Welcome to the CHEF 4-H Information Page
***CHEF 4-H Meeting on March 12, 2010, 10:30-12:00 at Jones Creek Library in Baton Rouge. Everyone is welcome! Come see what 4-H is about!
Welcome! My name is Tammy Griffith and I am the CHEF 4-H Leader for Baton Rouge. On this page, you will find information about the 4-H Club and some FAQs about 4-H. Feel free to contact me for more information.
Below is a link to my files. There are some files on the 4-H Club that you are welcome to view or print. There is a file on what project books are available in the club. It is a comprehensive list of books and there are a ton of books available to your child.
I included 2 signup sheets for 4-H, however, they do not have all of the project books available in 4-H. If you are interested in a different project book that is not on the form, please contact me and I will get you a paper form to fill out. For some reason, the LSU AgCenter 4-H online form is not complete.
There is also a 4-H catalog where you can get more information about the curriculum of the projects books and see what resources 4-H has if you wanted to purchase something like a t-shirt or backpack.
http://homeschool4him.adventurefamily5.myfastmail.com/public/
CHEF 4-H FAQs
Why affiliate CHEF with 4-H?
CHEF stands for Christian Home Educators Fellowship. By being a part of a Christian 4-H club, your child is safer from being fed propoganda from an immoral culture. All members of the CHEF 4-H Club must be members of CHEF and sign a statement of faith. If you want to see what CHEF is all about, check them out here: www.chefbr.org.
Do I have to own a cow to be in 4-H?
NO, NO, and NO! 4-H is about way more than livestock. Of course, they have lots of stuff going on in the fields of livestock and vet science, as well as agriculture, but there are many other fields 4-H is involved in. Aerospace, speech, citizenship and service, cooking, sewing, woodworking, engine repair, technology, science, finance, home design, pet care, photography, outdoor skills, and more! Check out the link above to see a file of project books. You'll see so many things you want to get into, you won't be able to decide!
I'm really busy with co-op, church, other groups, karate, music, play dates, and an endless list of stuff to do. What kind of commitment is it?
What I personally find totally cool about 4-H is that there isn't much commitment. We meet monthly for 1.5 hours, and every other month we have a service project in the community. It may be collecting food for a food drive, volunteering a couple of hours at the library or some other organization, or any number of things that involve community service. Your child will also have a project book they work on. It is up to you and your child how much you work on your book. No one will check up on you. Your child will be given the opportunity to share what they are doing in their book at the meetings by giving presentations, but it is up to the child and parent. You can be in 4-H and miss the meetings, but you will also be missing the opportunity to hear speakers and be a participant. There are some projects where the children are to give talks or demonstrations, so coming to meetings is vital. Your child will feel at home with the group, and it will be easier to speak in front of them.
What is a meeting like?
First we say pledges to the flag and 4-H club, then we have a short business portion, run by the young people, where they discuss what is going on in the club. We offer the time to do presentations if anyone has one, and then we usually play some sort of game. Someone from the 4-H extension usually comes to give us a newsletter of current events going on around us, and then we have a speaker come and tell us about something in our community. It may be on agriculture, first aid, forestry, animals, computers, or any other "job" people perform in the community. It is a wonderful chance for children to experience the diversity of jobs that make up a community.
What is the fee for joining? Do you make us raise money?
The fee to join is $8 per year. This $5 goes to pay for your first project book, and $3 for club dues so we can buy supplies. If you need or want additional project books, you are welcome to purchase them on your own. They cost about $4-5 each. As far as fundraisers, 4-H welcomes donations at any time, and from time to time they may do fundraisers within 4-H itself. I have no fundraising plans for our group.
What else does 4-H do?
4-H is sort of a club within a club. There are other groups that meet within the club that you are welcome to join. There's a leadership club, agriculture clubs, and other clubs within the Louisiana 4-H club. They even have camps! There is always something going on around town. Dog shows, agriculture events, livestock events, forestry and environmental events, competitions, and camps. You choose what you want to get involved in.
How can 4-H benefit my child in the future?
Here’s a short list of things being in 4-H will do for your child: give them the opportunity to speak in public to a small group of peers about subjects they are familiar with, help them participate in community service which builds confidence and their colleg/job resume, opportunities to see adults in a variety of career choices to broaden their horizons, communication and leadership skill development through student-led clubs, recognition and respect of their unique talents through competition and activities, organizational and time management skills through an organized meeting structure, educational and service opportunities in their community.
Sounds like a cool thing to do! How do I sign up?
You can contact me at tammy.griffith@me.com or come to the next meeting, which is posted at the top of the page. Everyone is welcome! You'll fill out a form for your child with your information and choose a project book, pay your $5, and I will get you your project book. You're in!
What are the ages for joining 4-H?
The actual 4-H Club starts at age 9 or 4th grade, and goes through high school. You can join in 3rd grade if you turn 9 before December 31 of that year. 4-H has begun a new chapter called "Cloverbuds" that are younger children in grades K-3. This group signs up, but does not do project books or compete in any events. They are welcome to attend events. It is more of an "introduction to 4-H." They are welcome at meetings and service projects. ALL kids are welcome at the CHEF 4-H meetings. We will try to accommodate all children, but parents need to stay in the room if they have small children or special circumstances.
Here's a picture of me at the Krewe of Mutts Parade, 2010, with my 2 babies, uh, I mean DOGS!
