Spotlight on:

Michigan State University Extension educator: Pat Waugh Cooperative Extension office: 1800 Imlay City Rd., Suite 1, Rich Building For more information: 810-667-0343 LAPEER TWP. — Each year, the variety of programs offered by Lapeer County 4-H touch the lives of hundreds of young people between the ages of 5 and 19.

According to Michigan State University Extension Educator Pat Waugh, there are approximately 50 different clubs in the local 4-H system, focusing on activities such as robotics, shooting sports, dogs, horses and livestock. The trend lately, Waugh said, is groups with a smaller focus like the previously mentioned groups, but there are also clubs that follow a community structure, and they have a wider variety of activities. For example, she said, there is a new club that does activities pertaining to dairy foods, dairy goats, angora goats, beekeeping, spinning, knitting, crocheting, tatting, photography and performing arts.

4-H, with its variety of activities, is a positive youth development program, Waugh said.

“It gives young people the opportunity to learn life skills and knowledge and character development that will help them to be successful in their lives,” she said.

As far as staff goes, 4-H administrative and legal duties are handled through the MSU Cooperative Extension by Waugh, a part-time program aide and some secretarial support, but all the club projects are done with adult volunteers.

4-H is a national program, and receives some funding on the national, state and county levels, but all individual club projects must be paid for through fundraising. In addition, Waugh said, the local 4-H is sending 14 young people this year to the state citizen workshop in Lansing, which costs $300 per person.

“We’re hoping to raise enough money so each of the kids will only have to pay $50,” she said.

The main 4-H fundraiser is not the livestock auction at the county fair, contrary to popular belief, Waugh said. Rather, it’s the spring auction, which will be held on April 13 and 14 this year at the Lapeer County Center Building. The April 13 event will be a celebrity items auction, while the April 14 auction will have general merchandise, ranging from an African safari and tickets to Disney World down to local pizza, hair cut and oil change certificates. The money raised at the spring auctions will go toward county 4-H programs and fund activities.

If you would like more information about 4-H, you can reach Waugh at 667-0343. The Cooperative Extension office is located at 1800 Imlay City Rd., Suite 1, in the Rich Building, where the Lapeer County Health Department is located.

— Krystal Johns