Saline County 4-H will observe National 4-H Week this year by highlighting some of the inspirational 4-H youth in our community who are working tirelessly to support each other and their communities.

This year, Saline County clubs will participate in a variety of events. On Monday, they will create 4-H themed scarecrows that will be displayed at Springwater Greenhouse in Marshall. The public is encouraged to vote for their favorite throughout the week. On Thursday, county members will join 4-H youth across the nation and wear their favorite 4-H shirt. Clubs are then encouraged to complete a community service activity the following weekend. Throughout 4-H week, local radio and newspaper media will be showcasing area 4-H youth with interviews and articles.

In Saline County, more than 350 4-H youth and 45 volunteers from the community are involved in 4-H through traditional clubs and in-school enrichment. Opportunities in Saline County are year-round and include multiple camps, county fair, regional and state contests, club and project meetings, and much more.

One of the most anticipated events of National 4-H Week every year is the 4-H STEM Challenge, formerly known as National Youth Science Day. The theme of this year’s event, which is expected to see hundreds of thousands of youth across the nation taking part throughout October, is Mars Base Camp. Developed by Google and Virginia Cooperative Extension, Mars Base Camp is a collection of activities that teaches kids ages 8-14 STEM skills, including mechanical engineering, physics, computer science and agriculture.

To learn more about how you can get involved, visit http://www.4-h.org/.