National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, celebrates ordinary people doing extraordinary things to improve communities across the nation.

Volunteers are important leaders and members of the Wise County 4-H team. Without volunteers, we would be unable to offer the 4-H programs, activities, clubs and contests to so many young people.

This was never more evident than during the recent Wise County Youth Fair. All week I was asked if I was stressed and ready for the fair to be over. I could honestly say that I was enjoying Youth Fair and all the various activities that went with it.

How could this be so?

It was because of all the volunteers in the 4-H FCS clothing, foods, crafts and photography divisions. Each did a superb job of carrying out their duties.

My co-worker, Heather McGilvray, and I truly appreciate the volunteers who helped out throughout the week by serving as superintendents, assistant superintendents and helpers of each 4-H- FCS division, including:

4-H Clothing – Superintendent Laurie Washburn; Helper – Jo Watson.

4-H Foods – Judy Cook; Assistants Ginger Flynt, Cheryl Fortenberry; Helpers Shirley Pewitt, Laurie Washburn, Betty VanHoose, Ann Richardson and Shelly Laaser.

4-H Arts – Lorenda Hornsby

4-H Crafts – Nacina Cryer; Assistant Geraldine Amonett

4-H Photography – Jeannette Ward; Helpers – Amy Thurman, Sheila Jordan, Gail Gentry, Alberta Qualls and Randy Qualls.

If you see any of these people within the next few weeks, give them a pat on the back for a job well done.

I encourage you to consider volunteering in the Wise County 4-H Program. Volunteers are needed throughout the year in such areas as foods and nutrition, consumer decision-making, and clothing.

Some of the benefits of volunteering are:

• Giving young people another reason to feel good about themselves.
• Accomplishing more than you might be able to do on your own.
• Building new organizational and personal alliances.
• Working together with young people on issues both care about.
• Being part of building strong, vital communities; and
• Experiencing good times and discovering something new about yourself and others.

Volunteers are truly the heart, soul and foundation of the 4-H and youth program. I express my sincere gratitude for each volunteer associated with Wise County’s Texas AgriLife Extension Service.