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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Advertisement Email Story to a Friend April 22, 2006 Jacquelyn Brown perches one of her guinea pigs, Niki, on the piano, where she often holds her various 4-H critters while practicing. Her mother, Deb, is in background. (Mail Tribune / Jim Craven) 4-H togetherness Parents like Deb Brown of Eagle Point play a big role in club activities that reach 1,100 Jackson County kids annually By BUFFY POLLOCK for the Mail Tribune Deb Brown fondly remembers her family's experiences in 4-H when she was a child. She wanted the same for herself and her kids. Today the Eagle Point woman has it: involvement by daughter Jacquelyn, 11, son Wylie, 14; and Brown and her husband in a club that's part of an organization that reaches 1,100 Jackson County kids annually. "We plan our family activities around it," said Brown, a 4-H leader from Eagle Point. "The kids that have the best experience are the ones that have parents involved." Jackson County kids are involved in more than four dozen types of 4-H clubs countywide, said Diane Miller, a 4-H program assistant. The program is run by the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, a partnership between Jackson County and Oregon State University. Miller noted that although 4-H traditionally focused on farm animals, food canning and quilting, today's members join clubs for computers, culinary skills, raising exotic fish, fashion design and even Lego building. Advertisement "So many kids are going more and more into the different focus like technology," said Miller. "That's one of the areas 4-H has really tried to meet those changing needs." "We're seeing more kids who live in the city, spread out between Eagle Point, Medford and Sams Valley," Brown said. "And they have clubs for just about anything you can think of. I mean everything." 4-H clubs can take any form, including a community or project club operating through the year, a short-term school enrichment program or a special-interest group active for a specific time. Clubs often are organized in conjunction with other agencies or groups. Until fourth grade, clubs focus on a variety of activities and do not include competition, though members may contribute displays to the county fair. Older kids focus on specific projects and participation in the county fair. While most projects require the majority of work to be done by the member, parents play an integral role. Siblings often tag along as well. "If a kid's raising chickens or bunnies, parents wind up helping build cages," said Brown. "And let's face it, if you're trying to bathe a pig and the kid is 10, mom or dad are going to wind up helping." Buffy Pollock is a freelance writer living in Medford. Reach her at [email protected]. 4H: To learn more Area 4-Hers are gearing up for the organization's annual Spring Fair, a precursor to the Jackson County Fair in July. The Spring Fair is set June 3 and 4 at the Jackson County Exposition Park in Central Point. The public can come see small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, poultry and lambs and learn more about 4-H. The summer fair features a wider range of 4-H projects, including quilting, computer projects and Lego Robotics clubs. List of clubs are available from the Oregon State University Extension office at 776-7371, or visit 4-H online by typing in http://extension.oregonstate.edu/sorec/ and clicking on "Jackson County 4H." Kids can join 4-H just after the beginning of the school year, in October. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Discount Hotel Reservations online casinos news Ashley Furniture HomeStore Send Flowers Southern Oregon Loans California Casinos GMAT Prep Windermere Van Vleet Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Online Pharmacy Advertisement s Advertisement