Adair County 4-H youth council seeks new members

The eight most recent members of the Adair County 4-H Youth Council kicked off the 2022-23 4-H year with a meeting Sunday at the Extension Office.

The youth council consists of some of the most involved high school-age 4-H Adair County has. They hold meetings monthly and members are expected to be on planning committees, give valuable input to projects the group embarks on and help with a myriad of county 4-H programs and events. Most of all, a recent application for the group states that members are to be a positive role model in their 4-H club, school, community and during council activities.

Nodaway Valley senior Brandon Raasch was at Sunday’s meeting and is a four-year member of the group. One of the things that stands out the most to Raasch are the opportunities being on youth council gives him in the community.

“We help set up the county fair and help with a couple of community service projects each year,” Raasch said. “We’ve been a little slower [doing some of those projects lately] but we hope to pick back up this year.”

One notable activity the youth council helped with recently was a dinner for current and former 4-Hers to connect with each other. While a small group gathered for the event, it was still a valuable experience for all involved.

“We wanted to appreciate our alumni who have helped us through 4-H and been there in 4-H doing all sorts of things,” said Raasch, who a member of the Orient Bulldogs 4-H Club. He said 4-H has taught him all sorts of life lessons about staying organized and taking ownership in whatever he does.

Ava Ford, a sophomore at Nodaway Valley, is entering her second school year on the youth council and echoed several sentiments expressed by Raasch about the group.

“I love 4-H and knew this was part of 4-H, so I tried it out. My friend was involved and I got in with her,” said Ford, a member of the Adair County Hot Shots 4-H Club. “I feel it has enhanced my 4-H experience with community service. Some of my highlights with that are when we went and read to little kids at Little Lambs or when we’ve served at banquets.”

Valerie Jaehrling, who is wrapping up her time as County Youth Coordinator to make way for Caroline Savage, who recently began in that position, said it has been a joy to work with the 4-H Youth Council.

Any high school 4-H member interested in joining the council can come to meetings the first Sunday of each month at 1 p.m.

Those interested in joining a 4-H club can contact the Adair County Extension Office at 641-743-8412 to be directed where they can register for the organization online.