Warty Goblins, and Jack be Littles run wild
Each month 4-H kids spend time learning various skills, identifying local agriculture, and working on projects for upcoming competitions. Richards 4-H students are no stranger to these meetings, and this month they spent time learning about pumpkins and all things squash. Mandi Wrobleski leads the group and usually teaches subjects such as goat tying, horsemanship, and pecans. But as with any great fall season, pumpkins steal the show. Instead of her usual topics-4-H attendees learned new terms for pumpkins such as Warty Goblin, Jack be Little, and Fairy Tale for pumpkin types.
The 20 plus kids in attendance learned about multiple uses for pumpkins from decorations, to snacks, to a viable nutrition source for wildlife. The meetings focus on the education of a topic from the root up. “I want our kids to have a more diverse experience in our group, so I’m always trying to find fun topics for them to learn about,” explained Wrobleski. Over the past year this 4-H group has slowly emerged from a somewhat dormant hobby to a budding program of various aged attendees.
Recently introducing the Cloverbuds program, parents, and leaders of the 4-H group hope to bring in younger aged children to help them develop skills and interests early. “We have a huge parent support group these parents want their kids to learn, and that helps us stay energized and build our program,” said Wrobleski. While most associate 4-H with just pecan sales, carpentry, metal, and food art programs. This group learns about those traditional topics and has added things like quilting, harvest and local agriculture, food sources, and business planning. Wrobleski happily explained, “we want to reach more kids in our area and show them that 4-H isn’t just showing cows or horsemanship. 4-H has so much more to offer, and I think our program proves that.”
Case in point, while carving pumpkins, 11-year old Becca Butler was introduced. Butler excitedly explained her new budding venture within 4-H, breeding sheep. While she does follow some traditional 4-H roots and shows her livestock in competitions from Ft. Worth to Houston, she is also learning the fundamentals of breeding as well as how to increase her income from the venture. “I love showing, I know the shows can be really expensive too. I want to one day have my own herd, so I can afford more animals,” she explained. Currently Butler has been allowed to borrow her livestock from a breeder but is confident that she will have her own herd soon.
Meetings typically consist of the usual 4-H business, fellowship with both kids and families alike, a meal and interesting topics like uses for pumpkins, pumpkin art and how pumpkins grow. The group leaders talked about various uses for seeds from snacks to planting, while the kids attending the meeting got to handle pumpkins in all stages of growth. Each meeting consists of different topics, with a focus on the fundamental education as well as skill development. The group embodies the 4-H motto to pledge their heads to clearer thinking, and health for better living, through efforts in meetings like these.
While Richards 4-H has grown to over 20 kids in the past year, they are always willing to welcome more into their exciting meetings. As the old saying goes, “when life gives you pumpkins, make pie” and with the skills being learned in Richards, we all know exactly where to go for fresh pumpkin pie!
For more information or to join please contact Mandi Wrobleski, 936-825-5956.
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