Contributed by South County Crafts and Critters 4H Club
Olivia Blumhagen & Sheldon Blumhagen
Emily Filimek & Sarah Filimek
“Learn to do by doing,” is the 4H BC motto, which is a youth development program focusing on knowledge, leadership, citizenship and personal development through project and program work and experiences with their clubs. Clubs participate at district, regional and provincial levels with different activities. Members can earn scholarships and external credits for school. To learn more, visit the website at www.4hbc.ca
The South Country Crafts and Critters 4H Club has been operating for 75 plus years and calls the Pioneer Hall in Grasmere home. We have 55 members that are involved in various projects, such as: beef, sheep, swine, horse, clothing, foods, outdoor living, bicycle, small engines and cloverbuds. The members can range in age from 6 years old to 21 years old.
On November 5th, there was a district safety day held in Cranbrook which some of our members were able to attend. They learned about how to stay safe in different situations through experiments, presentations and enjoyed a pizza lunch.
This year we held our first meeting on November 6th and held our club AGM and election of officers.
On November 13th we held our district beef weigh-in at the Wycliff Exhibition Grounds and there were 3 clubs that attended with approximately 35 steers weighed-in, this is the official start weight for the projects. They will be weighed-in again at our annual show and sale in June for an official finish weight.
The foods members have been learning to make soups, appetizers, and baking. Outdoor living members have spent the day learning about outdoor survival. Sheep and swine members will get their projects in February for an official weigh-in. These projects will also sell at our annual show and sale in June. Horse, clothing, crafts, bicycle, and small engines will begin regular meetings soon.
We have earned money for our club by doing a bottle drive and cooking and serving dinners for local groups. On November 16th, the club members cooked and served for the South Country Volunteer Fire Fighters and First Responders which keep our community safe. On December 3rd, the club members cooked and served dinner for the Waldo Stockbreeders Association’s annual banquet.
December 4th was a busy weekend with the club’s annual Christmas cookie baking extravaganza which the club members baked approximately 1300 cookies for the cookie boxes that get handed out to community members, and supporters of the 4H club. Thank you to Save-On-Foods for the gift cards that helped to purchase the ingredients for the Christmas cookies which was is community service project for the club.
The club members will be helping the Triangle Women’s Institute to serve at 2 more dinners in Grasmere this month.
On December 18th at 4 p.m. at the Pioneer Hall in Grasmere, the 4H Club is inviting the public to join them in Christmas Carolling around the community. There will be a chili dinner and an impromptu Christmas concert to follow.
Our last activity before the holidays will be on December 22nd, where we will have a float in the Baynes Lake Christmas Parade and will be handing out candy.
WE WOULD LIKE TO WISH ALL OF OUR SUPPORTERS, COMMUNITY MEMBERS AND FAMILIES A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!
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