10/08/2026
Today I want to remind you of something that can be really easy to forget somewhere between the meetings, practices, projects, contests, deadlines, early mornings, late nights, wins, losses and everything else that comes along with raising a 4-H kid.
Remember their why.
Before they cared about banners, buckles, scores, placings or whether their name was called, there was a reason they wanted to do this in the first place. Maybe they fell in love with an animal and begged you until you finally gave in. Maybe they wanted to learn to sew, cook, shoot, build something, grow something or stand in front of a room and somehow find the courage to speak. Maybe their best friend joined. Maybe you grew up in 4-H and couldn’t wait to give them the same childhood you had. Or maybe they walked into their first meeting knowing absolutely nothing except that they wanted to belong to something.
Whatever their why was, protect it. Because somewhere along the way, it can become really easy for us grown-ups to make it about everything except the reason they started. We see the money we’ve spent, the miles we’ve driven, the hours we’ve put in and the opportunities sitting in front of them. We know what they’re capable of, so naturally we want them to succeed.
But sometimes success looks a whole lot different through the eyes of a kid. Sometimes the biggest win isn’t hanging on the wall. It’s the shy kid who finally raises their hand. The child who didn’t quit when something got hard. The one who learned how to lose and still walked over to congratulate a friend. The kid who found their people. The one who discovered something they’re really good at. The one who learned that hard work doesn’t guarantee a win, but it’s still worth doing.
One day there won’t be another project to finish, another meeting to get to or another fair circled on the calendar. They’ll grow up, just like we did. And when they look back on these years, I hope the first thing they remember isn’t where they placed. I hope they remember why they loved it.
So on this day of National 4-H Week, ask your kid why they chose 4-H. And if you’re one of us who grew up under that little green clover, tell me yours. What was your why? 🍀🤍
