WSU's 4-H Fees 'Unbelievable'

Dear Editor,

President Jimmy Carter stated April 17, 1980;

“{4-H} represents unchanging American values in a changing world – values like learning from doing… caring for a community, leadership, integrity. Those things don’t change. And they’re kept alive by young people who are not burdened down with doubt, but have a fresh hope for the future.”

I am disappointed in the funding Washington State University has in place to run the 4-H program.

A proposed $25-a-year fee for each child is unbelievable in my community of 250 youth, 35 of whom are in 4-H, with many on the free or reduced price lunch program. WSU is demanding those families choose among feeding their child, paying housing/utilities or participating in a nonprofit organization.

The youth in my 4-H club raise animals and learn about community service, leadership, food preservation, leather works, robotics, rocketry, marksmanship and textiles while being representatives of 4-H and WSU. All of the expenses incurred except for the animals have come from my family’s pocket to guarantee no child was left out.

Four youth attended the state fair to compete. From a small town this is a big deal. One competed and earned a spot to attend the National Marksman Competition in Grand Island, Neb., next year.

Another club has eight kids from one family alone. Is WSU really going to charge them $200 just to participate?

Raising a goat for the fair costs $300 to $350. With the $25 on top of that, there’s not much left after the goat sells for $400.

As a community, we should be encouraging youth to participate in enriching opportunities, not creating barriers that will give them one more reason to not try or do.

4-H isn’t just about showing livestock, it’s about kids learning to become self-sufficient to grow into tomorrow’s leaders. Letting this program fail would be letting all of us down.

For the love and outlook of our future generations, WSU should reconsider the fees it is considering implementing as all kids should have the right and privilege to belong and carry on traditions of living and doing.

Cindy Daves, Waitsburg