Inspiring a New Era of 4-H Leaders

By Beth Cogswell
U of Montana for MSU

04/19/98 BOZEMAN --  For most of her life, Deborah Haynes has been involved in 4-H in one capacity or another. As a child in Hysham, she belonged to a 4-H club and worked on various projects. As an adult, she became a 4-H leader. Now, as a professor in Montana State University-Bozeman's Family and Consumer Sciences Department, she is working to create a new training model for new 4-H leaders, as well as to broaden people's perceptions of 4-H itself.

"It's not just a Norman Rockwell world any more with pigs at the fair," Haynes says. "There is a strong urban group as well as the program for rural, agricultural America."

4-H is a "project-oriented program." That means members choose a project based on their interests. The program has expanded over the years to better meet the needs of a diverse America. Haynes says that the nature of a young person's project is largely determined by that person. If a member has a particular interest, the 4-H leader works to find the resources, namely volunteers from the community who have specific knowledge of the subject, to help the project become a reality. A big part of being a leader, she says, is "helping kids reach their goals."

Projects are diverse.

For instance, some members might be involved in a construction and design project or a "pocket pets" project -- raising gerbils, rats or snakes. And currently in Gallatin County, there is a strong entomology (insect) program as well as a skateboarding program.

Haynes stresses the democratic, inclusive nature of 4-H. Anyone can join and money usually is not an obstacle.

"If there is a fee, usually it is nominal. And there are scholarships. Counties work very hard to accommodate kids who don't have any money."

Haynes says she values 4-H because, in its small groups, children work with adults who provide them with significant role models.

Although Haynes is effusive about the good things 4-H has to offer, she wants to do more at the college level for the people training to be Extension professionals.

Often, she says, the location of a program determines its structure as well as the amount of experience a leader has had with the program.

"The critical issue in 4-H is to train people to organize," Haynes said. "A lot of people involved in 4-H feel like they can't lead. We don't have clubs if we don't have organization leaders." The leader, she adds, is the "center pin at the club level. The person in the club who brings the resources and the kids together."

Haynes sees the need to develop a consistent, comprehensive training model to assist potential leaders. Toward that goal, she is working with the state 4-H office on campus and teaching a special MSU undergraduate seminar. The course is funded in part by a "faculty fellows grant" from the Montana Campus Compact, an organization dedicated to supporting service learning.

As part of the course, MSU students will be paired up with 4-H leaders around Gallatin County who will act as mentors in helping them start a club. Haynes, along with a student, is in the process of reviewing current 4-H training literature from around the country to, "set up a training model that works for all of Montana," she said.

Andrea Tysver, a family and consumer sciences education/Extension major from Minnesota, has been working as a 4-H intern under the tutelage of Haynes. She's been attending local 4-H meetings and recently led one on her own.

"I like the educational philosophy, the hands-on approach," Tysver said. "This internship helped me decide to go into teaching."

Send questions or comments to Carol Flaherty, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or to Bauder and Flaherty with this link: carolf@montana.edu.

You are the 7887th person to access this page.