08/31/2026
🍀 Why 4-H? 🍀
Looking at these two pictures, Aubrey’s Barnyard Adventures in 2025 and Cluckingham Palace in 2026, I see so much more than two 4-H projects.
I see family time, responsibility, learning and a whole lot of memories being made.
4-H has been part of our family for generations. John grew up in 4-H, and his mom later became a 4-H leader as some of the younger kids in their family came through the program. Now we get to watch Aubrey have her own 4-H experience.
One of my favorite things about 4-H is that kids learn by doing.
When Aubrey has a project, it really is her project. She assembles it, paints it, decorates it and puts in the work. I do the cutting that she can’t safely do and help her brainstorm ideas, but then she has to take those ideas and make them happen.
Last year, she built a barn.
This year, apparently her chickens needed a palace. 😂👑🐔
And the projects are only part of it.
Animals have to be fed and watered every day. Pens have to be cleaned. You learn to notice when something isn’t right and figure out what your animals need. Caring for something that depends on you teaches responsibility in a way that’s hard to teach from a book.
There are competitions and fair days, but there are also trips to the feed store, working together in the barn, problem-solving, laughing at mistakes and spending time together.
If you’ve ever thought about 4-H for your child, give it a try. You don’t have to know everything before you start. That’s part of the experience.
They learn. We help. And we make some pretty great memories together along the way. 💚🍀
John Rissler
Lesa Rissler
Arkansas 4-H
4-H
U.S. Department of Agriculture
