4-H sign-ups happening now

Enrollment into 4-H is now on in Limestone County, and the county AgriLife agents are encouraging parents of local children who are interested in being part of 4-H to call the AgriLife office or visit the 4-H website.

“We hope to have them all involved,” said AgriLife Agent of Family and Community Health Emily Fisher of the children in Limestone County. “It’s a great opportunity for them just to be more active in their community as 4-H-ers; also learning different responsibilities and confidence in their public speaking, things like that. Those are all qualities they will need once they graduate. We’re here to build them up.”

Besides raising animals, she noted, 4-H has programs that teach cooking, fashion design, photography, consumer decision making and many other activities. There are fun competitions, too.

Limestone County has five 4-H clubs: Mexia 4-H, Coolidge 4-H, Groesbeck 4-H, Kosse 4-H and Limestone Leaders 4-H, which is focused on horses.

Clover Kids, which is for children in kindergarten through second grade, is free to join. The cost for children in the third through 12th grades, is $25 until Nov. 1; after that, the cost is $30.

Parents of children in 4-H are also encouraged to sign up – to be volunteers – since they will be taking their children to 4-H events anyway. The cost to be an adult volunteer is $10.

Children who want to participate in the Limestone County Fair next spring must be enrolled in 4-H (or FFA) by Nov. 1 to be eligible.

Application forms may be obtained by calling the AgriLife Extension Office at the courthouse at 254-729-5314 to request a form be mailed; or a form may be picked up in person. The office is in the basement of the courthouse.

An application may also be downloaded from the 4-H Texas website (https://Texas4-H. TAMU.edu), completed and mailed or dropped of at the AgriLife Office. The website also gives information on all the projects 4-H offers.

Fisher invites anyone interested in learning more about 4-H to call the AgriLife Office.

“We’re here to help if they’re curious about anything, if they want more information from us on any project,” she said. “Call me for the FCH (Family and Community Health), and call David (Groschke, AgriLife Agent of Agriculture and Natural Resources) if they’re interested in trying any of the livestock projects.”