STATE COLLEGE, CENTRE COUNTY - 4-H is a statewide program teaching kids the importance of having a voice in their communities.
"I'm involved with the 4-H program so I can work with animals and learn new stuff like leadership and citizenship," participant William Kincaid said.
For kids like Kincaid, 4-H is an opportunity to have a voice in their community.
"Being a part of 4-H means I can be the future farmer. I can be the next generation of America's farmers and producing meat and products for the state and county," Kincaid said.
4-H is one of the largest youth programs in the country and this week, close to 700 kids ages 13 to 18 are at Penn State's University Park campus to participate in the program.
Dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Bruce McPheron, says the program works to foster kids' knowledge about what it takes to make a difference in the communities they live in.
"When I talk to people around the state, most of them deny any understanding or connection with agriculture and then turn to the refrigerator or the restaurant," McPheron said. "We will need to eat in the future and if we don't create the next generation with the skills to understand how to feed us, society will suffer."
This is Kincaid's sixth year participating in the program, but it's something he says is valuable to maintaining his everyday life.
"I live on a farm, we raise about 75 head beef cattle. We have goats, pigs, lambs," Kincaid said. "4-H has helped me with raising the best meat that I can on them."
The program will last through August 9th on Penn State's campus.
"I'm involved with the 4-H program so I can work with animals and learn new stuff like leadership and citizenship," participant William Kincaid said.
For kids like Kincaid, 4-H is an opportunity to have a voice in their community.
"Being a part of 4-H means I can be the future farmer. I can be the next generation of America's farmers and producing meat and products for the state and county," Kincaid said.
4-H is one of the largest youth programs in the country and this week, close to 700 kids ages 13 to 18 are at Penn State's University Park campus to participate in the program.
Dean of Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences Bruce McPheron, says the program works to foster kids' knowledge about what it takes to make a difference in the communities they live in.
"When I talk to people around the state, most of them deny any understanding or connection with agriculture and then turn to the refrigerator or the restaurant," McPheron said. "We will need to eat in the future and if we don't create the next generation with the skills to understand how to feed us, society will suffer."
This is Kincaid's sixth year participating in the program, but it's something he says is valuable to maintaining his everyday life.
"I live on a farm, we raise about 75 head beef cattle. We have goats, pigs, lambs," Kincaid said. "4-H has helped me with raising the best meat that I can on them."
The program will last through August 9th on Penn State's campus.
Comments
"Community Participation" is alot more than "having a voice in their communities", it's DOING something to better your community as well. As the saying goes, talk is cheap.
Douglas S.
August 8, 2012 at 3:45 pm
