One of our clients was talking about 4-H, a rural club, in a meeting at our office. Though I am a city girl, I was actually in 4-H for a couple of years when I was in grade school – they had city clubs at that time and I signed up. Their program is the tool my Mom used to help her teach me to sew, cook, even care for the cat and do laundry. At the end of the year they had a show for which we’d prepare an exhibit from each of the units we took – a dress I’d sewed, a batch of brownies, etc. They rated each and awarded ribbons (superior, good, fair, etc.) for each entry along with a cash prize! My own frickin’ money – I was so excited! I’ll bet I still have some of those green ribbons stashed away in a scrapbook somewhere … :)

The year after I quit _{because I was going to junior high and was far too sophisticated for such things} the leader also quit and my Mom picked it up and led the group for a while.

My daughters had some kind of in-school nutrition unit when they were in jr. high that was run by 4-H, but it wasn’t that great. Too bad it’s not still around.