-H is the Youth Development Program for Arkansas’ youth between the ages of and 19. The -H Youth Development Program is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. The H’s in -H represent Head, Heart, Hands, & Health. All programs in -H are designed for members to learn by doing through individual projects as well as group activities.
Individual project work and record keeping help members adopt positive traits in areas such as computer science, safety, money management, nutrition, animal care, and photography. -H members usually select project books in areas in which they, siblings, and/or parents have an interest. The project book activities and lessons are designed for the members to work on under direct guidance of his/her parents.
The -H Youth Development Programs are also designed to help youth develop life skills; such as, citizenship, leadership, and community awareness and service. Through demonstrations, illustrated talks, and judging activities (-H O-Ramas and fairs), -H members strengthen skills in communication and cooperation. They gain leadership and citizenship skills through officer and committee participation in local clubs and by conducting community service projects. “The Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action institution.”
The County’s -H Clubs are: Livestock -H Club, Mainstreet Kids -H Club, Shirley -H Club, Southern -H Club, South Side School -H Club, CAS Rockin Ranchers -H Club, Fairfield Bay -H Club, Razorback Rascals -H Club, Clinton 4th Grade STEM -H Club, Clinton 5th Grad STEM -H Club, and Clinton 6th Grade STEM -H Club, and the Van Buren County -H Poultry Club.
You can call the Van Buren County Extension Office at 501-745-7117 to get the club’s meeting date, time, and location. The County Extension Staff are always the lookout to form additional -H Clubs throughout the county as new volunteer leaders are recruited and trained.
Cloverbud -H Members (ages -8) are allowed to participate in -H Clubs and county -H activities. Junior -H Members (ages 9 – 13) have many opportunities to participate in many other fun activities at the county, district, and state levels. Senior -H Members (ages 14 – 19) have the opportunity to participate in county, district, state and national activities. Anyone interested in finding out more about -H, joining an existing -H Club, or starting a new -H Club, should come by the Van Buren County Extension Office at 1414 Hwy 65 South in Clinton or call us at 501-745-7117.