If you want to know more about what 4-H is all about, stop by the Manteca Public Library and view the display showcasing what the program is all about. In the display case located next to the Center Street entrance are photographs and samples of projects done by members of the Calla 4-H. The exhibit will be up for public viewing throughout the month of October.

More than 6 million young people across the United States celebrated National 4-H Week the first week of October. San Joaquin 4-H is leveraging National 4-H Week this year to showcase the great things that organization offers young people, and highlights the incredible 4-H youth in the community who work each day to make a positive impact on the community.

Calla 4-H members, along with 4-Hers from San Joaquin, participate in many programs 4-H has to offer. One of the more popular events is AgFest. AgFest has taken the place of the San Joaquin County Fair and was held last year in June. Many youth from San Joaquin County were there to show and sell their livestock projects. Other popular events are The Food Fiesta, Speech and Presentation Day, The Fashion Revue, National Youth Science Day, 4-H Camp and State Field Day held at the University of California, Davis.

Calla 4-H members take pride in helping their community. Every year, Calla 4-H helps families in need at Thanksgiving and Christmas, supplying families with food and gifts for children. Members are currently collecting school supplies for foster children in San Joaquin County.

Research has proven that participation in 4-H has a significant positive impact on young people. Recent findings from the Tufts University 4-H Study of Positive Youth Development indicate that when compared to their peers, young people in 4-H are:

unearly four times more likely to contribute to their communities,

utwo times more likely to pursue healthy behaviors, and

utwo times more likely to engage in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) programs in the out-of-school time.

In San Joaquin County, more than 700 4-H youth and 280 volunteers from the community are involved in 4-H.

4-H is the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization. It cultivates confident kids who tackle the issue that matter most in their communities today. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 109 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country.

Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture within the United States Department of Agriculture. You can learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org, at www.facebook.com/4-H, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/4H.

If you are interested in information regarding Calla 4-H, contact Sharie Ware at 629.7181.