|
|
A leg upI hopped in my car, parked in the summer heat at the Ford County Fairgrounds. I was tired and hot and sweaty. I love the fair, but I was ready for it to be over. I turned on the radio. The news story was about American teenagers being recruited by Mexican drug cartels to smuggle drugs across the border for a hundred dollars or so. As I pulled out of the parking lot, a few kids ran around the end of the beef barn in the midst of a water fight. I looked at the joy on their faces and I suddenly wasn't tired anymore. I knew what we, and countless other 4-H and FFA parents, were doing was worth some sweat and bags under our eyes. Our kids certainly aren't perfect, but they aren't smuggling drugs. They aren't so disengaged with their families that they have to find approval from a Mexican drug lord. Instead, they are spending time with their families, showing responsibility and having some fun in the process. What they were doing was learning how to become responsible young adults. Earlier in the week, I visited with another mother as we were standing in line with our kids to check in 4-H projects. "My kids are all different ages," she said. "They all have their own things they like to do. But 4-H is one thing we can all do together. We can go to meetings together. We can work on projects together," she said. And to her, it was worth the hours of work. It is to me, too. There are plenty of times when my husband and I wonder whether it is wise to spend so much time and money on our son's livestock, photography and woodworking projects. When other families are kicking back around the pool or heading off for a beach vacation, we're loading the trailer for a weekend of pig poo and dirty wood shavings. But it doesn't take us very long to know we're making the right choices. Young adults who have had the same experiences are light-years ahead of the kid who vegetated his summers away with video games and TV. They've made sales calls to CEOs inviting them to the premium auction. They've done enough public speaking to prepare them to be a future governor. They have record-keeping skills that will translate to any type of business. I know because High Plains Journal has hired them. When a resume has 4-H or FFA experience listed, we already feel like we know the type of employee they will be. It may take a few years before those kids enjoying the water fight appreciate the experience 4-H has taught them. They may not like the chores and thank you notes and record books. But some day, they will know. Some day, they'll be the ones with bags under their eyes teaching their own children how to become responsible young adults. Holly Martin can be reached by phone at 620-227-1806, or by e-mail at hmartin@hpj.com.
Copyright/Privacy
Copyright 1995-2011. High Plains Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Any republishing of these pages, including electronic reproduction of the editorial archives or classified advertising, is strictly prohibited. If you have questions or comments you can reach us at High Plains Journal 1500 E. Wyatt Earp Blvd., P.O. Box 760, Dodge City, KS 67801 or call 1-800-452-7171. Email: webmaster@hpj.com |
|
