Annual 4-H event to honor contributions to community

Glenn County has joined counties across the United States to observe National 4-H Week.

Glenn County supervisors recently proclaimed the observance, which runs Oct. 7 to Saturday.

4-H All Stars Natalie Massa and Kassidi Buttermore, and BLAST Team member Layne Embrey attended the board meeting last week. The trio read the proclamation and led the flag salute.

This week window displays are set up in Willows and Orland celebrating the observance along with schools in rural areas.

The 4-H members noted Glenn County has 1,086 youth members enrolled in group settings like the Glenn County Fair and 435 youngsters and 141 volunteer leaders enrolled in its traditional club programs.

It also has 10 4-H clubs within its borders — providing 50 projects, such as foods and nutrition, arts and crafts, swine, sheep, cattle, archery, horses and more.

The organization is open to youth 5-19.

Officials said the 4-H program began in Glenn County in 1913. and the first club organized in 1914 — the second club formed in California.

Members' projects in 1914 included vegetable gardening and growing milo or (grain sorghum).

Today, the clubs have expanded into areas beyond agriculture by doing archery, science and educational enrichment programs, officials said.

Emphasis in Glenn County still remains on livestock with pigs, sheep, cattle, rabbits, poultry, goats and horses showing up at the Glenn County Fair Junior Livestock Auction or the horse arena.

There also are quilting and sewing projects, crafts, photography and cooking projects among others.

Deanna Rogers with the Glenn County 4-H Office said the window display contests are the biggest event the clubs do during 4-H Week.

"We also encourage the children to wear their 4-H T-shirts to school," Rogers said, and clubs also present awards during the week at their meetings.

Window displays are set up at Capay School for the Capay 4-H Club; Plaza School for Plaza 4-H; Lake School for Lake 4-H; the Grindstone Rancheria Community Center for Grindstone 4-H; and Willows 4-H Club has displays at the Willow Walk Florist on Sycamore Street and Bank of America in Willows.

Clover 4-H Club has a window done up at Head-to-Toe in Willows and H.B. Designs has a display on Butte Street.

Orland 4-H put up a display at The Hay Wagon on Sixth Street while Schaffert 4-H has one at Hollywood and Vine on Fourth Street. Stoney Creek 4-H Club's display is at Umpqua Bank in Orland.