In one of the largest turnouts in recent years, 14 directors were elected to serve as township or at-large representatives for the LaGrange County 4-H Club Assn. board of directors at its annual meeting on Sept. 13 at the fairgrounds.
Chairman Ken Martin welcomed some 75 4-H supporters to the annual meeting in which year-end reports are distributed and board elections are conducted. Following the reading of annual minutes by secretary Diane Mackey, a report and remarks were presented by Purdue Extension educator John Emerson, including 2016 4-H participation statistics and announcements about 2017 enrollment.
Newly elected to township seats were: Colton Feller (Newbury), Tammy Kauffman (Greenfield), Jacob Miller (Van Buren), and Josh Petit (Bloomfield). Terry Bontrager (Eden), Brian Gilliland (Milford), Marilynn Grossman (Johnson) and Curtis Sherman (Clay) were reelected for three-year terms. At large posts were filled by Brenda Avery, Sharrita Carpenter, Alexis Grossman, Bob Leu, Sam Lovelace, Lowell Miller and Amy Newby.
The 4-H program is one of the largest youth development programs in the world. In 2016 over six million American youth were reached in some way through its programs. This year, some 1,500 LaGrange County youth participated in 4-H programming through traditional club and project work, events on Purdue's campus, classroom enrichment partnerships, community service activities, and countywide career development events in collaboration with area FFA groups.
Four-H is volunteer-based. Adult leaders and parents offer their time and talents to assist youth in reaching their fullest potential through practical experience with hands-on projects, leadership development, and community service. LaGrange County 4-H is governed by the 32 member 4-H Club Assn. directors with Purdue Extension staff serving as ex-officio board members to assist volunteers with club, project and event development.
Parents of 4-H youth and other adults in the county interested in community service and youth development are eligible to serve in this leadership role which works with the Purdue Extension office to operate the 4-H program as well as conducting the annual 4-H fair exhibit. The 4-H Assn. also operates the 4-H fairgrounds.
The 4-H Assn. typically meets on the second Tuesday evening of each month at the fairgrounds. As a federally-authorized youth program, these meetings are open to the public. To obtain additional information about 4-H, contact the Extension office in LaGrange at 260/499-6334 or visit www.extension.pur due.edu/lagrange.