4-H in the spotlight at Board of Supervisors

Glenn County 4-H members recently celebrated National 4-H Week with proclamations from the Board of Supervisors and window displays at schools and businesses.

Five top 4-Hers visited the board Oct. 4 and read a proclamation from the supervisors in support of the special week that ran Oct. 2-8.

They included all-stars Natalie Massa, Kassidi Buttermore and Jeffrey Flanagan and BLAST teamers Katie Freitas and Layne Embrey from different clubs throughout the county.

Freitas and Embrey are in training to become all stars, according to Deanna Rogers, Glenn County 4-H program representative.

"We are very aware of how important 4-H is to our communities," Supervisor Steve Soeth said. "You always put on a nice 4-H night for us to come see."

Supervisor John Viegas noted the 4-H program in Glenn County began in 1913 with the first club being formed in 1914.

Rogers added records indicate the 1914 Glenn County 4-H club was the second one started in California.

Today, she said, there are 459 4-H club members throughout the county belonging to 10 different clubs.

Members celebrated the week by putting up displays at businesses and schools in Willows and Orland.

Seven clubs participated this year, Rogers said, decorating with the theme "4-H Did You Know...?"

It included a bit of history on 4-H and a look at the different projects members can do these days, she said.

Displays were made at Umpqua Bank in Orland, The Hay Wagon, Capay School and Plaza School along with Willow Walk Florist, Head-to-Toe Salon and Curves in Willows.

In addition, the 4-H program also participated in the Glenn County Resource Fair Oct. 2 - outlining what 4-H has to offer children and teens today, Rogers said.

Livestock projects continue to dominate clubs in this county with its agricultural heritage.

They include swine, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, goats and horses along with poultry, rabbits and guinea pigs.

However, there are plenty of things children can do who do not have room for animals.

Cooking, sewing, photography, archery and more along with developing leadership skills, officials said.

For more information, contact the UC Cooperative Extension Office in Orland at 865-1107.

Contact Rick Longley at 934-6800 or rlongley@tcnpress.com.