President Obama has encouraged parents to unplug the TV and put away the video games. These digital activities, besides interfering with homework, often inhibit active, old-fashioned play. Motivating kids to be fully engaged in "doing" is something in which 4-H excels. Accordingly, I was dismayed to hear that the Washington County Board intends to eliminate all 4-H funding in that county. ("A Way of Life Could be a Thing of the Past," March 4).
Many people remember 4-H as an organization that teaches youths how to raise pigs and cattle, sew and cook, or fix a tractor. It still does those things, to some degree, but times have changed -- and so has 4-H.
I have two teenage sons in the program, and we are anything but a farm family. Neither my spouse nor I participated in 4-H as kids, and we know nothing about livestock. He's an industry engineer in the magnetic data recording business, while my background is in microcode programming. By all accounts, we are a geek household. So why do we feel so strongly about preserving 4-H, whose origins stem from a rural agricultural lifestyle?
Recall the last gathering you attended at which teens were present. What did you talk about? Sports, school or technology? Maybe you couldn't even converse, because the teens were glued to the latest DVD, absorbed in playing "World of Warcraft" or "Halo 3" on the computer, engrossed in "SportsCenter" on cable TV, or intently focused on the newest YouTube episode. Over the years, I have heard adults mention how seldom kids go outside to sled or skate, swim or fish, or even play a pickup game of football. Rather, they prefer to stay inside and watch a movie or play "Madden NFL" on the Xbox.
"Infotainment" is the new word that describes this type of play. And 4-H is the antithesis to infotainment.
Now envision yourself at the Washington County Fair, inside the 4-H building. Kids are lined up, projects in tow, waiting their turn to display their talents. Step up to these youth and inquire about their projects. You will have a conversation of substance -- and maybe even discover a common interest.
Ask the 16-year-old about the computer he built. Look at the marshmallow roaster the 12-year-old made that uses principles of optics. Ask the 15-year-old about the kite she created from scratch and its use of aerodynamics. Watch the movie a 13-year-old made about his pet rabbit. Look at the photo the 11-year-old captured of her dog, and hear how she added digital enhancements.
While exhibiting at the fair is the heart of 4-H, its people are its soul. Look closer at the 4-H families, and you'll see that we come from diverse backgrounds. Some of us send our children to public schools, some of us home-school, and others elect charter or private schools. We're small-business owners and employees of large corporations. We attend different churches and have varying political views.
