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Giles County 4-H participants "learn by doing" through various activities
rowing up is an adventure in exploration. The youth of Giles County, through 4-H programs led by Extension Agent Darby Payne, get the chance to explore their world while also building important life skills along the way. The programs offered in Giles County vary from Shooting Sports to Line and Design to Videography. Other programs include On My Own, Stop Bullying, Cookie Mining and “Just in Case.” The variety of programs and activities help the Giles County Extension Service reach a broader, more diversified audience. Each of these programs is specifically designed to allow 4-H participants to learn valuable skills through hands-on activities. Over the course of the last year, 20 youth in the shooting sports program have learned to be respons-
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Darby Payne, Giles County Extension Agent ible citizens when they handle their firearms, make ethical decisions, be great leaders and supportive teammates, and handle firearms safely. Another 12 youth learned about technology and communications through the videography programs. These participants work with Martin Methodist College on the Heroes Project. They will be videoing and conducting interviews with people at the Senior Citizens Center about “unsung” heroes of Giles County. During the past year, 22,864 youth were met and involved in 4-H. 192 of the youth surveyed said that they could complete projects they were proud of. 132 could deal with their nervousness when giving a speech or talk. 63 youth reported that their 4-H experiences have helped them to gain self-confidence to try new things.
All of the participating youths are learning new things and going on new adventures. These youth are the future of America, and through 4-H and programs like it, they learn how to be the leaders of tomorrow. For more information on the Giles County 4-H program, contact Darby Payne at dpayne8@tnstate.edu.