The Shelby County 4-H program is not horsing around this year as the program is expanding into another part of the county.
This past May, Agent Kyla Szemplinski, new club leader, Ashlee Pigford, and new club volunteer, Lilien Rostig, met with excited youth and parents at Meadowthorpe Farm, located in Collierville, Tenn., to discuss everything about the farm’s newly established 4-H club: Mid-South 4-H.
Agent Szemplinski explained what 4-H is, the benefits of the educational program with its hands-on learning approaches, projects and competitions youth will be able to pursue, and, of course, the opportunities the Tennessee 4-H Horse Program can bring to horse enthusiast members.
Besides learning more about horses, members of Meadowthorpe Farm’s Mid-South 4-H club will have opportunities to pursue a multitude of outdoor learning activities, such as gardening, pollinators, photography, wildlife and judging amongst many other projects youth can pursue.
Throughout its first year, Mid-South 4-H club will elect its first officers, meet with adult educational experts in their respective fields, experience hands-on learning opportunities throughout Shelby County, participate in community service projects, expand on their project knowledge and applications of what they learned about their respective projects and compete in contests hosted by Tennessee 4-H program.
Shelby County Extension is excited the program is reaching more parts of Shelby County and so many youth and adult leaders want to bring positive youth development to their neighborhoods and community.
The newly established Mid-South 4-H club has its next meeting scheduled on June 18 at 3 PM at Meadowthorpe Farm. Mid-South 4-H is open to new members, so if you are interested in attending the next meeting or joining contact club leader: Ashlee Pigford at manager@meadowthorpefarm.com or 901-210-5920. If you are interested in learning more about 4-H and the available clubs in the Shelby County area please contact UT TSU Shelby County Extension office at 901-752-1207 for more information.
Programs on agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development. University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating, UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.
