2010 Outstanding 4-H Member

Featured in the Clover Limelight this month is Lexi Major of Clover 4‑H.  Lexi graduated from Alma High School in May 2010. She is attending UW-Platteville this fall majoring in Elementary Education. Lexi has been active in many 4‑H projects including Clothing and Photography. Ms. Major was recently awarded the Buffalo County Outstanding 4-H Member Award, sponsored by the Buffalo County 4-H Leaders’ Association and the Buffalo County Fair Association. And, Major will be a top candidate for receiving the 4-H Key Award, a top award for 4-H youth in the state, at the Buffalo County 4-H Recognition Celebration this October, for her dedication and leadership in the Buffalo County 4-H program.

 As an Outstanding 4-H Member in Buffalo County, Lexi Major’s 4-H events and activities read as a list of what’s what in 4-H today. In just her final years in 4-H Lexi has served as both the Secretary and Treasurer of Clover 4-H Club, has participated in many 4-H Youth Council activities, worked as an Assistant Manager at the 4-H Food Stand, attended Wisconsin State Fair Clothing Revue, and traveled to Atlanta, Georgia for National 4-H Congress. Yet, amongst all these experiences, Lexi stands out especially as an accomplished camp counselor. She has served as a 4-H Camp Junior Director as well as an Operation Military Kids 4-H Camp Counselor for the past two years.  In addition, Lexi Major spent this summer working as an intern for the Mondovi Community Youth Center. “I learned a lot about adapting to the needs of students throughout my experiences as a camp counselor. I really love helping young people enjoy themselves and learn new things and I take pride in making activities and environments safe for them to have fun.”

 Finally, 4-H educators work diligently to develop youth members who are empathetic citizens who provide service to their neighborhoods and are inspiring leaders in their communities. Lexi agrees 4-H aided her in excelling in both. She says of her experiences in 4-H, “The leadership experiences I had in Buffalo County 4-H taught me that anyone can say that they’re a leader, but in order to be a true leader you need to be committed and passionate in the work you are doing. I also learned that being a leader means stepping up and helping others whenever needed even if it is a task you’re not excited about.”

 As Lexi wraps up her leadership efforts in Buffalo County 4-H, we feel only disappointment at the loss of her extremely bright and positive personality – we can not feel dissatisfied knowing Lexi will graduate 4-H leaving behind a strong example of youth leadership for which upcoming 4-H members can aspire.

4-H Clubs Send Totes of Love to Local Cancer Patients

The 4-H totes of love for local cancer patients started with this passionate letter: “My name is Kelsey Hager. I am 12 years old a member of Buffalo County 4-H. In 2007, my grandma was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to go through many rounds of chemotherapy treatments which made her sick and lose all of her hair. …Last year, one my 4-H leaders was diagnosed with cancer. She also had to through chemotherapy which made her sick and lose her hair. I just feel real bad when the people I love get sick like this. …I thought that distributing tote bags filled with essentials that cancer patients can use to help them with the side effects of their treatments would be a way we can help instead of feeling helpless….”

It was because, like Kelsey’s experience, so many 4-H clubs in Buffalo County have leaders, parents, or close family and friends that are experiencing the challenges that cancer presents, that a service project to honor these individuals was selected. On April 23^rd, Global Youth Service Day, Buffalo County 4-H will proudly present over 30 tote bags to local cancer patients. The tote bags, many of which were handmade or refurbished by 4-H members themselves, are filled with items that can help support cancer patients with the side effects of their radiation and chemotherapy treatments. Inside each tote bag, the following items are included: gas and/or restaurant gift card, cancer scarf or hat, moisturizing chapstick, crossword or word find books, hand sanitizer, small packs of kleenex, journal with pen, facial make-up, hand lotion, water bottle, socks with rubber bottoms, pill dispenser, coupons, lap blanket, and postage paid thank you cards. The total estimated value of each tote bag is well over $100.

The Cheerful Workers 4-H Club, spearheaded by sixth grader Kelsey Hager, secured a $150 grant from Wisconsin State 4-H, held a project day to sew tote bags and cancer caps, and assembled a tote bag for each of their twelve 4-H members. Hill & Hollow 4-H welcomed local cancer survivors to speak at their 4-H club. Golden Hornets 4-H prepared one of their tote bags for a 4-H parent in their 4-H club. Sadly, she lost her battle with breast cancer only weeks before the tote bag could be delivered. Hilltop Climbers 4-H is sending one of the bags they helped create to a former 4-H member who is undergoing cancer treatments across the state. BBC 4-H made a blanket for each of the tote bags with fabric that was donated and purchased with fundraising efforts. The 4-H Youth Council raised $250 at their food stand to help support the countywide service project. Clover 4-H, Glencoe Hustlers 4-H, Montana Pioneers 4-H, Bear Creek 4-H and Lookout Legends 4-H also participated in the service-learning project in unique and important ways. 

The goals of the countywide service-learning project were to work together within 4-H clubs and Buffalo County, develop new 4-H project skills, perform community service to meet a local community need, strengthen leadership skills and youth-adult partnerships, show empathy (compassion) for others. As a result of the service-learning project, youth practiced serving as leaders in their community while learning more about the impact cancer has on our Buffalo County community. 4-H members and volunteers who participated in the countywide service-learning event will be rewarded at the Buffalo County Fair for the efforts. The Buffalo County 4-H Leaders’ Association plans to engage 4-H members in a countywide service-learning project annually.