Local 4-H clubs are celebrating National 4-H week, recognizing the accomplishments of members and volunteers across the country.

National 4-H week takes place the first full week of October. This year it’s Sunday through Saturday.

Members of the College Hill 4-H Club in Riley County say the organization provides them with useful skills, friendships and plenty of fun along the way.

Akinya Williams, a sixth grader at Anthony Middle School, said competing in the county and state fashion review is just one highlight she’s had this year.

“I got a reserve grand champion at the Riley County Fashion Revue, and then I went to the Hutchinson State Fair and got reserve champion there. It was great.”

Fellow sixth grader Mary Allen says the club has helped her set goals and connect with family.

“This summer I decided to learn crocheting and when we visited my grandma in China during summer break, she taught me basic crochet stitches,” she said. “We made a bag together and now I do mostly amigurumi. It helps us with our relationship, even though we live really far away from each other.”

The organization has also helped some students find their voice.

Third-grader William Allen said he no longer shies away from public speaking opportunities.

“I used to be shy, then I started to answer the roll call during the meetings, and now I’m doing a student council thing,” he said.

Williams said 4-H has also boosted her confidence.

“Before I joined 4-H I didn’t really like talking in public or in front of adults, and didn’t have as much leadership skills as I do now,” she said. “Since 4-H, I know how to sew, I know how to talk in front of big crowds.”

Fifth-grader Nora Ingram said she enjoys the Riley County Fair.

“My favorite thing to do during fair is go to the 4-H Olympics,” she said. “We all get together at the end of fair and play a bunch of games. That’s my favorite part.”

Her younger sister Nyla said she learned about the bunnies she showed during the fair, which she received two blue ribbons for.

“I learned that they have four and five toes — like four in the front and five in the back,” she said.

The skills and disciplines learned through various 4-H activities are preparing these children to think about what they want to do when they grow up.

“I would either be an architect or an engineer, because I like drawing and I’m good at technology,” William Allen said.

“In the future, I think I would like to be an entrepreneur, because I enjoy coming up with ideas for companies,” Mary Allen said.

“I want to be an ornithologist,” Nora Ingram said. “I love birds a lot.”

No matter what career path they choose, 4-H has given them skills to prepare themselves. Nora Ingram said anyone curious should check out a local 4-H meeting.

“You can come to one of our meetings to see how it runs as a guest,” she said. “We have a lot of projects — Lego, photography, fashion review, fiber art, woodworking. It’s very good for all those people with interests.”

For more information on how to join 4-H, visit the Riley County 4-H Extension Office, 110 Courthouse Plaza on the second floor or call 785-537-6350.

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Local families who rely on the Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan for could be forced to find other options for after school programming amid recent federal cuts to social programs.

The organization is a 21st Century Community Learning Center (21st CCLC), a federally funded program that provides academic enrichment and other services to students, particularly in high-poverty and low performing schools outside of regular school hours.

A federal freeze was recently implemented on these programs, which has limited enrollment at the Boys and Girls Club of Manhattan’s local sites in the Manhattan area.

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