They bring to the table a very simple, but powerful mission statement every day. “To make a positive difference in the lives of Berrien County youth.” With an enviable track record rapidly approaching 50 years of making a decidedly positive difference for the entire community of Michigan’s Great Southwest, the Berrien County 4-H Foundation is working to rally the troops for a true celebration on Thursday, October 11th.
Foundation board member Paul Landeck, who retired from several decades at the helm of Tabor Hill Winery & Restaurant last year, is working with his colleagues on the board to get the word out to all 4-H supporters, Alumni, Leaders, Past Leaders, and essentially anyone else who has had a part in Berrien County 4-H over the past 50 years to make them award of the golden anniversary celebration slated to take place at Pebblewood Country Club in Bridgman on October 11th.
Organizers are hopeful for an inspirational and affordable evening shared among many friends of 4-H from the five decades of service to the community.
Tickets to the event are $30 each with a cash bar. The program runs from 6pm until 9pm with a social hour, dinner time and then the program. Those wishing to attend should send their check payable to the Berrien County 4-H Foundation to 1737 Hillandale Road, Benton Harbor, MI 49022 by October 1st.
Over the years the combined efforts of parents, leaders, resource personnel, and the Michigan State University Extension staff have provided opportunities for young people from every corner of the county to learn, to grow and to have fun. Currently, Berrien County 4-H has more than 700 members involved in 35 clubs and supported by more than 300 adult volunteers.
The amazing 4-H program in Berrien County offers a wide range of personal development experiences with members ranging in age from 5 to 19. They participate in activities from raising livestock for exhibit and sale at the Berrien County Youth Fair, to sewing, arts & crafts, photography, and woodworking to name just a few.
Additionally, 4-H members find that they can:
- Choose to compete in local, state and national events…
- Make everlasting friends from the experiences…
- Develop skills to last a lifetime…
- Help to make a difference in the community of Michigan’s Great Southwest…
- Live the 4-H motto: “Learning By Doing.”
The traditional club-centered 4-H program achieves its objectives with an organizational structure designed to serve the various clubs, both for the current year and for years to come. 4-H offers four major organization units:
- 4-H Clubs — The clubs are the heart of the program and range in size from a few members to those with about 100 members. Most have regular business meetings where the status of projects and activities are discussed. Most clubs have elected officers who serve typical official duties at the business meetings. Adult and teen leaders provide the volunteer pool for projects and activities, working in cooperation with the Club Coordinator and County Project Committees to provide learning opportunities to members in a particular skill area.
- County Project Committees, Associations & Boards — In many of the 4-H topic areas, the Leaders have joined to form organizations to establish standards and protocol within a subject area. Some are large and meet on a regular basis, while others may be small, meeting only once a year.
- 4-H Leaders Council — This council provides the overall leadership for the club-centered program. It is comprised of 9 adults and 3 teens who are elected by the body of 4-H leaders. The Council works closely with the MSU Extension staff administering the day-to-day operations of the 4-H program.
- Berrien County 4-H Foundation, Inc. — The foundation is comprised of community leaders who are responsible for providing a source of funding for the 4-H program. That is accomplished by placing contributions solicited from the community into an endowment with the principal invested to generate interest. Each year, funds are allocated to the local program to benefit 4-H youth in the county.
