4-H WANTS LEARNING TO BE FUN; IN THE CLASSROOM, ON THE FARM, 4-H OFFERS HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES

MEETING THE GRADE: Members of the Tilsit 4-H Club inspect cuts of beef at Fruitland Dressed Meats during a recent field trip. The group learned how to grade the meat. It is one of many activities which young 4-H members learn about. (Photo by Mark Sterkel)

Students at West Lane Elementary School in Jackson last week watched two little chicks peck their way into the world.

The embryology experiment in Beth Antoine's class was provided by the University of Missouri Extension 4-H Youth Program. The in-school activity is one of several new paths for 4-H, said Gene Haenni, the new youth specialist for Cape, Perry, Bollinger and Scott counties.

Antoine's class is one of about 15 in Cape County participating in the embryology experiment.

"We do as many hands-on experiences as possible," said the teacher.

The embryology experiment, she said, taught her students more than just how chicken embryos hatch.

"It incorporates so many skills," she said. "They all had responsibility in turning the eggs. We had to watch the thermometer in the incubator and watch the water pan. We learned new vocabulary words like humidity and embryology."

She said the chicken embryos also fit in with a discussion about food groups.

Tabitha Yamnitz, one of the students in Antoine's class, said, "First we got the incubator. Then we got the eggs. Mrs. Antoine put numbers on them so we would know which egg to turn."

Each child was responsible for gently rotating an egg three time a day to help the chicks hatch.

Lisa Tallman said Haenni told the students chicken embryos take 21 days to hatch. "On Tuesday, the eggs cracked and the beaks came out." The first two chicks emerged early Wednesday morning.

Classmate Crystal Overbeck said, "I was excited to have baby chicks. We get to hold them."

Matt Slinkard was particularly excited. His chick was one of the first two arrivals. "I was very happy it was mine." He named the little chick "Tiny."

This hands-on experience is what 4-H is all about, said Haenni, who began work here March 1. He was assigned to this area from Macon County in Northeast Missouri.

4-H operates on the motto learn by doing, he said.

"That is inherent in virtually everything the kids do. It's hands-on experiments and activities. The kids actually are directly involved, working under the direction of a project leader."

He said 4-H hopes to become known as a youth development program.

In an effort to bring 4-H and the lessons it teaches to more children, the extension service brings experiments, like the chicks, into classrooms.

Haenni estimated that 4-H is now working with 100,000 school children across the state.

"These kids are participating in 4-H-sponsored in-school projects ranging from bacteriology to embryology."

Haenni said 4-H is striving to overcome an image that its programs are only for rural or farm children.

"A long time ago, that was true," he said. "At one time, the university was teaching new farming techniques through young people who would take the information home to their families. But 4-H is no longer limited to rural counties.

"4-H programs operate in virtually every kind of community. Fifty percent of our children are from relatively large communities.

"What we offer is much more diverse now," he said. "It used to be 4-H emphasized agriculture and home economics. We still offer those areas, but we also have computer projects, photography, small engines.

"4-H has evolved as society has evolved," Haenni said. "Our program has become more diversified."

Although new programs are being developed all the time, Haenni said the traditional community clubs are still the backbone of 4-H.

"I feel it is a model club," he said. "Children between the ages of 8 and 19, boys and girls, are in the same clubs. The experience benefits younger children who can model themselves after older children. And it provides leadership opportunities for older children.

"Essentially the 4-H club is meant to provide an out-of-school educational experience," said Haenni. "4-H is in fact an educational program.

"But if you look at it realistically, you can't have an out-of-school educational activity for children and expect success unless it's fun."

Fun in 4-H means children building friendships within clubs, Haenni said, and it means children learning about life by holding baby chicks in their hands.