By Julie Tomascik
Editor
Whether it’s a small town or a big city, youth in Texas can find a local 4-H club to join and grow their dreams. And a nationwide campaign—Raise Your Hand—aims to help clubs grow awareness of the benefits of 4-H.
“We are trying to spread the word about 4-H through the Raise Your Hand campaign,” Laura Windwehen, Texas 4-H Foundation Donor Relations coordinator, said. “It’s simple to participate. You just go online and submit your name. We’re not asking for money. We’re just asking you to ‘raise your hand’ in support of 4-H.”
To participate in the campaign, click here.
States are competing against each other. The states with the most hands “raised” will win $5,000, $10,000 or $20,000 to reach more kids and help the youth develop leadership and skills needed in their future endeavors.
“If Texas 4-H wins, this could bring up $20,000 to our programming,” Windwehen said. “We are offering 50 percent of the winnings to the top 10 counties that participate to help those clubs grow their efforts with local youth.”
Texas 4-H is a youth development programs for kids in third grade to high school seniors, and there is programming in all 254 counties, Windwehen noted.
“4-H programs vary from showing livestock to robotics to a food challenge. We also have shooting sports and other food and consumer projects,” she said. “Our 4-H clubs in Texas truly have something for everyone, and we want to help youth find what they’re passionate about.”
Windwehen encourages 4-H alumni, 4-H supporters and youth to participate in the Raise Your Hand campaign.
“Every hand counts,” she said. “The more hands we have raised, the more we raise awareness of Texas 4-H, our youth and the programs that we offer.”
As of May 6, Nebraska 4-H was in the lead, followed by Ohio 4-H, Kansas 4-H, Indiana 4-H and Illinois 4-H.