MORGAN BORDER plays “Clover Catcher” with Christian Miller during the annual 4-H Find Out event held Sunday at the Webster County ISU Extension office in Fort Dodge. The object of the game was to help answer questions about 4-H.

FORT DODGE – Webster County area youths interested in joining 4-H were invited to the county’s Iowa State University Extension office Sunday for a 4-H Find Out event.

The event, which is held to help recruit new members in to 4-H was looking forward to National 4-H week, which starts Sunday and runs through Oct. 12.

Linda Cline, 4-H Webster County youth coordinator, said this was the fourth year the event was held.

“It allows for an opportunity for families to come in and get their questions answered about 4-H,” Cline said. “We can get them in the right club and help them get more familiar with 4-H.”

Six potential 4-H’ers attended Sunday’s gathering, participating a get-acquainted activity and asking questions about 4-H.

Mercedes Crouse, fifth grade, tries to catch a ball of string as the potential new 4-H’ers and some current members play a getting-to-know-you game.

As part of the group activity, Kim Peterson, with the help of some of the 4-H youths, taught the prospective 4-H’ers about the program’s four-leaf clover emblem.

The four leaves, Peterson said, symbolize the head, heart, hands and health.

4-H’er Brooklin Border, 13, an eight-grader at St. Edmond Middle School in Fort Dodge, recited the 4-H pledge and motto for the prospective members.

The youths then sat one-on-one with 4-H’ers at stations that helped them learn about project areas, travel opportunities and overall knowledge of 4-H.

Christian Miller, 9, a fourth-grader at Cooper Elementary School in Fort Dodge, said she came to the event after receiving an invitation at school.

MORGAN BORDER plays “Clover Catcher” with Christian Miller during the annual 4-H Find Out event held Sunday at the Webster County ISU Extension office in Fort Dodge. The object of the game was to help answer questions about 4-H.

“I think it might be fun,” Miller said. “I learned about it (4-H) in a hand out at school, and I also have a friend in 4-H.”

Miller talked with Border, who said she wanted to help others join 4-H.

“4-H is a lot of fun,” Border said, “and I’ve met a ton of new people.”

But, she said, that isn’t the only reason to join 4-H.

“I’ve learned a lot,” Border said, “like leadership, have done some community service and been on trips, like to the Omaha Zoo.”

LINDA CLINE, 4-H county youth coordinator at Webster County Extension, and 4-H’er Brooklin Border, speak with Christian Miller, a potential 4-H’er, about what to expect in 4-H during Sunday’s annual 4-H Find Out event held at the Webster County Extension office.

Miller also spoke with 4-H’er Morgan Border, 12, a sixth-grader at St. Edmond Middle School,

They played “Clover Catcher,” a game designed for asking and answering questions about 4-H.

Subjects in the game, Morgan Border said, included travel opportunities, making friends and having fun and hands-on projects.

After speaking with the 4-H’ers, Miller said he is mainly excited for the chance to join the aerospace program.

“Making rockets and shooting them off, I would really like to do that,” said Miller.

Taylor Hintch, 16, a junior at Fort Dodge Senior High and a Webster County 4-Her, told potential 4-H members of the various community service projects, including donating volunteer time at the Almost Home animal shelter and ringing bells for The Salvation Army.

While working with the prospective 4-H’ers, Hintch took the chance to educate them about the different project areas whether for the county fair or throughout the 4-H year.

Miranda Finnegan, 9, a fourth-grader at St. Paul Lutheran School in Fort Dodge, asked Cline if she could sign up immediately after her talk with Hintch.

“It sounds really fun, and I will get to work with my dogs and get to see things and going to the fair will be really exciting,” said Finnegan.

Finnegan said she decided to attend the event knowing she had friends in 4-H.

“It sounded fun, and I want to do it,” said Finnegan.