Telling Your Story
It's not the 4-H Club you or your parents grew up in. No, the modern version of 4-H has had to embrace and learn to work within layers of paperwork, documentation and reporting. Gone are the days when you simply showed up at the first meeting, put your name and address on the enrollment sheet and off we sailed into the adventures of learning about our animal or domestic projects.
The livestock side of things seems to have thrived, even though the numbers may have shifted in favor of projects that cost less to complete like small livestock and goats. The domestic projects have sadly taken a brutal beating. You can see the evidence at the fair with increasingly fewer domestic projects, buildings that were once filled with sewing, knitting, food, canning and gardening projects can't fill the space, or have closed the building's doors completely.
It is discouraging to watch the decline of domestic arts in 4-H. It is easier to buy something than make it, and society's fast pace doesn't have time to wait to get to the end of a project.
With most families having two fully employed parents, time for things like canning, knitting a sweater and sewing clothes simply doesn't exist. I understand the family dilemma here. There are plenty of places to purchase pretty home decorations, the latest style, and even a special meal.
What I find incredibly interesting though, is the resurgence of interest in what are called 'granny skills' like crocheting, knitting, needlepoint and other creative skills using textiles. I think it's reasonable to assume that breaking away from the phone to build something is a mental stimulation that people crave. People may not realize they crave the simple satisfaction of using hands and eyes and thinking skills in small increments of time, and eventually finish something that is useful, meaningful or nice to have. It is satisfying. It is a task with a beginning and an end, unlike endless phone scrolling which begins, but never truly ends.
There is something that connects more deeply when the hands create while the voice is engaged talking to friends. 4-H is the perfect place to nurture both skills. There may be fewer people out there with some of the aforementioned textile capabilities, but they are indeed out there. Maybe you are one of them!
Let's hasten the return of granny skills while training a new generation in the fine art of good conversation over time spent with needles, thread, yarn and fabric. Teach your children and grandchildren, and maybe even volunteer to teach eager young 4-H'ers a new skill!
Happy National 4-H Week to all the 4-H families and volunteers. You're keeping something alive that modern society absolutely needs.
Bev Berens is a freelance writer and empty nester from Vestaburg, Mich. She can be contacted at uphillfarm494@yahoo.com.