Latvia and Montana Exchange 4-H Ideas

BOZEMAN - - When Montana 4-H specialist Kirk Astroth went to Latvia, his host and translator thought he was an "Indiano" because he came from Montana. Kristine Zarina, the 22-year-old leader of the Latvian 4-H program, "knew" this from old western movies that were popular on Soviet television.

So, to help set her straight -- and help her learn about Montana 4-H, Kirk arranged for Kristine and Dace Gigele, 26, the secretary general of the Latvian Young Farmers, to spend four weeks in Montana last August.

They stayed with several Montana 4-H families, including the Greenwalts, a Crow Indian family from St. Xavier. And they sought 4-H project materials that could be used back home.

Their impressions of Montana? "Everything is so big -- the mountains are so big, the grocery stores are so big, the (mobile homes on wheels) are bigger than the apartments most Latvians live in," Kristine said.

The pair also learned that most Montanans had not even heard of Latvia.

Latvia, bordered on the west by the Baltic Sea and on the north and south by Estonia and Lithuania, was occupied for 50 years by the former Soviet Union. It had a thriving 4-H program before World War II. After the war, the Soviets killed educators and youth organization leaders, or sent them to Siberia. 4-H and other youth organizations were outlawed.

But after Latvia regained its independence in 1991, its leaders recognized that for the country to have a good future, "they would have to invest in their young people," says Kirk.

Like the U.S. in the early 20th century, Latvia needs improved agricultural production and marketing. By working with young people, 4-H can begin the process of improving agriculture and the lives of rural people. 4-H can also help young people learn democratic principles and problem-solving skills.

While in Latvia in April and May of 1994 and '95, Kirk conducted presentations for 4-H youth and leaders in the four regions of the country. Most of the schools and 4-H buildings had no heat, hot water or electricity.

Teaching was difficult because the Latvians "were hesitant to participate in discussion or activities. They expected someone to lecture to them," says Kirk. "It's a symptom of years of being repressed, of being told what to do."

"It was the hardest teaching I've ever done," he adds.

The Soviet repression of information also led to distorted ideas about the outside world. What little information Kristine got about the United States came from old western and modern, violent movies -- American-made but dubbed over in Russian.

From television also came the view that "all Americans are rich, with car phones and fax machines," Kirk says.

Montana's standard of living is higher than Latvia's, where the average annual income is $480. And Kristine and Dace noticed that Montana families live in large houses (compared to the tiny apartments of most Latvians) and own several automobiles. In Latvia most people travel by trains or buses.

While staying with the Durgans of Livingston, Kristine and Dace learned to ride horseback. They stayed with Liz Jones and her family of Dillon, where they attended the Beaverhead County Fair.

While staying with the Anderson family near Great Falls, they participated in the wheat harvest and were interviewed on KMON Radio.

They also attended the Yellowstone County Fair, toured the Crow Indian Reservation, attended the District 4-H Leader's Conference in Cut Bank, and visited the State Capitol and Yellowstone and Glacier Parks.

Now back in their home country, Kristine and Dace continue their work. With ideas and materials they received from Montana, Kristine says Latvian 4-H'ers are now developing gardening projects and planning "animal fairs, especially for goats and pigs." She is publishing a guide book for 4-H leaders, and is translating a Montana book on how to give speeches and demonstrations.

She is also helping organize several summer camps as well as 4-H exchanges with Finland and Denmark.

Kristine travels around Latvia sharing her slides of Montana with Latvian 4-H'ers. "Everybody likes the mountains," she says.
From the 4-H Clover Project Selection Guide