interested we can set something up for them.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Youth who participated in Beef will host their Achievement Day on Saturday, June 24.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭his is also our farewell year to Anne who has been General Leader for about 14 years and she鈥檚 been integral to our club,鈥� Gilbertson explained. 鈥淲e鈥檙e also saying good bye to two graduating members this year who have been very involved, Liam Hagen and Kyle Knibbs. And we appreciate the continued support of local sponsors because we wouldn鈥檛 be able to continue 4-H in small towns without their efforts.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year those involved with the Crossroads 4-H Club participated in speeches, which included some moving onto the Regional level; they attended the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair in Brandon for 4-H Day where they marched in a parade and met Miss Rodeo Canada and happened to be the only Saskatchewan 4-H club there; there are also ski trip opportunities, curling bonspiels, scholarship opportunities, and 4-H exchange opportunities with youth from other clubs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e鈥檙e hoping to do something along the same lines next year to promote the club and raise awareness about 4-H,鈥� Gilbertson said. 鈥淭own kids and farm kids can both benefit from 4-H and any interest they have can be created in the club.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚f anyone has any skills that they would like to share, that鈥檚 how we are able to offer different interests. This year we had woodworking and it was offered by a local guy going through his journeyman鈥檚 who used to be a 4-H member. So, if someone has skills we can see how we can make it fit into our 4-H Club.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Gilbertson adds that is a helpful website to learn more and encourages people to get involved and as the 4-H motto declares 鈥淟earn to do by doing.鈥�
