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4-H’ers Honored for Learning, Practicing Healthful Habits in 2018-19

4-H clubs from 17 North Dakota counties are recognized for their healthful activities.

A record number of 4-H’ers from clubs throughout North Dakota were recognized for incorporating nutrition, fitness and health activities into their club meetings in 2018-19.

The fourth “H” in 4-H stands for “health,” and 33 4-H clubs from 17 counties are making healthful habits part of the culture of their clubs. They were designated as Healthy North Dakota 4-H Clubs for the year.

The 4-H clubs, with a total of 669 members, earned the special recognition. Eight clubs also earned extra recognition for completing the Family Mealtime Challenge.

This is the highest number of recognized participants in the 12 years of the recognition program.

The program also provides leadership opportunities for teenage 4-H’ers; they can serve as role models for younger members.

To earn the Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club recognition, clubs are required to incorporate at least one nutrition or fitness activity into a minimum of six regular meetings during the year.

This was the 12th year some clubs were named a Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club. Each club member received a certificate of recognition and a small prize that promotes physical activity.

The clubs recognized this year are by county, number of members and number of years they have received the Healthy North Dakota 4-H Club recognition, and whether they completed the Family Mealtime Challenge. The challenge encouraged families to set a goal for weekly family meals. The 4-H’ers tracked the number of family meals they ate for a month.

  • Adams - High Plains 4-H, 13 members, one year
  • Barnes - Valley Friends 4-H, 17 members, 10 years
  • Burleigh - Clover Power 4-H, 18 members, one year; Dynamite Kids 4-H, 17 members, six years; Lucky Clovers, 12 members, two years; McKenzie Magnums, 14 members, nine years; North Stars, 13 members, six years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Silver Colts 4-H Club, 11 members, 10 years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge
  • Cass - Clover Friends, 20 members, six years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Dragonflies, 20 members, eight years; Harwood Helpers 4-H, 12 members, eight years; Kindred Sandburs, 40 members, six years; Uniters, 10 members, 11 years; Valley Adventures, 20 members, 11 years; Wheatland Pioneers, 25 members, 12 years
  • Divide - Flickertails 4-H, 26 members, 12 years
  • Grand Forks - Eagles 4-H, 18 members, five years
  • Grant - Bull’s Eye 4-H, eight members, one year
  • Kidder - Farmerettes and Willing Workers, nine members, one year, completed Family Mealtime Challenge
  • LaMoure - LaMoure Clover Leafs, 22 members, six years
  • McHenry - Balfour Roughriders, 34 members, six years
  • McLean - Lakeside 4-H, 32 members, four years
  • Morton - Good Times Ranch 4-H, 25 members, one year; Missouri Valley Bunch, 21 members, 12 years
  • Pembina - Crystal Clovers 4-H, 36 members, one year
  • Ransom - Aliceton 4-H, 32 members, eight years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge; Heart and Soul, 31 members, three years; Hill & Valley, 16 members, three years; Tri-County Ag 4-H, 25 members, six years
  • Richland - Helping Hands, eight members, three years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge
  • Sargent - Rutland Raiders, 22 members, one year
  • Stutsman - Busy Butterflies Country Critters, 23 members, one year; Country Kids, 19 members, two years, completed Family Mealtime Challenge

“These club members are doing outreach in their communities, as well as learning valuable life skills from their club leaders, parents and other club members,” says Julie Garden-Robinson, NDSU Extension food and nutrition specialist and Healthy North Dakota 4-H Clubs program coordinator. “Their creativity is inspiring.”

Lori Helm, leader of the Busy Butterflies Country Critters 4-H Club in Stutsman County, says: “The majority of our members did not hesitate to participate in any of the activities during our 4-H Club meetings.”

For example, the club learned about farm safety, basic first aid and nutrition. They assisted with food pantry donations and participated in a community bakeoff. They also planted salad bowl gardens and various vegetable container gardens.

“We look forward to participating this coming 4-H year with a wide range of healthy activities,” Helm adds.

4-H clubs interested in participating in the 2019-20 North Dakota Healthy 4-H Clubs program should contact their county office of NDSU Extension or visit the website at https://www.tinyurl.com/healthy4Hclub.


NDSU Agriculture Communication - Sept. 9, 2019

Source:Julie Garden-Robinson, 701-231-7187, julie.garden-robinson@ndsu.edu
Editor:Ellen Crawford, 701-231-5391, ellen.crawford@ndsu.edu
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