Letter: 4-H no longer just for farm kids, and is an option we need to keep

On Nov. 6, Genesee Co. voters will be asked to approve a millage to support the MSU Extension. Most people's reaction to an increase in taxes is "NO"! But this increase, 0.02 mills, amounts to about $1.00 on a property with a taxable value of $100,000.

Please consider just some of the benefits the MSUE provides: health and nutrition classes in schools and for the public, food preservation workshops, serv-safe certification, support for 182 gardens, practical garden advice, backyard fruit tree pest management, crop and pest management, soil testing, master gardener certification, etc.

But most important to me is the 4-H program. Without the MSUE, 4-H in Genesee Co. will no longer exist.


Are you aware that 4-H no longer is just for farm kids? Today's projects include: rocketry, pocket pets, home design, photography, gardening, flower arrangement, shooting sports, arts, crafts, as well as the traditional projects like sewing, baking, food preservation, needlework, crops and animal projects.

In a 4-H club kids learn leadership and about government by holding a club office and participating in local, county, state and national citizenship events. 4-H'ers learn self confidence and public speaking by giving talks and demonstrations on the local level, being interviewed about their projects and club activities and by working with adults on community projects.

The more you wear or model the outfit you made in front of others, or show the animals you raised, the more self confidence you develop. These are just some of the benefits of 4-H.

In a county where FFA is no more, and few schools offer home economic classes, 4-H is an option we need to keep. For less than the cost of a cup of coffee on a home tax valued at $100,000 we can keep the 4-H program and the MSUE. Please vote YES.